#face in my hands just talking about this here. who knows how i'd fare with posting it.

[orcelito]

OK so I have an inkling of an idea for a trigun ficlet. A one-shot, really. Not really any plot, but I just have the urge to write my own interpretation of Weird Plant Shit. Like for how much ppl tag this stuff as xeno, most of it's honestly pretty tame. Which kinda makes sense, considering a lot of this is being based off of the plants in stampede, which While uncanny are not NEARLY the amount of inherent horror of the plants in the manga. There's some FREAKY shit going on there. So like. You know. What if I took more inspiration from That for Vash's freaky shit?

[barbarianbookhoe]

Artists and Muses

Requested by: @dreampissybaby

Request: "Hi! I was hoping you could write a request, please ignore this if you don't feel comfortable writing this. Alina introducing shy!reader to Nikolai. and she's just like quiet and in awe, but Nikolai loves. Like it took Alina three weeks to get reader to smile at her and it takes Nikolai 15 minutes to make her smile. And she feels super comfortable with him"

A/N: this is pure heartwarming fluff, though I added a lil twist to make it more exciting if that's okay. (The twist being Nikolai and reader were friends, I know, what a shock.)

Your time at the Spinning Wheel seemed to blend into one, long moment. You didn't spoke to anyone if it wasn't nessecary. Mostly because you didn't know what to say, but also because you were never the type to make small talk. You always had a hard time opening up to people, or just talk to someone without getting nervous about what you should or shouldn't say. You were shy in the sense that you favored comfortable silence over pointless conversation.

When the doors to the Spinning Wheel opened, you didn't look up to see who it was. Many people came in for the past week, and you felt less and less hopeful when you realized nor Alina, nor Mal was among them. As you walked down the big entrance hall to find more bandages, a familiar voice stopped you in your tracks.

"Y/N?" You heard a woman say and when you turned, you saw Alina standing at the entrance, Mal right next to her. "Y/N!" She shouted and made a run towards you. You didn't know what took a hold of you, but you began running too, and the two of you met in the middle with a crushing hug.

The two of you squeezed each other with a painful grip, before another voice spoke up. "Can I have my girl back now?" Mal said with a smile and the two girl made space for him to hug all of them.

You basked in their warmth, before you broke the hug. "I can't believe you're here! I almost began to think that you..." You swalloed before you continued with a head shake. "It doesn't matter now. How did you get here anyway?"

"We bargained our way onto Sturmhond's ship, then found the Sea Whip and I got my second amplifier to finally end Kirigan, then we got here on a flying ship which ended with a shipwreck from the sky, and we found out that Sturmhond is secretly-"

"Nikolai Lantsov." You whispered as you looked behind them to see him step through the doors. You watched him with a mix of shock and amazement. So he's the one who saved your friends?

Alina noticed the way you stared at him, and she smiled briefly at Mal before taking your arm in hers and leading the two of you to him. "I'd like you to meet the person who saved and then betrayed us."

"Betray? That's a harsh word. And if I remember correctly, I got my fare share of punishment for it. Still hurts by the way," Nikolai pointed to the side of his face and Alina rolled her eyes at him.

"And who is that pretty lady next to you?" Nikolai asked all of a sudden and turned his head to look at you. You began placing yourself behind Alina, but she was quick to hold you next to her, where he could see you.

"Y/N, this is Nikolai, Nikolai this is Y/N, my and Mal's best friend. She's who I told you about, who helped me escape in secret. Also, an excellent storyteller." You looked at her with wide eyes, pleading to let you go, but she just sweetly smiled back at you.

"Y/N? I've been looking for you for quite some time now. I suppose you escaped with Alina, then." Nikolai extended his hand for you to shake and you accepted it. After you left go of his familiar warmth, you clasped both of your hands behind your back. You nodded in agreement.

"That's why you're here." He smiled at you, but your face remained neutral, looking at him with curiosity. "I don't want to sound like the flirt everyone seems to make me out to be, but I don't forget a face such as yours, Gorgeous." He exaggerated on the last word and it made you chuckle.

You smiled as you questioned him. "Are you sure that you're not a flirt? You seem like the biggest one, Your Higness." Your smile didn't falter as he looked back at you with amusement. "That's the worst accusation I've ever heard about myself, and believe me, I've heart quite a lot of nasty things." He said and you chuckled again.

Alina looked at the two of you with wide eyes as she tried to piece together what was happening. You connected with the prince under mere seconds. What took Alina almost three weeks to achieve, it took Nikolai only one minute to make you smile and talk to him.

Mal came to stand next to Alina and the couple watched you and Nikolai smile and laugh at each other, with genuine curiosity and confusion. They were trying to figure out the connection between you, because they didn't think that their shy friend would randomly have a conversation with the Prince.

They both noticed that you were quick to smile at him, even though you still didn't talk that much, but definitely more than you used to. They also noticed the look in Nikolai's eyes as he noticed your small movements, hoping to get a message from those, if not your words.

"This might be a wrong time and place to ask this, but I'm a naturally curious person as you know, so my question is, would you be willing to tell one of your infamous tales? I never heard a single one, while I was in the Palace." Nikolai asked you, and the question made the smile falter from your face.

For once in your life, you didn't think about the words that came out of your mouth as you answered. "There never will be a good time for this, Nikolai. Might as well do it sooner than later. Who knows when will be the next time we can enjoy our lives, without constantly worrying if the next day will come?"

Nikolai looked back at you with a newfound amazement as he looked at you. Your words certainly made an impact on him, because you were quick to look away from his intense stare, and onto the floor. You were about to excuse yourself and go away, but then Nikolai spoke up with a sweet voice.

"You've changed since the last time I saw you. You became a little more spontaneous. I was curious before, but now I'm desperate to finally talk to you." He said and you stared back at him for a few seconds, before you lightly smiled at him.

"And when should we-" Your words were interrupted by one of the Grishas, an Inferni who you've been helping in the last week.

"Y/N! I need your help! Could you come with me real quick?" She asked and with an apologetic look you nodded to Nikolai, and left with the Inferni.

------------Later at Night-----------

It wasn't until midnight that you met Nikolai again. You bid goodnight to Alina and Mal, after the three of you caught up on the past few weeks, annoying Mal to the point he almost went to ask Tamar to execute him. Twice.

You were strolling through the halls and quickly regretted not borrowing the coat Mal handed to you. The halls were cold and you only had your long sleeved, blue dress on you. Sure, you had a thin nightgown under it, but it was a sorry excuse for warmth.

You went down another corridor, when all of a sudden, the doors next to you opened, revealing a muscled chest buried in a thick green robe. After you were done studying his chest, you looked up to see a smirking Nikolai looking back at you. You quickly turned your head away from him, hiding your flushed face.

"Nice to see you too," Nikolai chuckled and from the corner of your eye, you saw him tying the robe in front of his chest, covering up the muscles. He closed the door behind him and pointed forward, indicating a walk.

He fell in line next to you, as you tried to think of something to say. You always felt comfortable in his presence, that wasn't a problem, but you were quite nervous after seeing his really-not-so-bad muscles. You never knew what lied beneath those shirts and waistcoats while you worked at the Palace.

"You know that you can talk to me, right? You don't have to be nervous about saying something wrong," Nikolai softly said and you thankfully looked at him.

After a few more seconds of silence, Nikolai stopped you dead in your tracks with stepping in front of you. You almost collided with him, had he not took a step back to make a little space between you two.

"This might come off like I'm pressuring you, but I'm dying to know, and you know that I'm not exactly the most patient person." Nikolai quickly said, and you opened your mouth to question him, but he was quick to cut you off.

"I know that I have no business asking this, especially right now, but where have you been?" He asked with genuine concern. "For the last year I was asking about you, but you vanished into thin air. I mean, with Kirigan and the attacks I understand why one might go and-"

"You asked about me?" You asked on a quiet voice, and it made Nikolai look at you like you just told him the sky is green. "Of course I did. I even tried to locate you, but it was like your entire being got sweeped off the land."

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, amd you stared at him in shock. Did you really mean that much to him? Did he really try to found you of all people, during this war?

"But why?" You whispered and now it was Nikolai's turn to look at you in shock. "Why?" He breathlessly chuckled. "Why wouldn't I? You're the reason I did what I did in the last year. You kept me company while I sneeked out of the Palace, and quite honestly your words captivated me right then and there. You changed my entire perspective on everything I knew about Ravka and its people."

You looked at him with even more bewilderment than before, but took a risky step towards him, your eyes not leaving his. "And?" You asked on a soft voice, slightly tilting your head.

"And?" Nikolai asked back, and let out a slow breath before responding. "And I couldn't stop thinking about you. You were in my dreams, in my head, in the wind, you were everywhere. I couldn't stop imagining the moment I finally met you again. I could've even painted it if I had the talent for it." He swallowed as he looked down to his feet, like he was nervous.

You felt your breath get caught in your throat and you put a hand over your heart, while the other hugged your stomach. The nerves in your belly made your stomach turn in anticipation as you waited.

When Nikolai finnaly looked at you, you saw nothing but raw emotions in his eyes. Sincerity, pain and love. Yes, definitely love.

"I could write you poetry, I could paint you a hundred times, I could sing endless love songs to you. But I won't. I am no artist, Y/N." He closed that last remaining inch between the two of you and leaned closer to you, and you could feel his breath on your skin.

"Even if I'm a prince, even if I'm a bastard son, even if I'm a privateer, you are my muse. I am not an artist, but you are my muse, moye solnyshko."

[A/N: translation=my Sunshine]

His words made your heart practically burst out of your chest. You let your arms fall next to you, and took a quick look between Nikolai and his lips. Oh, to kiss him for just one moment. Would it be sweet like honey? Would it be soft like satin? Would it spin your head? You'd have to find out to know that.

"Can you," you started but the words seemed to die in your throat. Don't do this now. "I want you to," You whispered and despite what Nikolai said before, he stood there patiently, waiting for you to say what you wanted.

"Use your beautiful words, beautiful," Nikolai whispered and it was the only thing you needed to end the tension.

"I need you to kiss me." And within a second his lips were on yours. It was more than you expected. It was soft and warm, like a hug in the middle of winter. Nikolai was slow, like he was afraid you were going to vanish again if he let you go.

His hands found their way around your shoulders, and he hugged you close to himself. You clasped your hands behind his neck, keeping him from even attempting to pull away.

You had to break the kiss because you were running out of air, and the two of you panted as you tried to catch your breath. You looked at Nikolai with pure admiration, still not believing he spent an entire year looking for you, dreaming of you, thinking of you.

It made all of your sleepless night worth it. The nights you spent theorizing about where he could be, what could he be doing, if he even remembered you. This single kiss made this last year hurt a little less.

You were about to pull him in for another kiss, when a familiar voice interrupted you.

"Y/N, I've been looking for you every-" Alina said but when he saw the situation you and Nikolai were in, she quickly cleared hear throat. "Saints, I'm-I'm sorry for interrupting." She said. "I, uh, need Y/N for something. It'll be quick I promise."

She told the two of you, and you looked from her up to Nikolai, and before you could step away from him, he quickly whispered into your ear, so Alina wouldn't hear. "Meet me at your room."

You nodded while biting your bottom lip to keep yourself from smiling like an idiot. You let go of each other and you let Alina link your arms together, as she led you away.

You took a quick look back at Nikolai and saw him hiding a smile, which made you chuckle at him. The small noise made his face break out in a wide smile as he turned around.

"Mal and I were wondering if the two of you knew each other, because you were so comfortable with him earlier. Now I saw just how comfortable you are." Alina said with a light chuckle, before she continued. "You didn't seem so shy. Or is it just only with Nikolai?" She teased you and you attempted an angry glare at her, but she just giggled at you.

"Don't worry. You'll be back with your boyfriend in no time." Alina told you whick made your cheeks feel hot all of a sudden as you smiled to yourself.

For the first time in your life, you wouldn't be alone at night.

[patxhwrk]

Could I ask Diluc, Kaeya, Albedo, Tartaglia, Zhongli, Ayato, and Thoma reacting to the reader nervously confessing their feelings for them?

The amount i related to the reader's awkward nervousness was so fucking embarassing i had to scream in my pillow for a moment

Some of these may not be nervous, but i completely forgot about that part when writing it

Its been like months since this was in my drafts lmao

-ˋˏ✄— Ways to say I Love You !

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: Nervously Confessing to Genshin Men !

Characters: Albedo, Diluc Ragnvindr, Kaeya Alberich, Kamisato Ayato, Tartaglia, Thoma, Zhongli

Pronouns: they/them

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ Albedo | Kreideprinz

"Are you sure you wont get cold?"

"Don't worry about me, too much, Y/n. I'm used to Dragonspine, it will be fine."

"Fine, but don't take too long, Klee misses you too quickly!"

With a chuckle, Albedo turned towards his friend, who smiled at him.

"So you're saying you don't miss me at all?"

"I didn't say that. I said Klee misses you sooner than I do."

Albedo smiled at them. "So you miss me too?"

"Of course I miss you, Albedo! Sometimes I even worry if you'd get sick, your camp is always so cold even with the fires."

The thought of Y/n worrying about him made him smile, and Albedo only shook his head as he straightened out his coat.

"Don't worry, Y/n. I can't get sick, you should know that."

Y/n pouted, crossing their arms as they sighed.

"I know... But, if you ever got sick, I'll still take care of you."

Albedo arched a brow, his smile growing fond.

"Oh? Will you now?"

Face darkening, Y/n scoffed at him.

"Wipe that smile off your face, don't you have an expedition to get to?"

Light laughter filled the air as Albedo chuckled, turning to leave with a final wave to them.

Oh, how he couldn't wait for the expedition to end.

─𖠄࿐

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ Diluc Ragnvindr | The Dark Side of Dawn

"Evening, master Diluc!"

The night was cold outside the walls of Mondstadt. There the Dark knight hero stood, blazing red hair flowing like a flame in the wind as he perched on a tree.

Below him, with an apple in hand, was Y/n. They gave him a bright smile before taking a large bite out of the juicy fruit. "Y'know, if I didn't pay attention well enough, I would have considered you a bird, master Diluc!"

Jumping down from the tree, Diluc sighed. "I told you, outside the cavern, you may call me just Diluc. No need for formalities, Y/n."

"Aww, alrighty."

"What are you doing out this hour?"

Y/n hummed, leaning against the tree, munching silently on the apple as they recalled the moments prior.

"Well, I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd go for a walk outside."

"Y/n, it's dangerous out here."

"Yeah, well," they trailed off, a distant look in their eye. "I had a pretty bad dream."

"Oh," was all Diluc said, before a moment passed and he spoke again. "Would...would you like to talk?"

They shook their head no, and Diluc nodded in understanding.

"Well, you better take care of yourself out here, Y/n. Especially if you're out to clear your thoughts."

Nodding their head, Diluc waved one last time before slowly walking away.

"Take care of yourself, too, Dark knight hero."

Diluc paused in his steps, turning to look back at Y/n, who remained leaning on the tree. Their eyes remained on the apple, but they glanced at Diluc one last time with a shy smile before walking back towards the city.

"How ever will I feel safe if you're not there?"

Watching their retrieving figure, Diluc only smiled with a scoff before shaking his head and continuing on his nightly duties.

─𖠄࿐

Kaeya Alberich | Frostwind Swordsman

A knock echoed in his office, and Kaeya peeked up from his mountain of paperwork. Usually he had little, but those pesky hilichurs were more annoying than usual.

"Come in," he called out, letting himself slouch back in his seat for a moment of rest.

"Captain," a voice, familiar and nice and comforting. "How do you fare?"

"Aha, no need to be so formal, Y/n. We're friends, aren't we?"

"Sorry, workplace habit, I guess."

"It's quite alright. Come, take a seat."

And so they did, across Kaeya's desk.

"Now, what did you need? Or are you just here to visit me?" A teasing smirk stretched his lips, but Y/n didn't miss the heavy bags in his eyes.

"Have you been taking care of yourself?" They asked, straight to the point.

"Well, I guess I didn't quite get enough sleep this past few nights."

"Kaeya..."

"Haha, don't give me that look. You know well how demanding Knights of Favonious work is."

"You can always ask Jean for a break."

"Now, now, no need to put more work on the Acting Grandmaster's shoulders. Why is it such a problem, anyways?"

They coughed, looking away, a nervous look in their darkening face.

Kaeya raised a brow.

"I... I care about you, Kae."

Silence danced in the office for a second.

Just a second.

"Oh? What's this? Dear little Y/n cares about me? How sweet," he teased, though he couldn't deny the beating of his chest.

"You know what I mean." A light hearted scowl danced on their face, and Kaeya only laughed.

"Well, perhaps I could take a break, if it means easing you even for a little."

─𖠄࿐

Kamisato Ayato | Pillar of Fortitude

Work piled up on his desk, loads of sleepless nights bagging under his eyes.

He was a Kamisato, after all. The Yashiro Commissioner everyone expects to have everything done by the minute.

"Ayato?"

All except patient little Y/n.

"Ayato, take a break, it's late."

"Just a few more papers left."

Y/n never rushed him, always patient, always waiting.

Sitting across him, on the plush pillows on the floor of his office, Y/n glanced at his paperwork before yawning.

"No need to wait for me, Y/n, it's already late."

"But Ayato, you've been working non stop. C'mon, just rest already."

The worried glance they spared him made Ayato pause for a moment.

"Forgive me, but I must finish this. Why don't you head to bed? I can deal with a few more hours awake."

"Ayato..."

Glancing back towards them, Ayato gave a soft, tired smile.

"I'll wait until you finish," they said unhesitantly, and Ayato paused.

"Y/n, dear—"

"The bed's colder without you, after all..."

They looked away bashfully, but the moonlight peeking through the open window made it clear that their face was darkening.

A moment passed, before Ayato chuckled.

"Alright, then."

He stood, and lend a hand towards them.

"Let's head to bed then, darling."

─𖠄࿐

Tartaglia | Childe

"Haha—Ow!"

"Stop laughing, idiot!"

"Sorry, sorry, haha—"

Tightening the bandages once again, Childe winced in pain. "You can stop hurting me, now."

"You're only getting hurt because of the wounds you caused."

"C'mon now, no need to be so harsh. My heart is aching, Y/n," he groaned out, leaning back against the wall.

Rolling their eyes, Y/n failed to find the fond smile that graced their lips. "I hope it aches enough for you to get a heart attack."

"Oh, you wound me! How hurtful! Woe is I! Woe is—Ow!"

"Oh, sorry, did that hurt?"

Childe scoffed at their sarcastic remark, sighing dramatically.

"Seriously, you need to take better care of yourself. What are you going to do without me?"

"Probably be dead in a ditch somewhere. How can I ever live without your touch as you caress my wounded face in your soft, loving han—"

"Alright, that's enough."

Peeking down at Y/n, Childe gave a sly smile at their darkening face. "Oh, but dearest Y/n—"

"Ajax, I'm serious."

Holding his face gently with both hands, Y/n stared at his ocean blue eyes.

The worried glance they gave him made him stop completely, eyes meeting theirs.

"Please, Ajax. Watch over yourself. I worry about you."

Blinking for a moment, Childe smiled softer than he ever had. Raising his hands to cup theirs, he turned his head and pecked their palm.

"Don't you worry too much, darling. I promise I'd watch over myself, for you."

─𖠄࿐

Thoma | Protector from Afar

Thoma danced around the Kamisato estate, sweeping the dust away in a silent rythm. The sun had been high up, and he decided it was too good of a day to procastinate.

Y/n stood off to the side, watching him move out and about.

"You work too much, Thoma," they said, which promptly stopped him from working.

"No need to worry, Y/n. It's a great morning, I'll just get my chores done with early." He smiled, so carefree and happy.

He was always so happy, working in the Kamisato estate.

Y/n worried about him sometimes.

"I won't take too long, I promise!"

Sighing, they shok their head, but smiled fondly nonetheless.

Thoma was too much of a workaholic.

And maybe Y/n admired him for that

"Don't overwork yourself, Thoma. Please."

Turning towards his partner, Thoma smiled gently, knowing that they truly cared for him.

"I promise you, I won't."

─𖠄࿐

Zhongli | Vago Mundo

"Zhongli, it's great to see you again." Sitting across him, holding a hot cup of tea, Y/n smiled at the former archon.

"How are you these days?"

"Ah, everything has been lovely. Being a mortal allows me to interact with the people of Liyue in a casual manner, and I find it relaxing."

"Indeed it is."

A comforting wave of silence washed over them, as they enjoyed their tea.

"I wish we could spend more time like this. In the peacefulness of Liyue, as people rush to and fro."

"Indeed." Nodded Zhongli. "It is quite unfortunate that your field of work takes up too much time."

"I'll try to visit more, Zhongli."

He smiled at them. "I appreciate it, Y/n."

The bustling of Liyue streets filled their ears as they idly chattered over their cup of tea.

Times like were what they cherished the most.

—PATCHWRK!

[snowlikeash]

excerpt from my HUSH retelling, "It's all gone quiet"

I knew this hospital. The layouts, the renovations, which way to the critical care unit. It was privately funded by the Wayne Family Trust, and named for my father, who had been the scion of another family, the Kanes. I had approved of each and every new section, much to the chagrin of the numerous boards that had once served to control my funds. At nearly forty, I had become ungovernable; I wanted a hospital that could provide to everyone, like my father had wanted.

It was this hospital where my parents' bodies had been taken after their deaths. Even though I knew where their spirits rested, I thought I might see them, waiting for me. I could easily see my mother, impeccably dressed, hair coiffed in a style that was twenty years -- thirty years -- out of date, hands wrung. My father would have been calm, a hand on her shoulder; itching, perhaps, to help in the operating room, knowing his place was outside.

But as I rounded the corner, I saw only one person I knew, and they were, thankfully, alive, if not exhausted.

Dick Grayson looked at me from near the OR doors.

His exhaustion made him a tragic beauty, a martyr pierced by arrows. I could see the telltale signs of tension in his shoulders, in how rigidly he stood. His eyes were hard with scrutiny as he heard my footsteps; then his face transformed as he recognized me.

"Bruce," he said.

I could see him think twice about his next move. To stride forward and ask for comfort? He did not, as I thought. He stayed where he was, and waited for me.

I approached him, squeezing his shoulder. He let a fraction of his tension release, though just a fraction. Part of him was still like he was in costume, even though he wore his jeans and longsleeved shirt with casual regard.

Under the glaring hospital light, I could see the impressions of something that had been placed snug against his jawbone and cheeks. To most, it would not stand out, even on his fair skin. But I knew the line of it; the guard that was worn, by a certain vigilante, to hide his identity from the scanners and cameras in the city.

"We're lucky," Dick said, after a moment. He was smiling, which was a defensive mechanism for him. He was making small talk, another defense against despair. "They called in an expert. Seems like he was in town for a conference. They're getting him prepped now. I said I'd pay for his cab fare."

"How bad is it?" I wanted to know, and I wanted to focus Dick briefly on the painful details, before letting him soothe himself. I had to make sure I kept my posture less rigid, to show an almost deference to him; I, a civilian, and he, Batman.

"Head dashed open," Dick said, mimicking Alfred's stoic words. "Severe bleeding. Alfred was able to stabilize him before we moved him."

"Spinal injury?"

"Don't know." We could not speak of the truth, of course, not in this open space. "He was unconscious when I reached him. He --" Dick swallowed. He was doing all he could to remain composed, and I ached for him. "I looked away for a moment, and then he --"

He firmed his jaw, and his eyes set forward. It was his way of cutting himself off from emotion, when he was needed in the field. But I knew how dear Damian was to him, and I squeezed his shoulder again.

We could not embrace, not here. Not for the sake of my mending back, or for public perception: Dick was not ready to be held, because he was already holding himself upright to this degree. I knew the slight tremor in him, a wire pulled taut. Not of exhaustion, but of the desire for flight: to run to Damian's side, to wake him up, even though that was impossible now.

We, who so often were in control, had to give control now to strangers with good intentions. I led him towards the elevator.

"There's usually a free room in the phlebotomy lab," I said, tapping in the floor. "We can talk there."

"Yes," Dick murmured. Out of the possible sight of others, he slouched against the back of the elevator. For a brief moment, he relaxed his body with a huge sigh, almost a sob. His eyes closed, lashes dark over pale cheeks, and his brow furrowed as he fought something inside him.

The elevator stopped; the doors opened. He was upright again, and followed me obediently at a distance, while I approached the nurse on duty to ask for an exam room to rest in.

As the door closed behind us, Dick casually placed a scrambler on the arm of the room's mechanical chair. Then he sat down on the bed opposite and hung his head, black strands coming out of their coif, sheltering him briefly from my gaze.

"I'm sorry," he said, in Ukrainian. Scrambler or not, we spoke in the language of his parents, and the secret language of my own. "Someone struck him, pushed him, while he was in satellite, I was fighting. He -- fell."

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Your writing kills me in all the best ways 🥺 even for characters I don't care about!!

Could I request 6 & 11 with Javi from the comfort prompts?

Send me a comfort prompt!

Thank you my dear 🫶

*Deténgase, por favor - Pull over, please

Prompts: Bringing them their favorite beverage; Stopping by their workplace on your way home late at night with the hunch that they’re still there

"God, it's late," Connie sighs as the two of you drift out of the bar. "Steve better be home by now."

"Something you need to talk to him about?"

"Not particularly. I'm...Getting tired a little of sleeping alone," She admits with a thin smile. "Sometimes when he is there, it's like I don't even know who he is."

You nod, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat as a taxi pulls up for the two of you. You climb in, leaning back in your seat a little. Hopefully Steve is home. Hopefully, Javier is, too...

But deep-down, you're almost certain that he's not. You eye a liquor store as you drive past it, considering it. You let yourself stew in the thought for a few minutes before—

"Deténgase, por favor," You urge, leaning forward to catch the driver's attention. Connie frowns across the seat as you fish into your bag for your wallet.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just, um—I need to check on something at the office."

"We can take you there—"

"No, it's alright, I'll get my own. You okay getting home?"

"Yeah," She nods.

"Here," You pass your half of the cab fare over. "I'll see you tomorrow."

You climb out of the cab, shutting the door behind yourself. You second-guess yourself as you buy a bottle of whiskey, then again as you get a cab to the office. The nerves are worse still as you go up in the elevator, and you have to remind yourself that it's better if he's not there. If anything, you'll just put the bottle in his desk where he usually keeps one and get yourself home.

Rounding off of the elevator, you see the lights on, but only one person there. It's a bit of relief—it means that Steve's probably home with Connie. Javier is hunched over his desk, probably eyeing some file or map. You can see smoke curling from a cigarette that's likely either between his fingers or his lips. You knock loudly on the doorframe to draw his attention, not wanting to catch him off-guard.

Javier glances back, then does a double-take at the sight of you, his brow furrowing.

"What are you doing here?" He asks.

"Came to see if you needed help or company."

"How'd you know I'd still be here?"

"Hunch."

Javier nods a touch, gaze dropping from your face. Your skin goes hot as he seems to absently sweep your body before he turns away, clearing his throat.

"I won't be great company tonight."

"That's alright. You're usually not."

"Thanks."

You bite your lip as you watch him shift through a file, seemingly intent on ignoring you.

"...Well," You shift, "Do you at least have time for a drink?"

Javier glances over, eyes steadying on the bag in your hand. He purses his lips, thinking for a moment...And then draws his drawer out, taking out two tumblers. You try not to smile in smug satisfaction as he shuts the door and waves you closer.

"Would you like to do the honors?" You ask, setting the bottle down. Javier casts you a sidelong glance as he takes hold of the bottle.

"Thought you were going out with Connie tonight," He comments.

"I did."

"How is she?"

"Fine...Missing Steve."

"Well, far as I know, he's home, so she shouldn't be missing him much tonight."

You hum thoughtfully as he pours a healthy amount into both glasses, then scoot back to sit on his desk. You try not to overthink the way Javier watches you, instead twisting to turn his file toward you. Your eyes narrow a touch as you scan the information.

"This again?" You ask. "I thought Noonan called it on this op."

"She did. I'm looking for a new angle."

"Hell of a time to do it."

"No better time."

"No? Why's that?"

"I have a meeting with her in the morning."

"And you're planning on going into it in day-old clothing and without shaving?"

"I'll make it home in time."

"Oh really?"

"Sure. Sooner you stop slowin' me down, the faster I'll get home."

Your stomach plummets at the off-handed comment, and the way Javier turns the file back toward himself. Blame it on the late hour, or the drinks you had with Connie, but tears prick in your eyes. You force them back with a couple of blinks, raising your glass and draining it far faster than you should've. It burns on the way down, is still burning as you set your glass down and say, "Guess I'll be going, then."

"Hey, c'mon—"

You see Javier straighten in your periphery as you push yourself off of his desk.

"I didn't mean it like that," He adds.

"Yes you did."

You take the uncapped bottle petulantly, beginning to stride away.

"Wait a minute!"

You pick up your pace as you hear the scrape of Javier's chair, the thud of his feet catching up. You go still as he catches hold of your wrist. He takes a couple more cautious steps forward as he crowds closer. You can feel the heat of his chest against your back, hear the way he draws in the scent of your perfume.

"I didn't mean it like that," He repeats softly, his lips brushing against the shell of your ear. Your fingers tighten around the neck of the bottle.

Maybe he didn't. Maybe he did, and he's just trying to stay in your good graces. Either way, you're more certain than ever that you never should've come. You shove the bottle into his chest, forcing him to let go of you to catch hold of it. You don't bid him goodnight, or tell him that you're certain he's fill of shit. You just stride to the elevator and keep your expression neutral, your gaze averted until the elevator doors close. Once they're shut, you sniffle, slouching back against the elevator wall as you pinch the bridge of your nose.

"Fuck."

[mysmorgasbordoffantabulosa]

Ref ask: Dispatch and BTS

What I don't understand is if rumours on Dispatch forum about outing a couple resurfaced in late 2017. Why was Jungkook ready to tell a secret? Wouldn't it be advisable to be quiet. Also if you remember just before renegotiations of 2018 contract, bighit released restricted army release of boys kissing each other. I heard bighit was upset with fans who circulated that release and called them fans or something instead of Armies.

Well the point is if dispatch was ready to reveal Taekook (presumably) and JK was ready to tell a secret and they were talking disbandment why would bighit release Taekook cheek kiss in Jan 2018? Also what do you think made Taekook ready to sign with bighit knowing their interactions are going to be suppressed more. We all know how bad 2019 was.

It was also assumed this had a portion of take on Tae's depression as well. Hence they renegotiated in 2020 and Taekook were more visible on cameras.

What do you think of taekook's decision about keeping their relationship hidden in 2018-2019 but ready to be visible 2020 onwards?

You know I sometimes wonder taekook's relationship with dispatch keeping things hidden for them and still getting exclusive Taekook pictures. Thought it was more of tolerance. Nobody likes people who threaten to expose a part of you but then i saw tae interacting with dispatch reporter and bringing up kookie with no outside prompt makes they are at good place with dispatch I guess.

Sorry a lot of ques in this ask. Word vomit comes with the flow 😅.

Firstly, apologies for not responding sooner, I both busy and very tired, lol

Anyway on to your questions/queries…

Why was Jungkook ready to tell a secret?

Well firstly, we don't know what secret he wanted to reveal, but several videos show the members talking about JK wanting to reveal something in one in particular there is a unusual Taekook interaction surrounding this secret.

But here's my thought on the "secret" I think it was a negotiating tactic. Think about it, in 2018 the biggest boy band in K-Pop was BTS and they've just broken into the USA and are about to enter a new contract discussion.

I think JK and Tae deliberately went to the Namsan Hotel in Jan 2018, alone and in public with the intention to be photographed. I think JK deliberately hinted about revealing a secret, to scare BigHit so that Taekook could get a better deal as a part of the new contract. I'd imagine other members were doing the same in their own way, but less out in the open as Taekook needed to be to force BigHit's hand. It's interesting that almost immediately after re-signing the secret is never talked about again and Taekook are almost never seen out in public again.

Well the point is if dispatch was ready to reveal Taekook (presumably) and JK was ready to tell a secret and they were talking disbandment why would bighit release Taekook cheek kiss in Jan 2018?

Do you mean this kiss:

Well, this kiss was released in April 2018.

The full video, taken at face value is fairly standard fare in the K-Pop circles. This is predominately fan-service at its best. And to BigHit probably seemed fine. However, some Taekook cranked up the volume and discovered the members revealing stuff in the background that suggest that Tae and JK do this at home and whether they should be kissing at all. It's only then that the video started to become problematic.

Also what do you think made Taekook ready to sign with bighit knowing their interactions are going to be suppressed more.

I think them re-signing was less about hiding (though I do think the ultimate goal was to be freer) and more about BigHit interference. Personal, 2017 I felt BH was interfering in JK and Tae's personal time, add to that was the fact they all overworked. So, whilst yes the contract was designed to head towards Taekook being freer, I think it was also about BH being more supportive in their personal lives.

We all know how bad 2019 was... It was also assumed this had a portion of take on Tae's depression as well. Hence they renegotiated in 2020 and Taekook were more visible on cameras.

OK just to clarify...

The original contract was from Jun 2013 to June 2020

The new contract started in June 2020.

They negotiated and signed their new contract (June 2020) in 2018.

They did not renegotiate in 2020.

As part of their new contract starting in 2020, I think they negotiated a plan that would make Taekook more visible on camera.

In 2018, Tae talks about feeling depressed (didn't use this word) and how hard he's worked to get through it. In late, 2019 Tae starts to show signed on depression.

Also, I never really get this notion that 2019 was bad for Taekook. We actually got some real concrete moments...

The Korean awards season

Seasons Greeting

Summer Package

The Japanese "We Love BTS 2019: "BBQ Party in Las Vegas""

The Love Yourself: Speak Yourself Tour, Muster and Boy with Love era

The very weird and clearly taekook related VLives.

Yes, the flip-side was the fandom choosing to ignore the obvious and for certain shippers to constantly dragging Taekook, because of a perception.

What do you think of taekook's decision about keeping their relationship hidden in 2018-2019 but ready to be visible 2020 onwards?

The main reason contracts... 2018-2019 was under the old contract where they had do fulfil certain obligations. Now I do think as part of the new 2020 contract, back in 2018 the negotiated some support for the privately lives behind the cameras and phasing in of their relationship, which actually started in 2019.

You know I sometimes wonder taekook's relationship with dispatch…

I have often wondered if Taekook used Dispatch as a negotiating tactic.

Now I've never come out with my theory about Dispatch x Taekook but I've had it for a while.

I often wonder if Dispatch approached Taekook with the knowledge that they knew about the relationship. Instead of revealing it, helped Taekook by pushing the narrative, and constantly highlighting them both, in relation to each other.

What if Taekook in partnership with Dispatch were able to renegotiate their contract and help Dispatch get exclusive content of BTS. As part of the deal, Dispatch would then help promote Taekook.

Now that is just a theory of mine, and I've had that theory for nearly two years.

[votestaynight2]

Huh. Weird. For some reason the next scene is missing too. The next one in the script I have is the H scene. Speaking of, there's an H scene today! Time for some more really badly written porn!

“Yeah. I can’t sleep in this situation.”

A plan against Gilgamesh. If we are to fight that cold-hearted enemy, I’ll have to come up with some plan.

Someone will die if we head to the Ryuudou Temple as we are now. Compared to that, thinking until the very last minute is nothing.

“Are you awake, Tohsaka?” I knock on her door.

“……! H-Hold on! Don’t come in!”

……Hm. I thought Tohsaka would be sleeping, but I guess she’s still awake.

More importantly, she’s in a panic.

After a few minutes of rustling sounds… She must have calmed down. After taking a breath I can hear even outside, Tohsaka opens the door.

“So, what?” Tohsaka glares at me as soon as she sees me.

“Well. I want to continue our conversation from earlier. I want to keep talking about how to fight Gilgamesh.”

“” ……Wait. Why are you glaring at me?

“Tohsaka. Are you in a bad mood?” I ask the obvious.

OF COURSE!

That’s the obvious response she’s going to give, but I have to ask. But…

“…No. That’s not true.”

She gives a strange response.

“Tohsaka. Are you sick or something?”

“No! …Geez, just sit down! I’m going to give you a plan to beat Gilgamesh since you can’t come up with any!”

Tohsaka pulls me inside, locks the door, and walks to the back of the room.

“……?” I move to the center of the room for now. I sit down on the cushion and face Tohsaka, who is sitting in a chair.

“” “”

And an awkward silence follows. Tohsaka is silent even though she’s the one with the plan.

“Tohsaka. About Gilgamesh…”

“…I know. You don’t want Saber fighting him, right? You’re especially kind to her.”

“Hey, that’s not the point here.

I’m saying that we should switch the roles since Saber won’t fare well against Gilgamesh. If Saber is defeated, you’ll be his next target.”

“……Humph. You say switch roles, so what are you thinking?

I’m going to pass. That goldie used his riches to collect all the magic-resistant equipment in the world.

I’ll do much worse than Saber. That should be the same for you as well, right?”

“” That’s… true, but…

…I can’t get those eyes out of my head.

Archer definitely told me this. That the golden Servant… That only Emiya Shirou can match Gilgamesh.

MISSING SCENE

The lights are turned off. The phosphorescent lamp is illuminating the room.

"――――――――" My heart is beating fast. My hesitation was blown away with the kiss, but I grow more tense by the minute. I get dizzy thinking about what I'm going to be doing. I try to reason with my raging instincts, but my resistance is fading by the second.

"――――! ――――" …That's right. I'm not nervous because this is my first time. ―――I'm going to have sex with Tohsaka. I finally realize that it's an outrageous thing.

"……" Tohsaka is waiting for me.

"Well, Tohsaka…" I walk towards her using my unresponsive legs, and try to touch her arm.

"…Hold on. Let's do it again before that. You do it to me this time." "――――" I feel an impact, as if a nail is hammered into me. …She must be as tense as me, if not more. Tohsaka is bashful, and my tension is all blown away by her awkwardness.

"―――Okay. Let's do it again." I hold Tohsaka's hand. Her fingers are tense, her neck even more so.

"……" Where did her previous confidence go? Tohsaka curls up and waits for me like a small child.

"……Hey. Are you nervous, Tohsaka?" "……! I-I'm not…! We already kissed once, so why do I have to be nervous…!?"

"I see. That's good. But I thought I'd ask, you know?" "――――! J-Just carry on…! ……I-I won't let you to go any further unless you kiss me―――"

"――――――!" Crap, that just turned on my switch. Tohsaka looks cute, trying not to let me see her trembling.

She closes her eyes and waits for my kiss. Her lips are shaking and her body looks so weak right now.

"I'm doing it, Tohsaka." I grab her arm and pull her towards me. I try to copy what she did and kiss her. ―――I feel her lips for only an instant. Tohsaka must have panicked as she suddenly pulls her head back.

"Oh――――" Tohsaka looks up at me in blank amazement. It's natural that she drew back. I just pressed my lips onto hers.

"…I-I'm sorry. I didn't know how strong I should've done it." "N-No―――that wasn't your fault." She hangs her head in embarrassment and takes a deep breath. "……I'm sorry. Um… you can continue, just as you were doing it." Tohsaka blushes and closes her eyes.

"――――――――" My body heats up. I don't even think about trying to be nice this time. I press my lips onto hers as if to bite her.

"Ah… Hm…" I feel a soft sensation. We touch for only a second. Our lips press against each other and melt into one.

"Ah… Ha… Hm―――Hm…" "――――, ――――" I feel our lips dissolving into each other. I taste Tohsaka. I can feel the warm softness of her wet lips, and the sensation of her breath escaping.

"Hmm… hm, …Ah, mm….." ―――Everything is torture. She's so close to me. The one I love is as close to me as possible. Touching her lips is driving me crazy, but this is still not enough.

I want to embrace her harder. I want to melt into her. My brain wants to reach ecstasy just from kissing her. I feel an uplift like ejaculation. But I can't orgasm from just a kiss, and it's driving me mad.

"Ha… hm, fu――――ah, huh…?" "――――, Ha." My penis is already erect. …I push my erect self onto Tohsaka.

"Ah, hm… What… is this… Shirou? Something's… hitting me――――" Tohsaka's breathing goes wild. As it does, a red flush begins to spread up her neck.

"Ha――――hm, hmm, hm……" …We don't try to do anything else but press our lips together. Our lips remain closed, and we do not even try to put our tongues out.

I'm scared we won't be able to turn back if we do so. That's why we're only kissing with our lips. It's an incomplete contact, neither deep nor soft.

"Ah… Hm, ah, it's getting harder…" "…Hm, ha――――Tohsaka…" "Hm… Ah……!" I reach out with my arms as if to reach out for air.

"Haa… ah―――huh? Wait, Shirou…!?" I keep Tohsaka still using my right hand. I use my left hand to grab her breast.

"Hm…! N-No…! Don't grab me there, ou……!" I cover up her mouth. I'm not going to listen to her complaints. I can feel her breathing, even as I squeeze her breast in my hand.

"Ow, it hurts…! Don't do it yet…! We have to stay at a kiss right now…! Hm, hm…!" "Why not…? Your breasts feel good―――" I frantically dig my fingers into her flesh.

"Ah――――hm…… My breasts feel good…?" "…Yeah… Touching them makes you seem even more like a woman? You're cute when you're embarrassed and panting."

"You idiot――――what are you saying… Hm, fuh…! Ha, haa… hm………… You idiot." She sighs. Tohsaka's breast fits in my hand. It barely escapes my hands when I squeeze them. I think its shape and softness are in perfect balance.

"…Tohsaka. Does it still hurt?"

"……Huh……? Ah, hm… it hurts, but―――I'm getting… used to it. So… I'll bear it for a bit longer…"

She pants. …Her body is heating up. I can see her breasts heaving, even under her shirt. She's still resisting me, but she's trying her best to catch her breath so that she can accept it.

"――――Hm." "……Huh, Shirou…?" I pull back, bringing our lips apart. I can't stand it any longer, and there's no need to restrain myself. We're both ready for this. I might lose all control if it continues like this for much longer.

"…Um. Can we get started, Tohsaka?" Even though we're ready, it's still embarrassing to say it. It must be the same for Tohsaka. "…………Yeah. I was thinking the same thing." She replies with a red face.

"…Then I'm taking off my clothes. Can you look away…?" "Oh――――I see." I quickly turn my back to her. …That's right. Having sex means getting naked. I forgot that simple, yet scary, fact until now.

"Ugh………" Sweat forms on my forehead. I get dizzy just imagining Tohsaka's naked body. I bet my heart will beat twice as fast if I actually see it.

"………Hm." No, it's good if that's the only thing that happens to me. …I hear her taking her clothes off. I'm worried if my sanity will still be there once I look behind me.

"…Hey. Why are you spaced out, Shirou?" "Huh?" "You're supposed to be getting naked too…! Y-You're a failure as a man if you're only letting the girl take off her clothes…!" "Oh. Y-You're right. Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking…!" I quickly strip down.

――――So. "…Fine. You can turn this way now, Shirou." I prepare myself and turn around. I honestly think I'll get a nosebleed if I don't prepare myself.

"………" I narrow my eyes and try not to look at Tohsaka. ――――Then.

"HEY, WHAT IS THAT!!!!?"

"Huh?" My embarrassment and hope are blown away by her scream.

"T-Tohsaka…?" "Whoa, hold on! Don't come over here….! What is that!? No way, no way, no way……!?" Tohsaka panics. …But Tohsaka still keeps her eyes on me―――no, on my erect penis.

"……Tohsaka. I don't know what you're surprised about, but that really hurts, you know." Um, it hurts my pride as a man.

"Uh――――um." That must have calmed her down. Her face still burning, Tohsaka stares at my member.

"……Tohsaka. Um, that's difficult for me too. I'll have trouble restraining myself if you keep staring at it like that." "Oh… I'm sorry. But, um, I was surprised." She reaches out as she says so.

"H-H-Hold on――――! W-What are you going to do…!?" "Oh, it looked so hard, so I thought about poking it…" Tohsaka twirls her finger, her face turning even more red.

"――――!" Y-You've got to be kidding…! I might explode if Tohsaka pokes it with her finger…!

"A――――Are you stupid!? Don't do such embarrassing things…! Don't go near dangerous things!" I don't know what I'm saying, but I try to keep Tohsaka away.

"…You're acting strange, Tohsaka. Does mine look weird?" I object.

"Eh… No, that's not it… Um, it's different from what I heard. Um, I thought it was going to be smaller…" She shows me the length she'd imagined with her fingers. The distance between them is only about half as long as my erect penis.

"――――――――" It seems Tohsaka is thinking of when it is limp.

"…Hey. Is this really coming inside of me…?" She blushes and asks me timidly. But… "I-I don't know! This is my first time, so there's no way I would know!" I yell, hoping to make her back down.

"――――――――" Tohsaka looks at me in surprise. "…I see. Yeah, so it's your first time too, huh?" Then, she lets out a sigh of relief.

"………" …Hold on. By "you too", she means――――

"…Tohsaka, is this your first time?" "――――――――" She replies with a glare. It looks like she's saying "is that bad?"

"Ugh――――――――" If this is her first time, um, she's a virgin, so it has to be painful for her. Not only that, but it could be hard for her to get any pleasure out of sex――――

"Tohsaka, you…" "…Humph. Forget about it. I'm the one who brought this up, so I'm prepared for it. …I'm used to pain. Don't worry about me and you just concentrate on your own orgasm." "…Um, you mean… ejaculate, right?"

"Yes. But don't let your guard down. We can't connect unless we both reach orgasm at the same time so that our protections come down. I'll take care of the contract and the connection of our Magic Circuits, so all you have to do is have sex with me."

"――――――――" That's right. This is a ritual to get her to share her magical energy. I can't just be driven by my desires. All the more so if Tohsaka is a virgin. We have to orgasm together, so I better make sure I pleasure Tohsaka as much as possible.

"We're only doing this to connect with each other, so don't do anything else, okay? …I don't think I need to tell you, but I'll get angry if you do weird things." "…? What do you mean by weird things?"

"Eh…? U-Um, like ejaculating inside of me or expecting me to do it with my mouth." She hangs her head in embarrassment. "――――――――" My desire surges up again at her gesture. Her skin stimulates my desires.

"I know. But can I ask you something before we start?" "W-What? I'll get angry if you tell me to do anything weird!" Tohsaka glares at me, doing her best to look angry. Seeing her cute embarrassment blows away my own embarrassment.

"Well, it's a simple question. Why aren't you taking off your top?" "Huh…?" Tohsaka sits there, dumbfounded. The question must have caught her off-guard, as she looks at me as if she's seen a ghost.

And I wait for a few seconds before she replies. "I-I don't have any particular reason! T-This is fine, right!? I-I-I only need to take my bottom off to do it, so I don't have to get naked." "Why? I'm naked."

"……! That's fine because you're a guy! Girls have their reasons, so it's best if I'm covered up a bit…!" Tohsaka pulls back as if running away. That shirt must be Tohsaka's last defense.

I understand how she feels. It might be fine to let her keep her shirt on if it helps her keep calm. But that's an excessive request. I don't think any man would be able to consent to that.

"That's a problem. I might dirty your shirt, and I won't be able to concentrate if I have to worry about that. And…" "Ugh. T-That's your problem. E-Even if you can't concentrate, I can concentrate, so――――" "And I want to see your body. I won't do it unless you get naked."

"Y――――" Tohsaka shuts her mouth upon hearing my selfish request.

"Tohsaka." "――――F-Fine, you blockhead! I'll do as you wish, so turn around and close your eyes!" "Oh, o-okay." I'm taken aback at her pressure and close my eyes. I don't hear the sound of her clothes. I just feel the air moving behind me.

"……All right. You can turn around now, Shirou." I nod silently at her tense voice. "――――――――" A guest room without any moonlight… Tohsaka's body is illuminated by the warm lamp, and it is so beautiful that it shatters my composure.

"…………" Tohsaka silently tries to avoid my gaze. Her skin looks soft. Her limbs look a bit girlish, as if they are not fully matured. Her breasts, covered by her hands, are of perfect size. I bet they would shake like gelatin if I poked them with my finger.

"――――――――" I think praising her is unnecessary, so I continue to stare at her. …Then. I notice one part of her that hasn't changed.

"……Um. Aren't you going to take your stockings off, Tohsaka?" "Do you have a problem with that? This is as far as I'm going to go. …I won't let you see everything on our first time." She sulks and looks away.

I don't think her legs will matter when she's taken off so much clothing, but I can't complain if she puts it like that. …And she's already too seductive. I'll just accept this compromise right now.

"……All right. We're starting, Tohsaka." I grab her arm without waiting for a reply. …I push her onto the bed. Her red-tinted body sinks into her long, black hair.

"Oh… Shirou. Um, if you can…" "―――I know. I'll go slow, so you can just lie there." "…Okay. Please go on." Her voice trails off uneasily. I slowly place my fingers on her breast.

"Ah… hm…" I touch her well-shaped breasts. Her plump breasts are hot, just like the rest of her body.

I wrap my hand around Tohsaka's female symbol. "…Wow." I let out a voice of surprise. My mind goes crazy at its soft firmness. The softness of her breasts stimulates my manhood.

"…No, that… hm, hurts a bit." "Huh――――?" I didn't squeeze them too hard, but it must have been painful for Tohsaka. But I'm not calm enough to stop. I want to feel her softness. I want to continue feeling her breasts.

"Then… I'm doing this." "Huh…? Ah, uh…!?" I streak my tongue across her breast while keeping it in my hands.

"Haa… hm, that… tickles, but, that's, fine, hm…!" I'm only pushing down on her breasts with my hands. But they stick to my fingers, as if sucking on them.

"……Ah… Hm…" "Hm… Do you like it, Tohsaka…?" "Eh… oh, n-no, that's… not it…" …Her breathing quickens. While licking the breast, my tongue naturally reaches the very tip.

"Ah… mm…" I lick her pink nipple as if tasting it. I poke it and roll it with my tongue.

"…Ahh, hm――――"

Tohsaka is breathing faster and faster. …Her breasts are getting hotter. Her nipples are getting harder.

"Ha…… Haa… Mm, ah…"

But it seems Tohsaka isn't ready yet. …She's breathing impatiently. Tohsaka isn't that sensitive yet. …It might be impolite to say this, but Tohsaka seems like the type that's hard to please.

"Ha―――hm, Shirou, your tongue is hot… and wet… Ah, ya――――"

But I can't stop myself. I'm licking her breasts and I'm already wanting to bite her nipples. My brain is stimulated every time my legs rub against Tohsaka's thighs. The soft sensation runs up my spine and into my brain.

"Ah, haa, ha――――hm……!" …Plus, Tohsaka is panting and opening up her body in front of me.

"――――――――" I want to taste her even more. I want to make Tohsaka mine by force and――――

"Ah, hm…… Hya…!? N-No, where are you going, Shirou…!?" I slide my tongue across her body. I move my face below her chest. I slide from between her breasts and down.

"………!!! No, ah, hm…!" Her compliant body suddenly shakes. "N-No…! Stay away from my belly button…!" Tohsaka tries to hide her belly button.

"Hm… You're weak here, Tohsaka?" "Oh――――hya, hyaa, uhhh……!!" I block her hand with my forehead and lick her pretty belly button.

"Ah, no――――no, don't… Ah, hm, ah, no――――"

There's no power in her hands. I can do whatever I want. My tongue goes past her pubes and reaches a small lump.

"Ah, hm……!!!!" Tohsaka's voice gets higher. I guess this is stimulating even for her.

"Hm, in that case――――" "Ah… no…! Ha, ah… ahh…!" I push away the skin of the bud with my tongue and expose her clit. Her clit is swollen red and I bet it will shake if I poke it.

"Ha, ah, ahhhh…! N-No, don't, touch me there…! I-I'll really hate you if you do…" Her tone of voice changed and she sounds like she's begging now.

"……?" I raise my head to question her. "Ah… haa… haa… ha.. Don't do it. If you touch me there, um… I'll get an orgasm before you will." Tohsaka confesses.

"Hm… it's fine, so put it in… I'm… ready."

"――――――――" Is she really ready? It doesn't look like she's wet enough. It's starting to heat up, but it's not wet at all, and I don't think I can fit myself in there――――

"……!" What should I do? I should carry on caressing her in a situation like this, right? I hear it'll hurt unless I loosen it up with smaller things like my tongue and fingers…

"…Tohsaka. I know what you were telling me before, but I think I have to lick it at least, or something." "Eh――――y-you mean lick mine…!?" She resists, embarrassment clearly audible in her voice. Her genitals are also excretory organs. It seems like it's a big deal for her to have someone put his mouth down there.

"N-No…! You don't want to do such a thing, right…!?" "I don't care. I won't mind doing it to you." "―――! Uh… um. B-But don't do it. I'm fine… and, um… It's a problem for me if you do it." "…? …Problem?"

"I-It just is, okay…!? I'll go crazy if you do anything more to me, and it's embarrassing too, so just don't look at me too much, okay…!?"

"――――Oh. I see, so…" She's just like me. It's really embarrassing to get naked and have your body looked at. …It was embarrassing for the guy, so it must be even more embarrassing for Tohsaka. We're going to be having sex, but it seems Tohsaka doesn't want me to look at her vagina.

"…All right. I'm putting it in, okay?" "…………" She replies by nodding. I open up her legs and put my waist between them. I grab my erect penis and push it onto her slit――――

"Hah, gu……!" Tohsaka jumps. I only pushed it in a bit, but Tohsaka reacts violently.

I hear a wet sound. The erect penis goes between Tohsaka's red slit into her pink walls.

"Ha――――ah, ah, mn―――……!!"

"――――――――!" Voice escapes my mouth at her hot, narrow hole. Tohsaka isn't that wet as expected. As it isn't wet, I'll be penetrating into her.

"Ha―――ah……! I-It's coming in…!" It feels like I'm ripping it in rather than inserting it. Her flesh is tearing as I push in further.

"……! I, ah… ku, hm…!" I stop myself. I think I'll dͯ something to Tohsaka if I continue. Tohsaka is gritting her teeth and bearing it, even though I still don't even have half of my tip inside of her.

"Ah――――haa… haa… ah…" Her body is tinted red from her own heat. Drops of sweat form on her skin and her fingers are scratching the bed as if to bear my insertion.

"――――――――" If all this is caused just by inserting my tip into her, then there's worse to come. But I've already started. I feel Tohsaka already, even though she may only be in pain.

"Ah… haa… ah… fua."

Listening to her pained voice, I barely retain my sanity. …I'll go slow. I'll slowly put it in her so that it won't be painful.

"Relax, Tohsaka." "Huh…? Ah, mn…! Hm…!" ―――I slowly push my hips. It's really tight inside of Tohsaka. I squeeze myself through her tight walls. No, I'm wrenching open her pussy using my wet weapon.

"Haa, nn, no…! It's too big, no, it won't fit――――…!" I don't feel like I'm being accepted. Tohsaka feels only pain, and her body refuses the intruder coming into it.

"Hah――――!" No, it isn't just that. Her pussy contracts to push out the foreign substance.

"Ah, na, ah, ku……!"

"Ha――――ahh……!" I push it open using force, taking the greatest care not to push in too fast.

…Damn. It must be difficult for Tohsaka, but it's hard for me as well. It mentally tires me to go easy on her, and her vagina is constantly stimulating me. Her walls are contracting around me. I feel her warmth through my penis. The sensation of her fills up my brain.

"Guh――――" I grunt at the sensation coming from my penis. I want to go wild, but I restrain myself. …It's hard for me. I might ram it in her all at once if I let my guard down.

"Ah… It's… coming in――――"

―――I push it in slowly. I manage to fit my head into Tohsaka.

I stop and check how Tohsaka's doing.

"Ah――――haa, ah, ha……"

…She's breathing slower now. I managed to get my tip in, so I think it'll be easier from now on. ――――But.

"Hm…… I-Is it not all in yet…?"

Tohsaka holds back her tears as she looks up at me uneasily.

"――――" …I'm just getting started here. I only got my tip in. This is just the start if I am to move my penis in and out.

"―――No, we're just getting started. I need to put it in more."

"…Oh, I see… So it's only the tip, huh?" She murmurs. …Tohsaka is at her limit. Her pussy isn't wet. Her walls are trying to keep me out. It's not just her body.

…No matter how firm she may be… No, it may be because she acts firm all the time, but Tohsaka looks so vulnerable when she's naked. She seems afraid of someone else coming into her body.

"…What do you want to do? Should we rest for a while…?" "…No, I'm well rested now. …I'm sorry for worrying you." "――――Are you sure, Tohsaka?"

"…Yeah… I'm fine――――so go ahead, Shirou." "―――――――" I'm filled with the urge to embrace her. But I can't do anything unnecessary to her, as she's got her hands full with bearing the insertion.

"…Relax, okay? Tell me to stop if it hurts." "…Yeah, I know." I raise her hips just a bit. Tohsaka squeezes my tip hard. I spread open her walls to fight against it.

"Ha, nuu, mn…!!"

Tohsaka blushes at the different feeling of my rim going through her walls.

…I think it's a reaction she hasn't shown before. She was only bearing the pain up to now. She must have fully realized she's having sex now. I see pain and embarrassment on her face.

"Ah… ha, ah, hm――――Shirou, it's getting better, so… you can… be a bit more forceful―――" Tohsaka tries her best to relax. She's trying her best to take me in.

"Toh… saka――――" …I might be able to now… I might be able to go deeper into Tohsaka.

"Kya…!? Fua, hm, naa――――!!!!"

I push my hips in a bit harder. My penis plunges into her. Tohsaka shakes from the force. I feel something elastic on my tip.

"Ah, haa, ou… Hm, haa, ou, ah… Haa, no… no…!"

"――――!" Her walls squeeze hard on my penis. Tohsaka's vagina tries to push me out as if screaming.

"Ah, guh." ―――I went too fast. I hear her groan and quickly pull myself back.

"Oh… Why are you stopping…?" "――――Why?" "Hm… I'm fine… it hurts, but… it was only a bit. Please continue… Shirou…"

She appeals to me while trying to hide her pain. "――――――――" She must have felt it pressing on the sign of her virginity. Tohsaka knows what it means, but she's still bearing it.

"Mm, fua――――!!!!" I push it in once more. I move my penis awkwardly. Tohsaka's body jumps when I move it just a bit.

"Ha, hm… Something's hitting me――――" …She doesn't need to tell me. I feel a wall that's blocking me that's different from the one squeezing me.

"…Emiya-kun…?" Tohsaka looks up at me uneasily. I nod back to her. "――――I'm putting it in. I'm taking your virginity, Tohsaka." Unwilling to put it off any longer, I push myself all the way into her in one motion.

"Ah, na, ahhhhh……!" I push into her. She tightens around me more than ever.

"Fu――――" There's so much pressure that I feel like it's being cut off. The sharp pain converts into pleasure and multiplies my joy at becoming one with Tohsaka.

"Ah, ou, ouch, no, I, I, ah, haa, ah―――! Haa―――ha, na… it, fu, ahhhhhhh……!!!!!!"

Her pussy squeezes me. But that doesn't last long as the pressure goes away slowly.

"Ah―――Ah… haa, ah…… hm……" It's easy after that. Tohsaka's body loses power after I take her virginity. The last half of my penis goes into her as if the previous difficulty was a lie.

"――――Ah――――……Ha." …Tohsaka catches her breath. I won't be going deeper into her, so all that is left is to slowly soften her up.

"……Ha, ah――――is it all in…?" I don't need to answer. My penis is deep within her. My erect penis fills up all of her vagina so that there's no extra space. Even my tip is touching the entrance to her womb.

"Oh… moving it is…" …Is it an after-effect of losing her virginity or is it resistance to the thing inside of her? Unable even to lift up her arm, Tohsaka can only stare at the place where we are connected. There's the surprise of accepting something she thought would never go into her, and the uneasiness of not knowing what to do now. She already looks so cute that…

"―――Tohsaka, can I-" "Ah… hm… I see… I'm filled with Shirou." "――――!" I can't ask her if I can move or not.

"Oh… it's… getting bigger――――" She looks bewildered. I ignore it and… "――――I'm moving, Tohsaka. I can't hold it any longer." "Eh… ah, hm…!?"

"――――Fu――――" I pull my hips back. I pull my boiling meat out of the hole that has been contracting to push me out.

"Ah, ahn…! No, nha, ha―――fua, mm…!" My stimulated cock is still full of desire. There's no need to hurry. I'll move slowly so that Tohsaka's body can get used to me.

"Haa… Ahhh… hm, ku…!" Our flesh slides together. I slowly move my waist back and forth to match Tohsaka's breathing.

"Ah, hm… No, don't move… Nha, ha… I still… have trouble breathing… Ah…"

Tohsaka's saying something under her ragged breath. But my body doesn't follow my order.

"Haa―――…! No, Shirou, it still hurts…!" I still hear pain in her voice. Even though I took her virginity, the pain won't go away after I move it once or twice.

"Ah… Hm, haa, ah, mm…! It hurts… hm… it hurts, but…" But still, I see some change. I slowly keep moving in and out of her.

"……! Haa, ah… ha, haa, ah…!"

Her tense body gets hotter. She still feels pain. But at the same time――― "Good… I'm really having sex." Tohsaka's eyes well up with tears as if to show her relief.

"Ah, hm, ahh…! It's good, Shirou, keep moving――――"

She's accepting me. She's enduring her pain and taking her time to accept a foreign intruder.

"―――Harder――――I'm a girl, too, na, fua, ah―――!!"

Tohsaka pants with her shoulders and tries to keep up with me. Her tightness starts to send something other than pain up into my spine.

Our movements create a wet sound. "Ah――――ha." Her tight pussy starts to get slippery. The scorching hole starts to turn into a heaving sea.

"Ah… Haa… ah, ha――――hm… Ah, it feels good……!" ―――She must be getting used to it. My pre-cum blends with Tohsaka's love juice. Our movements create bubbles between us.

"――――――――" The female organ and the male organ rub against each other. "――――――――Haa." Pleasure runs up my spine into my brain. ―――There's no way I can bear this. I want to embrace Tohsaka. This gentle sex isn't enough for me.

"Eh, hm…? …Shirou…? Wait… isn't it a bit strong…? …Mm… Can you move… slower――――?"

I don't hear her. And besides… "…You should be able to take this. It's getting smoother than when we first started." "Ha… but this is good enough for me――――" "It's not good enough. I want to embrace you even more." My reason has already been thrown to the wind.

"No, ah……!? Ha, Shirou, it hurts…!" I push it into her. I throw my previous gentleness out the door. I move my hips violently so that our waists hit each other…!

"……!! Ya, ha, no, stop, naaa…!" Her body arches back. I can't contain my lust and it even turns Tohsaka's voice into urges.

"Ha, nha, haa, ah―――! Ou, it's rubbing me…! Ah, ha, ah, hm――――!?" She twists her hips to get away. But there's nowhere for her to go as I'm holding them, so all she can do is stay there and accept me.

"Stop, I'm telling you… to stop…! Fuaa, hm, ku…! I'm really gonna get mad…!" "Haa――――you can resist me if you want… You're not doing it because it feels good, right?" "…But… I-I can't put power into my limbs, ah, hm, ahh…!"

I'm shaking her body, and her long hair scatters across the bed. Her well-shaped breasts shake like jelly and the pure sight of it drives me crazy.

"No, no, It'll tear apart… again…! Ahh, ou, it really hurts… nn, fua, haa, no, ha…!"

I keep moving in and out. The movement is smooth. Her love juice and the blood from losing her virginity are dampening her pussy. The movement creates wet sounds…! The friction encourages my sensitive penis.

"Haa――――ah, ahh……!" "――――, ――――, ――――……!" I feel nauseous. I grit my teeth and bear the pleasure that makes me want to scream. It should be the same for Tohsaka. Her soft-looking skin is covered with sweat.

"Ah―――Ah, ah――――it hurts… but it feels good――――you're mixing me up too much, so I'm going crazy――――!"

"Ah… haa, kuh…!" ――――It feels like we're entangled with each other. No, it's not just a feeling. We are connected. I'm penetrating Tohsaka, and Tohsaka is accepting me. This is the pure action to try to take each other in.

The movements make a wet sound…! This act is intended to make us one. I keep up my simple movement of moving back and forth.

"Ah――――no, it's coming deeper――――!"

The simple movement unifies our minds.

"Ha――――it's coming in deep――――"

This raw pleasure burns away my sanity. This simple, simple, simple action feels so good――――!

"Ha, ah, hah……!!!!" I move faster. I push in so hard that I might go into her womb.

"Ahh, nha, ha, ah――――! Ow, ow, ow, it hurts, Shirou…!!" I'm not holding anything back now. I want her so much that I want to break her body, her tears, and her voice―――

"Ah, faah, no, ah……! This, this is scary, no, nonononono…!" Pain isn't the only reason she's screaming. Tohsaka fears the pleasure coming from the violent thrusts. As proof…

"…! Tohsaka, you're so tight…!" She reacts to my desire.

"I-It's not my fault…! I-It's all your fault, Shirou, hn, haa, ah, ahhhh…!" ―――The sensations from my penis fill my mind with blinding light.

Tohsaka is getting tighter. Her walls are contracting around me. Her soft meat tightens around my tip, my shaft, and my whole penis. The sensation is so overwhelming that it makes me want to explode my brains out as well.

"Agh――――Tohsaka…!" "Ow, ow, it hurts, but it feels good――――! Ah, ahn, uha, haa, ah…! I-I'm melting, I'm going crazy…!"

Her thighs are slick with dripping juice. Her tense body is now a ripe fruit. I push in my penis. Her walls close around me, simultaneously accepting and resisting. I pull out and push it back in over and over.

"Ahh, nha, ah, haa…! I-I'm gonna break, you're filling me up…!"

I stimulate her and blow away her reason. I push her mind up to a higher level. There's no limit. I just need to get our minds to white out and――――

"Ah――――Ah, nha, ahhhhhhhhh……!" Tohsaka lets out a loud moan. With her eyes closed in pleasure, she tightens around me to make me ejaculate.

―――My vision flickers. I can't think. I can only see the person in front of me, Tohsaka Rin. ―――Our minds are at their limits. They stimulate one another and the pleasure increases with it.

"Ha, ah――――……!" Our minds are melted together. There's nothing to hold back now.

"No――――I can't hold it anymore…! Shirou, I…!" Just like Tohsaka, who is trying to bear her orgasm, I'm about to explode as well. "――――Toh… saka…!" And I push it in. I push it into her so hard that my penis would strike her womb…!

"Shirou…! Shirou, nha, ahh, ha――――ah, you idiot――――ah…!!!!"

"Guh――――……!?" Tohsaka's body loses strength and falls onto the bed. ―――Lightning runs through me at that moment. Tohsaka's walls convulse violently as she orgasms.

"Ah…!" Her walls squeeze my shaft. My penis is wrapped around by numerous walls. She squeezes cum out of me as if to get me back for all I've done to her.

"――――! Ah――――" I can't hold myself back anymore and release it. I ejaculate onto her defenseless body. …What a bad mistake. I managed to pull my hips back at the last second so that I wouldn't ejaculate inside of her, but――――

"…T-Tohsaka." I try to apologize, but I stop myself.

"……Ah…… Hm…… It's so hot…"

I guess it's meaningless to tell Tohsaka anything right now. She is spaced out from the orgasm, and she is trying to catch her breath.

"――――――――Haa." I'm tired as well. I should be resting so that I can regain my energy. I should be, but――――

"……Hm… It's so sticky… Ha, Shirou's is spilling away…"

"……!" Tohsaka's figure is too tempting. My cum is spilled on her heated body. My semen drips down her soft skin every time she breathes.

"Ah――――ugh." …This is bad. My lust might return if I keep watching something like this.

"…Is there anything to wipe with――――?" I shake my head and look through the room. I want to keep watching her, but this is no time to be doing that. We're done now, so Tohsaka will scold me unless I switch my mind――――

"…I can't believe it. Don't you remember anything about being gentle, you beast!?"

―――Hey. Tohsaka still scolds me. And it's not in her usual arrogant way. She's yelling at me in a way that makes me realize I've done a bad thing.

"―――――――Um, Tohsaka." "…You stupid Shirou. I told you it hurts. …I'm never going to have sex with you again." "Uh um."

What can I say back to that? I think I'll only piss her off more if I apologize, but I think it does no good to say nothing.

"――――――Tohsaka, um…" I can't look away from her tears and I try to find something to talk about.

"……Oh yeah. Did the contract go well? Um, it turned out like that in the end, but…" "Of course! I'd be doing the same thing to you if we couldn't connect our circuits after that!"

"Oh." She yells at me. I don't know if I've succeeded, but Tohsaka is yelling at me as usual.

"―――I see. Then our Magic Circuits are connected, right?" "…It's a one-way path from me to Shirou, but yeah. It will take a bit before the effect takes place, but you should be able to receive my magical energy supply as a reserve tank."

Tohsaka glares at me as she explains. Tohsaka created our connection even when I was going wild over her.

"Then…" "Yes. I can provide you with enough magical energy to activate your Reality Marble. The rest is up to you now."

"――――――――" I close my right hand in front of Tohsaka. I don't really feel it yet. But I believe our contract is there, since Tohsaka said so.

"――――Thanks, Tohsaka. And I'm sorry. I couldn't hold myself back and made you cry."

"……! Humph! I won't forgive you even if you apologize. You made me cry twice, so I'm going to get you back someday!" Tohsaka glares at me.

…I don't know if she's angry or just sulking. Tohsaka's voice is surprisingly kind.

"――――――――" So I'm forced out of Tohsaka's room. She told me that girls have their business, so I should be considerate and go back to my room.

"…Don't be stupid. Guys have a lot of business as well." I do, but I didn't say so in front of Tohsaka. I bet she would have gotten me back right on the spot if I said so.

"……Besides…" No matter what Tohsaka may need to do, it's true that we don't have much time. The date has changed already. I bet we should be heading out to the Ryudou Temple within an hour.

"Hm――――yeah, this is…" I close my eyes and feel the magical energy pouring into me.

Tohsaka isn't consciously supplying me with magical energy yet, but it's already enough to fill me up. If Emiya Shirou's magical energy capacity is 20 or 30, she always has 500 magical energy. …I'm sure it would take years to fill up her whole capacity, but I bet her maximum capacity could reach a thousand.

"…I'm amazed. She really is amazing." It makes me realize her greatness again. Well, she's exhausted right now and most magi only keep about 80 percent of their magical energy, so Tohsaka has about 400 magical energy right now.

But that is still a huge amount. I use about two magical energy to use one strengthening magic, and about five magical energy to use one projection magic. Using that example, I can use my projection magic dozens of times now when I could only do it six times before.

"……Well, a cheap vehicle will overheat even if there is enough gasoline." But this has greatly increased my power. I might even be able to beat that king of heroes with this. All that's left is――――

"―――There's one more hour. I should rest my body until then." I'll rest and restore the energy I used by having sex. …Everything is set. I'll fully prepare myself since Tohsaka has opened up her body to me.

16th Day- EDEN

I turn off the lights in my house. It's four in the morning. With dawn still a few hours away, we leave the Emiya household.

Everything is arranged already. There's nothing to talk about now. We just need to go to battle and fulfill our roles.

…There's no guarantee that we'll come back alive. No, that has been the case all along, but there's less of a guarantee this time. That's why I'm carefully turning off all the lights.

"…Huh?" There's someone standing in the yard. The golden-haired girl is just standing there, looking up at the night sky.

"Hey. What are you doing, Saber?" "I was watching the sky and this house." Her reply is gentle. She is looking at the house with an expression different from the first time I met her.

"A lot has happened. I want to engrave the events in my mind so that I will remember them forever." "――――――――" It is… …The voice of one prepared not to return.

"I see. ……Yeah, please remember it if you can." I make a clumsy wish from the porch.

"Yes. Then I have a favor to ask of you as well. I will protect you two. So please come back to this house together." "―――Yeah. We'll come back here no matter what."

That's all I can manage to say. We're going to go destroy the Holy Grail. At the same time, Servant Saber will be returning to her original place.

Even if I want her to stay here, and even if Saber is attached to this house… As long as she is a Servant, she cannot go against the law.

"Hey, what are you doing!? We don't have time, so hurry up…!" A voice urges us from the entrance. Tohsaka must be waiting at the gate, ready to go.

"――――Shirou." "Yeah, let's go settle this once and for all." I turn off the last light and leave the house with Saber.

――――A quiet night. The illusion of the girl staring up at the stars is still lingering in the yard.

The plan goes like this. Saber will head into the Ryudou Temple from the front while Tohsaka and I sneak in from the back.

Saber will enter before us so that she can get Gilgamesh's attention. We will use that opening to sneak in, quickly destroy the Holy Grail, and go help Saber.

…I'll keep Gilgamesh at bay by projecting his Noble Phantasms, allowing Saber to finish him off――― That is the only plan we have.

"――――――――" It is a path that you can barely call a road. Tohsaka must have researched it beforehand, as she goes up without hesitation.

At night, the mountain is dark and ominous. It is natural for the sacred mountain to reject people. The dark mountain is threatening, but it is an embodiment of the pure gods at the same time. But――――

"…This isn't normal. It smells so bloody that I feel sick." Tohsaka stares up at the summit, where the Ryudou Temple is. "Smelling bloody" is just a phrase Tohsaka used. There is no smell of blood coming from the mountain. It just feels strange. The air is damp, and it sticks to the skin like a membrane.

The place is suffused with a life force so strong that I can't tell if the breathing I hear is mine or the mountain's. I feel like I'm climbing up a big, living organ rather than a mountain.

"…I know it's late to ask, but how do you feel, Shirou?" ―――Then. Tohsaka suddenly asks me such a question.

"Huh…? I feel fine, but really not… To be honest, it's beyond my control."

I honestly tell her. I can easily project dozens of weapons with this amount of magical energy. But it's like having a jet engine inside of a worn-out plane, so the fuel might leak out and explode if I let my guard down.

"Wow, that's a luxurious worry. But it did succeed, huh? I was worried since it was the first time…" "――――――――" My face burns up the instant I recall it.

"Hold on. Please don't talk about it right now." "I-I know! I feel the same way. …I'm talking about something else. I'm talking about the balance of the magical energy I'm giving to you and Saber. I'm sharing my magical energy between two people, so Saber is getting less energy now."

"Oh―――I see. Then does that mean Saber can't fight with all her power?"

"Hey, don't take me so lightly. I won't do such a clumsy thing. The magical energy I'm giving you is small, so it's fine. But we can't push it. Saber can only use her holy sword once."

"――――She can only use her holy sword once?" …Then we can't use the holy sword against Gilgamesh. Saber's Noble Phantasm has to be saved to destroy the Holy Grail.

"Then Saber has to keep Gilgamesh busy without using her Noble Phantasm!?"

"Yeah, so we'll have to go help her as quickly as possible. I told her that she can use the holy sword if she can't stop Gilgamesh by herself. …But that would be it for Saber. Only her holy sword can destroy the Holy Grail. So――――"

"――――――――" My breathing stops. In short… She will have to use her holy sword at the cost of her existence――――

"―――Tohsaka, that's…" "…It can't be helped. It's what Saber said. She will destroy the Holy Grail even if I stop her." Tohsaka murmurs as she looks away.

"――――――――" …Damn, how stupid of me. It must be hard for Tohsaka as well. Tohsaka doesn't want Saber to disappear either. Then――――

"Let's hurry. We won't give Saber to Gilgamesh." "Of course not. She's mine. I won't let him kill her."

We run. We know what we have to do. We have to stop the Holy Grail as fast as we can and go settle the match with Gilgamesh――――

Interlude 16-1

The mountain is rumbling. The sky is filled with dark clouds, and the trees are rustling as if shivering with fear. "――――――――" She watches it all at the entrance to the mountain gate. She understood that the Ryudou Temple was poisoned the instant she approached it. The golden Servant isn't the only one waiting for her at the top of the stairs. Something strange is waiting for her.

"―――――――" She takes a big breath. She cannot afford to make a mistake. If the mountain is a place of death, then she will draw all the risk to herself. She wants the other two to make it out alive.

She cannot hold anything back. She can only use her holy sword twice. She understands that she will disappear the instant she activates the holy sword for the second time.

"―――I do not care. He is an enemy I cannot match unless I risk my life." The king of heroes, Gilgamesh. She cannot think of anything else but to use the holy sword against that man with a thousand Noble Phantasms. '―――Go after thirty minutes, Saber.' She recalls Rin's words. It is only one more minute until the appointed time. She breathes out and sets her condition.

――――Wind blows down from the mountaintop. The instant the trees shiver against the evil wind, she starts up the stone steps.

She runs up in a flash. Her attack must have been detected the instant she stepped onto the stairs. The last Servant should appear at the temple. She will get to him as quickly as possible so she can defeat him before Shirou and Rin arrive.

…She cannot disobey her Master's order. She started off after waiting thirty minutes, just as Rin ordered. Even if she arrives at the temple before Rin expects her to, she is not going against Rin's order. It is just that she will protect her master's life, and go against Rin's expectation as a result.

"――――――――" If the thing leaking out from the mountain is pollution, Saber is a raging wind that blows the pollution away. It should not take her a minute to get to the top. She will be five minutes faster than what Rin is expecting. She can end her fight against Gilgamesh in that time.

"Haa―――――!" She runs, enduring the mountain's chill. The silver armor shoots up to the temple like a bullet.

And when she finally reaches the mountain gate… "Wh――――at?" Her feet, which should not stop, come to an unexpected halt. Sweat runs down her forehead. She looks up at the mountain gate in astonishment.

"―――I have been waiting for you. I am glad you made it in time, Saber." An elegant voice echoes through the night. Moonlight glints off the longsword. On the stairs leading up to the mountain gate… Stands an enemy who should not exist.

"Assassin――――" There is no elegance in Saber's voice. An enemy that should not be there, an obstacle that should not exist. She cannot be calm in the face of these surprises.

"What is wrong, Saber? Is it that much of a surprise that I am here? You should know that I am the guard here." His pleased voice is calm and composed. The swordsman is acting casually, even with the evil wind swirling about.

"…Impossible. Why are you here, Assassin…!? Caster summoned you. You cannot exist since Caster is gone…!" "That should be the case for normal Servants. But I am a bit special. It is not a person, but this land that is binding me. Masters are the hosts which keep you in this world. It is this mountain in my case."

"Wha――――the land is the host…?" "Right. Servants, ones without form, cannot maintain other Servants even if they are magi. A host from this age is needed to keep a Servant in this world. That fox summoned me and chose this land to be my host. Therefore, I am a Servant that can only appear here. I will not disappear as long as the mountain exists, even if Caster, my summoner, dies."

"―――But that is only borrowed time. The fox gave me about twenty days' worth of magical energy. You should be able to tell when my limit is." Saying so, the swordsman raises his right hand. Inside his elegant kimono… His white arm is transparent like glass.

"Assassin――――――you…" "I will not last until dawn, as you can see. The appointed time of twenty days is already over. It is just luck that kept me alive this long."

"――――――――" She looks up at the swordsman in astonishment. Neither enmity nor murderous intent is emitted from his sword. He just wishes for a fight. He is demanding a meaningless battle.

"―――Then you have stayed just to fight against me, Assassin?" "Do not let me say it, Saber. It will just turn into meaningless words if I say it."

He laughs. She can understand how he feels. But she does not have the time right now. The other two will make it in time for the battle unless she hurries. No, in the worst case――――they will reach the temple to face Gilgamesh even before she does.

"Move aside, Assassin. The one that ordered you to protect this gate has died. There is no longer a reason to follow that command." Saber asks while she takes a step forward. But―――― "―――I refuse. I had no reason to fight from the start." Assassin points his sword at Saber, saying that he will start the fight if she comes any closer.

"No, I do not have a reason to fight. From the very beginning, I have had nothing. I do not have pride as a heroic spirit, and I do not have a wish I want granted. No―――first of all, it was a mistake that I got summoned. Because I am not Sasaki Kojirou."

"――――!?" Saber's confusion reaches its limit. Sasaki Kojirou. It should be the true identity of this Servant. But Assassin himself said that he is a fake.

"You should not be so surprised. Sasaki Kojirou was never more than a fictional swordsman without a true identity. It is said that he existed, but records on him are too vague. His 'past' was falsely forged as a convenient foe to a famed swordsman."

"I am sure a man named Sasaki Kojirou existed. I am also sure that there was a swordsman who used Monohoshizao. ――――But they are not the same person. A swordsman with the name Sasaki Kojirou is a fictional character created to be his enemy's foil."

"You are――――a fictional heroic spirit?" "Yes, I am Sasaki Kojirou. It merely means that I am the best suited for this role. I do not have a name. I do not know how to read or write, and I was not fortunate enough to be given one."

"I am a phantom that was summoned just because I could execute Sasaki Kojirou's secret technique. As I am a false Servant, I cannot last long. Caster treated me as a disposable Servant because of that reason."

"See, there is no meaning in this, right? Even if I am to perform a great deed here, all the reward will go to 'Sasaki Kojirou'. I will get nothing. As I am nothing, everything is meaningless. I am not even clear about myself. I am only a disposable swordsman that acts out the role of Sasaki Kojirou." His longsword wavers. The fictional swordsman created by a fictional story blocks her way as if to fulfill his role.

"―――But. If there is a meaning in me, it is now. If there is a wish for 'me' who died nameless…" He must have… …He must have dreamed of a match with a superior swordsman who he could not have been allowed to witness as a nameless swordsman.

"――――Assassin." …She readies her sword. She cannot convince her enemy. The only way she can answer the swordsman who is prepared for his death is to fight him.

"Then let us start. My life will end no matter what. There can be no better end than to die at your hand――――!" His longsword moves. Saber's sword repels the strike like moonlight.

"Kuh――――!" His longsword wavers. She cannot match Gilgamesh if she uses up her powers here. But she cannot afford to hold back. No―――she does not know if she can win, even if she uses all her powers.

His longsword gets more fierce with each blow. A fictional swordsman. A swordsman who can match a heroic spirit without a Noble Phantasm. She must settle her match with him right here and now――――

End of Interlude

―――The mountaintop is near. We'll reach the back of the temple once we climb up this mountain. I think there's a big lake there.

"I see it. We're almost there…!" Tohsaka pushes her way through the branches and runs up the hill. I keep watch on our surroundings as I follow behind Tohsaka. And so… "It" greets us the instant we make our way from the hill onto level ground.

"[line11]What… is this?" A lump of meat is wriggling around. The thing in the middle of the lake spews out black blood and shakes as if asking for help. How big is that thing? Already as big as an island, the pile of flesh is slowly expanding. The clear water is now dirty and sticky like coal tar. "No way――――is that the Holy Grail?" I avert my gaze, unable to stare directly at it. The air on this mountain is that thing's breath. The infinitely flowing magical energy is making that lump of meat explode, and the black blood is polluting the lake. The blood isn't just colorless energy. The black thing is a visible curse.

"Kuh――――!" Just looking at the black mud gives me chills. The curse seeps into my brain through my eyes, ordering me to… And that is all.

"――――What the… How can we―――" Stop such a thing? The distance is about thirty meters. The lake is shallow, and it'd be easy to walk in it. But―――it's suicidal to go into that mud.

Just looking at the curse is almost enough to knock one unconscious. I'll weaken and sink into the mud if I walk a meter into it.

"―――That thing is about to explode. I don't know if it was shaped like that from the start, but I bet the original vessel was too small. It can't contain the thing in it and it's about to break the vessel."

"'Break the vessel'… You mean…" "If Shinji's the Holy Grail, it would mean he would be destroyed. Can you see it? There's something that's shaped like a human in it, right? I think you'll be able to see it."

"Huh…?" I look where Tohsaka is looking. Within the expanding pile of flesh… I certainly see something shaped like a human.

….He must be stuck to the flesh. His clothes have been torn off, leaving him naked. Visible against his skin, the blood vessels writhe like centipedes, connecting him to the meat. …It looks bizarre, as if grapevines took a human form.

"―――Shinji. I can't see his face, but I'm sure of that physique―――" "I see. So, is he alive?" "――――――――"

…I can't tell. He's not dead. But I'm not optimistic enough to say that he's alive in that condition. "…He's breathing. His body is…" I can't even say that he has human limbs in a way.

"I thought so. The Holy Grail this time is in human form. So it means it's operated using a person, right? I guess Shinji turned out that way because he's incompatible, but the Holy Grail won't function unless the host is alive."

"―――But that thing is about to explode. It's going to destroy Shinji, right?"

"That's because it can't be helped. …The Holy Grail will not exist anymore if that happens. That strange thing will flow out from a gate the Holy Grail opens."

"But we can still make it in time. The Holy Grail has been activated, but it's not in its true form, nor is it broken. That goldie just wants to open the gate. His objective is to activate the Holy Grail and to destroy the vessel. If he does that――――"

"That mysterious mud will flow out infinitely――――"

――――There's no time to think. We have to pull Shinji out of that thing and stop the Holy Grail…!

"Tohsaka. Can you do something about that mud? It looks like we can walk on it if we freeze it."

"That's impossible. I can do it if it's just water, but that thing is a curse made up of magical energy. Even a magus specialized in freezing would have a hard time freezing a magical energy that took physical form."

"――――I see. Then…" I guess I'll just have to pray and run through it. I'll cross the lake before I get cursed and bring back Shinji.

"Hey, are you going to go like that!? It's impossible! It'll swallow you!"

"You never know unless you try. We don't have time. Saber should be fighting right now. We can't hesitate here――――!?" I quickly turn, moving to protect Tohsaka.

"This is surprising. I did not think I would see your face for the third time, you lowlife."

A laugh. He appears here as if he knows of our plan.

"Gilgamesh――――!? No way! Then who is Saber fighting…!?"

It seems Saber is fighting someone from what Tohsaka is saying. But I can't tell who she's fighting, nor how she's faring.

No―――this isn't the time to be thinking about such things. The one before us is the worst possible enemy. He's the strongest Servant, the one the three of us had planned to beat together. But only Tohsaka and I face him now.

"Oh, Saber is not here? …How dull. In that case, I guess I will settle for killing just the two of you." Coldness emanates from the sea of mud, and the man before me gives off a murderous intent. He already has the Noble Phantasms ready behind him. I'll be skewered the instant I carelessly take a step forward.

"Hm―――no, that will be too boring. I normally do not allow such a thing, but I shall make an exception for the two of you, just this once. You two are special guests. I shall give you two a brief grace period."

"……Grace period?" I clench my fist as I glare at the enemy. ―――My Magic Circuit is open. I manage to form 14 blueprints in my head. I'll reproduce his swords once he clicks his fingers. I should be able to let Tohsaka escape―――

"What, do I have to tell you? I am telling you two to stand there until the cocoon hatches. It would be too lonesome if I were the only one to witness it. Seeing this through will give meaning to your lives." "――――――――!" I can't listen to him. Our goal is to stop the Holy Grail. If we can still make it, we have to get Shinji back――――! "I see. I'm sorry, but――――" "I won't do as you say. I'm going to go there and stop your Holy Grail right away." Then. Tohsaka glares at Gilgamesh from behind me. "――――Oh?" He grins. He smiles like that when he decides to kill the one in front of him. "H-Hold on, Tohsaka. That's――――!" "Can you stop him here, Shirou? …I know it's unreasonable, but please hold on until Saber makes it here. I'm going to go pull Shinji out." "What――――pull Shinji out?" "I know. He's still Sakura's brother, and I can't just let him die in front of me. …And you believe in saving anyone that can be saved, right?" Tohsaka runs to the black lake. Is she going to go into that mud―――!? "Kuh――――haha, hahahahahahaha!!!! How ridiculous! Are you trying to make me die of laughter!?" He laughs, as if to look down at Tohsaka's determination. "What's so funny…!?" "Oh, is it not comical for you, lowlife? Go through that curse? Do you think that a mere human can go through what even a Servant cannot bear!?" "―――Heh, don't take me too lightly. I'm not so weak as to be tainted by this curse. And I'm not a half-spirit like you guys. I'm fully human, so I won't let that curse drown me…!" It's an obvious bluff, but I'm sure that Tohsaka will make it across. As she says, Tohsaka Rin isn't so weak as to lose to that curse. "I see. Then do as you wish. ―――But I will not allow such a thing." "――――Trace-" A sword shoots forward. The sword flies through the air to pierce Tohsaka's defenseless back――――

"――――Off…!" And it is slashed down by Kanshou. "Hah, ha――――!" I breathe hard. I made it―――even though I was prepared, this is the fastest projection I have ever done. It's probably thanks to Tohsaka's magical energy. With this, I might be able to―――― "――――You." Murderous rage fills his red eyes. …The projection made him serious. The Noble Phantasms behind his back increase in number. "――――Shirou." I hear Tohsaka's worried voice. I don't turn around, but stare at my enemy with Kanshou in hand. "Tohsaka. I'm leaving Shinji up to you." That's all I say. "―――All right. I'll bring him back right away!" I hear a splashing sound. Tohsaka goes into that mud without any hesitation. "――――――――Phew." Then I'll protect her. I won't allow a single Noble Phantasm to get past me. "I'm your opponent. Beat me if you want to attack Tohsaka." I take a step forward. That must have gotten on his nerves. The golden Servant takes his eyes off Tohsaka and looks at me. "―――Ha, that girl will die anyway. It was out of compassion that I tried to kill her―――" The Noble Phantasms point at me. He lets out a sharp murderous intent. "But it seems I need to teach you a lesson before that. ―――You miserable fraud. I shall teach you the difference between the fake and the real――――!" He releases his treasures unsparingly.

The longsword slashes through the darkness. Saber has yet to be able to close in on her enemy that freely swings his longsword.

"Kuh……!" Unable to dodge, she retreats. The distance between the two does not shrink. There is one meter between Saber and Assassin. But Saber is unable to climb the few steps.

"――――――――!" She bites her lip. She cannot waste any time. She surpasses him in power. She can overpower him if she uses her magical energy and her sword as a shield. Just one blow. She can overpower him if she can withstand just one blow.

It can be her arm or leg. If she does not allow the wound to slow her, there will be no second attack. She can surely slash Assassin after she receives his blow.

But… If the attack is to come for her neck, she cannot overpower him. All of this Servant's attacks are of that kind. All are meant to take her life. Retreat is the only defense against them. She cannot move forward because of the enemy's technique, and the geographical disadvantage does not allow her to move to either side.

She cannot move forward because of those reasons. She must reach the temple alive. The two are fighting Gilgamesh even at this moment.

They might die if she is late. No, in the worst case――――they are already… "Kuh――――ahhhhhh……!" She runs. She rushes upward, yelling as if to deny the ominous thought.

The two weapons collide. "Hm." For some reason, Assassin swings his sword not at the charging Saber, but at the swinging sword.

"…Impressive. As expected from Saber's sword. I thought it would be able to take a few blows, but it was bent after just one…!" Sparks fly off. The swords try to push each other away.

"Assassin blocked my sword…?" Assassin's sword is fragile. It is a good sword that can even cut steel, but it is made by a human. It cannot even be compared to her sword that is not made by men. His longsword would be pulverized if he used his power to strike back at the oncoming attack. That is why Assassin has parried the attacks and pushed back Saber by attacking her body instead of her sword until now.

But Assassin blocked this attack. Assassin's sword cannot block Saber's attack no matter how strong he is. The longsword that blocked Saber's attack is bent. There's no way it's as sharp as it was before.

'I can beat him? Can I beat him without a scratch…?' Saber asks herself while she pushes back Assassin's longsword. That question becomes an opening. There is a reason why Assassin blocked her sword. She is standing in that position before she realizes it.

"……!" Their positions are different. They are now standing on the same level. Before she realizes it, Saber has been forced to fight sideways.

…It is just like before. They are standing on the same plane. This is the position he needs to execute his secret technique. Assassin is able to execute his demonic attack here. ――――Tsubame Gaeshi. Three arcing blades close in on the enemy from all sides, allowing no chance for defense or evasion.

"――――――――" A chill runs up her back.

"Assassin, you…!" Saber stops pushing. She can push him back. She can push Assassin back with her strength, then follow up with a finishing blow or run up to the mountain gate.

But―――it will be the same either way. "That" attack will come the instant she pushes him away. It will end once he executes his technique. It does not matter if she runs up to him or if she turns her back and runs up the mountain. So she cannot push him. She can only loosen up and match Assassin's push.

"―――Are you sure you want to relax like that? I can push you back now." Assassin stares at Saber in satisfaction. There is no inhumane emotion there. The swordsman is just fascinated by her eyes, trying to find some way out of this hopeless situation.

"……! So this is why you damaged your own weapon…!?" "Of course. I wanted to put an end to the match. I thought this would bring out the Saber I saw previously. Do not think about what comes after this battle while we are still fighting." "――――――――" She gasps. Assassin's words are not to insult her, but――――

"……!?" The compound is burning. Sounds of swords clashing and breaking. It is the sound of battle between Gilgamesh and Emiya Shirou.

"Hm. It seems the banquet is at its peak. This is no time for you to be staying here." "Assassin――――!" She puts power into her arms. She puts magical energy into her sword to push her enemy back. …But she cannot do it. She will die once she does so. She will fall into Assassin's trap once she gets away from him.

"Ku――――" She grits her teeth in frustration. She puts magical energy into her sword without a plan. Then… "Why the hesitation? There is only one thing for us to do." The swordsman's voice is clear.

"……Assassin?" "From the very beginning, we were only summoned to fulfill our roles. As I protect this gate, you have something to protect as well. Then there is nothing to think about. ―――And Saber. You are not the only one who is in a hurry."

"――――――――" There is no lie in those words. Those are the first and last true words for the swordsman that fulfilled his role as a fictional character. That he would like for both of them to go all-out on each other. The swordsman in front of her is telling her his only wish, his only compensation for being summoned in this world.

"――――I apologize for my impoliteness. We certainly do not have time." She releases the magical energy in her sword.

"Nu……!?" The merciless force pushes Assassin back. He slides back about two meters. Saber does not move, even though she is within Assassin's best range. She does not run up to the mountain gate nor does she charge at Assassin.

She releases the seal. Showing her sword, Saber confronts Assassin. There is no hesitation in her eyes. She will use all her powers if need be. Her eyes state that she will use all her strength to defeat the enemy in front of her.

"――――――――" There is nothing to talk about now. The fictional swordsman readies his sword.

"――――――――Let us." He greets his greatest enemy with his strongest technique.

―――She struggles through the sea of tainted meat. The lake isn't even a meter deep. Chunks of flesh carpet the bottom, so she only sinks up to her knees. "―――Geez, this is too disgusting…!" She grumbles as she breathes hard. Every step brings a chill as if she's treading on piles of insects. If she stops moving, the taint on her skin begins to solidify and consume her. "……! Geez, damn it…!" She shakes it off with all her might and keeps going. It is almost impossible to keep wading through the rottenness while still keeping her sanity. After this, she shouldn't even be scared of butchering cattle at the slaughterhouse. Slaughtering a cow would be simple now. So she's getting used to this work now. She is so tense that she'll stop moving once she stops treating this as work. But at least there is no mental damage this way. "……Ha, haa, ah――――" But she cannot endure it with just willpower. Her temperature rises with each step. The meat on her legs attacks her nerves instantly. Even if she flings it off, the poison has already entered her system. Curse. The malice is almost tangible, and it feels like a disease. One will get sick when touched by it. It taints the nerve, takes away energy, boils the brain, and kills within one step. A normal person would stop moving after two steps and would fall into the sea of decay. She does not know what would happen after that. She doesn't even want to consider whether she would be suffocated or absorbed into the poisoned flesh. Her mind is too overcome with heat even to think about it. "Guh――――man――――" She braces her staggering feet and keeps moving forward. …Rin did not enter the pool of mud without a plan. She swallowed two jewels and is using all of the magical energy she saved up to defend herself. If this curse is a crystallization of pure magical energy, she should be able to repel it with strong magical energy of her own――― "Ku――――this is… bad――――" …Her vision wavers. Her guess was right, but her scale was off. The swallowed jewels are as good as a paper shield against the curse. This is not something a human can fight against. No human can ward off this curse. …In here… One's belief in oneself is the only support of their life. "Ah――――gu――――geez… Jumping into a sea of fire is colder than this." With her jewels' protection, jumping into a sea of fire would be no problem. As soon as she complains… "――――――――!" She gets angry at herself and sets her mind straight. It's not true. She cannot be complaining. She concentrates on the sounds behind her. …She cannot see the two anymore. She doesn't know if Shirou moved the battleground away or if he's just cornered. Either way, it seems the fight has gone to the compound. "――――Just a bit more. I'll finish this quickly, so…" She runs. It's only as fast as walking, but she frantically moves her feet. She pushes her way through the tainted meat. Her breathing ragged, she reaches out. "Hah, got it――――!" She climbs up. She can feel the mountain of meat.

"……Oh. It seems it's better here." She lays on the pulsing ground. This feels even nastier, but the heat violating her nerves goes away.

"……? Wait… could this be…?" She puts her finger on the red ground. …It is the same as the black mud, but it has form. It is something that should not exist in this world―――something that came out of the Holy Grail and took form using magical energy.

"…Servants… This is exactly like the Servants…" She murmurs in blank amazement. …She tries to think what this could mean, but then stops herself. This isn't the time. There is only one thing she must do right now.

"―――All right, I'm rested. I'm going to find Shinji and get out of here." She gets up and runs along the top of the mountain of meat. It is an island about fifty meters wide. She could not tell before, but this lumpy meat is intertwined.

"――――Found him." Within it all… Matou Shinji is there, hidden amongst the flesh.

"Gah……!" I repel the oncoming swords. There are over ten Noble Phantasms, and every one of them has been released to destroy me.

"Ku……!!!!" I throw away the destroyed sword and prepare for the next attack. "Ha, haa, ha――――" I catch my breath in an instant. I can't project with ragged breath, and I'll just be skewered if I don't have a weapon.

"Haa, guh――――!" This battle is not a battle against him. This is a battle against my body. I will die once the speed and precision of my projection go down.

"Hah――――there is no time to rest!" "……!" In reponse to his voice, a straight sword points at me. The loaded Noble Phantasm is released at fatal speed――――

"――――Trace…!"

"――――Guh, gu――――!" Unable to deflect the full impact, I fall to the ground. I quickly roll to the side and get up, steadying myself.

"What is wrong? Your quality is going down. You cannot even call it a replica if it will break in one blow."

…He laughs. He's obviously enjoying this. There's no way for me to defend myself if he releases all of the Noble Phantasms behind him. But he releases them one by one, as if to test how much I can take.

"Haa――――Haa, ha――――" …But that's what's keeping me alive right now. It's too hard to project a weapon after seeing it, even with Tohsaka's backup.

I can only imitate the shape. I can't construct the ability inside of it, so it gets destroyed with one blow.

"Ku――why did he say that―――?" He said I'm the only one who can beat him. But this is all I can do. I can't rush at him after I block his attack.

Two. I'll at least need two weapons. But I'm having trouble projecting one weapon, so it's impossible for me to project two at once…!

"What? So you're just talk, faker?" He must have liked seeing me roll around, as he looks delighted.

"Ha――――a." …I catch my breath. It's fine as long as he's enjoying this. There's still a chance for me to win――――

"――――Trace, on." I look within myself. A limited circuit. I mentally lay out as many blueprints as I can. …I can see seventeen Noble Phantasms behind him. I read the structure from its appearance, draw out the concept of creation, select the composition material――――

"Guh―――……!" I vomit blood. It's because I'm putting multiple blueprints inside a circuit that usually handles one or two. My nerves are bruised since I started projection, and my body is being destroyed from within. My throat tries to pump out the blood that is filling my stomach.

"――――Possession experience, sympathy complete." I swallow it and continue with the process. Kanshou and Bakuya cannot block his Noble Phantasms. Archer should be able to with his technique, but I don't have that much skill.

There's only one way for me to block the Noble Phantasms. I need to offset them with the same exact ones――――!

"Fu――――haa, ha――――" I still have enough magical energy. There's enough supply from Tohsaka.

…But the circuit to channel it is about to break. The end is near.

When he gets serious, I have to project the same number of Noble Phantasms as him to stay alive. But my body will die if I project that many.

"――――Roll out. Bullet, clear." I save the overflowing images. …The overflowing swords are ones that will pierce me from within. Emiya Shirou will be pierced from within if the circuit cannot be controlled.

"Oh. You made a lot this time. 10, 15, 17… I see. You reproduced all the Noble Phantasms you can see." "Wh――――at?"

"Do not take me lightly. What sort of hero would I be if I could not see through a magus? I can easily tell how many spells you are working on." "――――――――"

His words are unexpected. The king of heroes that possesses thousands of Noble Phantasms can figure out my magic just by looking at me?

"Then let me grade them. Well―――I will not allow any one of them to stay in this world, no matter how good they may be." Gilgamesh raises his hand.

"Ku――――!" My reaction is delayed. His words caught my attention, creating a hopeless delay――――!

The seventeen Noble Phantasms are released. "King's Treasures". A fraction of them charge in, as if to tell me playtime is over…! "―――Freeze out, sword bullet full open…!"

"Ha――――guh――――!" My body wavers. The swords shooting forward and the swords created from within me crash and shake the surroundings.

"Ah――――ga――――……!!!!" I can't block all of them. Even if I project seventeen Noble Phantasms, I can only give form to them one at a time. Even if I can form them in succession, I am no match for him as he can release all of them at once――――!

"Haha, you are holding well with your fragile works, but you should not be able to last more than a few more blows. Come on, you need to hurry or you will die." I hear him laughing behind the swords. Twelve more enemy Noble Phantasms――――!

"But you sure are foolish. You know you cannot beat me, so you try to regain the Holy Grail. That decision is correct. You are not even a match for me."

"――――!" My fingertips are burning. The magical energy I emit and the heat from the crashing Noble Phantasms burn my fingertips mercilessly. Seven more Noble Phantasms――――!

"But then, why not just kill Shinji? It is a sure way to stop the Holy Grail. I am sure you two had a way to kill him without going across that mud. ――――Heh. Such hypocrisy to try to save him. As expected from a lowlife――――!"

"Ah――――ha, ah――――" …It's burning out. My circuit is completely burning off. I don't have enough. I can't match this man with [wrap text=̢this"]this small circuit――――!

"Damn, why……!?" Why can't I block them? He said I can beat him. So why am I not even a match?

――――Does that mean… I'm making a mistake?

"――――Ah, ah――――!" Three more Noble Phantasms. Will my body last until I block them? No, I should be thinking about the difference between my projection and Archer's――――

"――――――Huh?" All senses freeze at that instant. I don't even pay heed to the three approaching blades. The golden Servant is taking out a sword. A strange sword. My mind burns up the instant I see it.

"You said you will save the girl, right?" He laughs while the sword roars. I eliminate the three remaining blueprints in my circuit and concentrate on reading his sword.

But. "――――I… can't read it…?" I was able to read every sword. But I can't even read that sword's structure.

"Then show me. Show me what you can save with your imitations!" ――――A storm of chaos. The wind emitted from his sword even blows away his own Noble Phantasms as it comes at me.

"――――――――" My mind is still blank. I can't come up with any countermeasures, so I just release the remaining magical energy within me――――

"――――――――Let us."

And the swordsman readies his sword. The only stance for the man who does not have a stance. A fatal technique that cuts his enemy by simultaneously executing blows from different angles. She has experienced the move before. …The previous one only had an arc to surround his enemy and a vertical slash. That is why she was able to avoid it and live up to this day.

But the real technique has three slashes. A circular slash and a vertical slash. …And probably a horizontal slash that cuts anyone that escapes sideways. There is nowhere to run if the three attacks are executed all at once. Once in range, the other two attacks will cut you even if one is blocked. One cannot escape sideways, and the longsword will reach out even if one retreats.

―――Demonic technique, Tsubame Gaeshi. A godly technique that even surpasses the Servants. The ultimate attack, perfected by an anonymous swordsman using all his life.

The longsword trembles. His body moves in with one step. The distance to attack Saber. Prison-like arcs are executed from a range that does not allow any defense! "――――――――" Saber does not use her holy sword. She cannot use her Noble Phantasm at this range. No matter how fast Saber may be, Assassin's Tsubame Gaeshi is many times faster. Her neck will be cut the instant she puts magical energy into her sword. Therefore, her only weapon is pure technique.

――――The blade begins its arcs. She feels despair from its precision and speed. Such an attack――――how much training was needed to get this far?

"――――――――" Fear is the only thing on her mind. It cannot be blocked. This technique is a technique of carnage that challenges God with mere human skill. Only God would be able to block it.

"Haa――――――――" She gulps. There is a flash as small as a grain of sand. She does not think about what it is, nor if it is correct. She risks everything she has on her instinct. "Ahh――――――――!" She charges at her "victory" with all her might.

What did the fictional swordsman think of that? "――――――――Kuh." Silver armor passes through the gap beside his arm. The opening between the swordsman's left arm and his waist. Saber must have figured out that the small opening is the blind spot of the technique.

Even though the attack still chips off her armor, Saber curls up and flies through the opening. An exquisite skill that is only possible with her precognition――――her great instinct. She was able to predict the true Tsubame Gaeshi since she experienced it once.

―――But that is not the surprising part. It is her determination that kept her alive. She trusted her insight and put all her power into the slight opening. She shook off the fear that she would be slashed if she was even a moment late and charged into the small opening. Therefore… Her determination is the "strength" that defeated the demonic technique.

"Ah, gu……――――!" But the match isn't over yet. Even though Tsubame Gaeshi was avoided, her enemy is right beside her, and she charged in with speed quicker than the attack. It is not easy to recover her stance from such a charge――――!

"Ha――――――――!" The longsword strikes. The attack is the quickest, even if it may not be as quick as the demonic technique. But. Her attack is a bit quicker than his.

"Gu――――nu." He closes his mouth. He shuts his lips tight and tenses up so that he will not fall down. Blood from his lungs fills his mouth, but he swallows it so that it will not spill out. ―――The golden-haired girl is below him. The way of the swordsman does not allow him to dirty her with his blood.

"――――――――" Saber does not say anything. Her golden hair flutters down to the ground. …It is a wonder that her head is still attached. …It is a miracle that her limbs are still attached. …She felt that her body would be slashed the instant she went into that opening.

That was the only difference. The longsword… The swordsman's technique would have stayed invincible if his longsword had not been bent.

―――The air is shaking. Another battle is still going on behind the mountain gate. "……" Unsure of what to say, Saber looks up at the dying swordsman. To that…

"――――――――Go." The swordsman tells her without looking at her. How much meaning was contained in that word? Saber pulls out her sword and runs up the stairs. She does not turn back to the swordsman. She runs to fulfill her role.

"Hah―――I thought she was a beautiful bird, but she turned out to be a lion." He murmurs as if that was to be expected. She avoided something that even a sparrow could not avoid, so she cannot be something that is admired.

"―――Hm. I was confident in my skills to see through women. I guess I need more training in that as well." The swordsman complains with a shrug. His elegant clothing has lost its colors already. His stomach is pierced and his bloodstained feet are vague. He looks down at them and sits.

The branches shake. The wind coming down from the top of the mountain rustles the forest. And when the flowers scatter, the wind stops, and the moon darkens… …The swordsman has disappeared without trace, as if his existence was just an illusion.

At that instant… I develop the strongest weapon I have projected. But it doesn't even serve as a shield. The sword of separation. The mysterious sword cuts through the wind, destroys six Noble Phantasms, and cuts my body apart.

It's disappearing. The circuit is disconnected, and Tohsaka's magical energy disperses without a place to go. "Da mn."

I curse my worthlessness. I knew that I'm unskilled. I curse myself for never thinking twice. Why is this all the magical energy I have? Just a bit more… If I could reach into that darkness just a bit more, I could have fought like him――――

――――I fall to the ground. I fly through the air and crash to the ground with great force.

I don't feel pain from the landing. I don't have such a sense anymore. Even my mind is going blank. …Before I die. The only thing filling my head is the surprise that my limbs are still attached.

"So that is all you can manage? I guess a fraud is just a fraud. You cannot save anyone."

…My heartbeat gets weaker. My lungs do not move, rendering me unable to breathe.

"It would have been more fun if I let Archer live. He was a faker as well, but his ideal was not vulgar."

I can't see anything, but it seems it's not because my eyes are broken. My organs are just too messed up to function as they should. Maybe it's fortunate. I don't have any sense of pain, so I should be able to die easily―――

"―――Oh. I remember, now that I think about it. He said your ideal is a borrowed one. How conceited of you to think that you can manage anything when you have nothing you created yourself."

―――I can't do that. Even if I might go crazy from the pain, I need to regain my consciousness. The deep part of me says so as it points to that place.

"A superhero? A world where no one gets hurt? Ridiculous. No world can preserve happiness without harming anyone. Humans cannot live without sacrifices. 'Peace' is a myth created by those who cower in fear of the dark. ―――You lowlife. Your ideal is just an excuse to cover up your ugliness."

"――――――――" I raise my arm which should not be moving. My fallen body and my dying mind. I raise my hand to grab something, like I did on that day.

…I don't know what's funny, but someone's laughing. It seems like everyone in this world is laughing.

A fake wish. A borrowed ideal. Someone scorning me, saying that my dream won't come true.

…Yes, that's exactly right. My wishes are all borrowed. I just admired the wish of wanting to help someone because it's beautiful. So there's nothing that came from within me. My body has always been driven by a curse-like obsession with helping others.

That's why it's a fake. Such an imitation cannot save anything. First of all, I'm not sure what needs to be saved.

But. But I still felt that it's beautiful.

It was not born from within me. I just saw someone save others and copied that behavior. I was empty back then. Everyone died, and I could not save anyone. I could not bear the fear in front of me unless I gave up, saying that humans are weak.

――――That's why…

That's why I admired the ideal. Because it was something I did not have, and its sanctity brought tears to my eyes. Is that wrong? Is it a fake if it's not mine? Even if my wish is fake, is it wrong for it to come true?

――――No. I don't think it's wrong.

"Ah――――――――Ah."

I don't care, even if it's fake. I'll make it come true, even if it's an impossible ideal. It's an impossible wish from the start. An unreachable utopia.

―――Then, even if Emiya Shirou is a fake… What's there has to be true.

"―――That's right. I already knew that."

I know that I can't save everything. I know that there's no help without sacrifices. I know that reality is like that because I became an adult. I know it's only an ideal, but I still continue to seek it.

It's not the end after someone gets hurt. Even if the best possible outcome has someone get hurt to save many others, I still want to pursue a resolution where nobody is hurt. That there is no justice in this world, and that people die meaninglessly in reality… I don't think such words are right…!

And he reaches this place at the end.

What I believe in. What I believed in. He said that they are all a fake.

But the one who said so followed through on his hypocrisy. …Then I can keep going. I don't care, even if it's a fake. First of all, I'm too simple-minded to worry about such a thing.

I make up my mind on this hill of swords. …That if I can save the world in front of me, I will fight for it. I didn't even need to think about it. My world is small. This small "world" is all I have ever been able to create.

――――That's right. I am the bone of my sword.

…Yes, so I can endure most things. Emiya Shirou can keep his dream until the very end. …Even if… What I seek is nowhere.

"―――So that's it!" "――――!?"

I raise my body. I can move my limbs again as soon as my consciousness returns. My body still moves. It's a wonder that I'm still alive, let alone moving, after his attack, but I don't care.

If I'm alive, there must be a reason why. It's just that I don't know why.

"Did you project a shield…? I was reluctant to use that sword, but it should have been fatal. ―――You are rather tenacious, boy."

"You were reluctant…? Heh, what's there to hold back when you have so many weapons?"

I keep my distance while I catch my breath. I know how to do it now. I should be able to do it with the backup from Tohsaka. The problem is the casting. Even though I have it memorized, I don't know how fast I can get it working until I try――――

"――――Heh. That was a sword that only a ruler is allowed to use. I showed it to you for the fun of it, but it is not something to be used against a lowlife. Saber is the only one allowed to fight against it. I will not be able to face Saber if I sully it on one such as you."

Numerous Noble Phantasms appear. But they are all third-rate. The difference is obvious after seeing that previous sword.

But they are not something I can take lightly. They are more than enough to kill me. ―――The difference in our powers is the same. Even though I managed to survive the previous attack, I cannot match that Servant with my projection.

"Oh, are you done with your copying? So you finally understand that it is useless, huh? ―――Then disappear. I will not even leave a piece of your copying brain behind――――!"

The Noble Phantasms are released. But… "Shirou…!" A blue rushing wind repels them.

"Saber…!" Gilgamesh jumps back instantly. Even Gilgamesh is cautious against Saber. He wants to avoid hand-to-hand combat with her, as his technique is inferior.

"―――Good. Are you all right, Shirou? Sorry that I am late. I will take over now. Please stay away―――"

"No. I can manage Gilgamesh by myself. You're the one to go, Saber."

"Wh―――――" "――――at?"

"W-What are you saying, Shirou…!? You will fight him in that state of yours? No, a magus cannot match a Servant in the first place. You should know that…!"

"Yeah. But Gilgamesh and I are an exception. Trust me. I'll probably be able to beat him." …Saber gasps. Saber is surprised because she believes my words.

"Please hurry to the back, Saber. Tohsaka is stopping the Holy Grail by herself. You're the only one who can destroy it." "――――――――" She closes her eyes once. A few seconds… No, it's not even for a second.

"Good luck. I will go save Rin." She says what I want to hear the most and steps away from Gilgamesh.

Her silver armor turns away. "Saber." I stop her just once.

"―――I could not save you." And I say it. I say it in place of the one who cared for her.

"I don't think that Holy Grail is the one you seek. …Go take a good look at it so that you won't make a mistake next time." "――――Shirou?"

"…Sorry. I can't put this into words real well. I guess I wasn't fit to be your Master. So――――" I couldn't even figure out your true desire.

"That is not true. You are my Master, Shirou." "―――Saber." "I shall go fulfill my role as a Servant. We shall talk afterwards."

She runs without turning back. She is gallant and looks like the wind.

Saber has left. She believed in my promise that I would win and went to save Tohsaka.

――――Let's start.

I have no hesitation now. All that's left is for me to defeat the enemy in front of me.

"Fu――――haha, hahahaha!!!!!"

"Are you mad? You are letting go of your only chance of victory so that you can save that girl? ―――Idiot. It is a lie to sacrifice yourself. You are a true hypocrite for not being able to realize that. Yes, I shall praise you for that."

The Noble Phantasms are set. ―――There are about thirty of them. If I want to block them, I'll have to create it.

"…Imitations, faker, huh? Yeah, that doesn't sound too bad. I certainly am a faker." I raise my arm. I close one eye and look inside of me.

"Hm―――?" "…I had the wrong idea. My magic isn't creating swords. First of all, I can't do such a skillful thing."

That's right. Tohsaka said it too. I can only use one kind of magic. Strengthening and projection are just a byproduct of it.

"…That's right. There's only one thing I can do, and that is to put shape to my mind." I grab my right hand with my left and glare at Gilgamesh.

"――――I am the bone of my sword." I cast the spell. Casting is only a suggestion to change myself. These words are to connect Emiya Shirou.

"I see. I am done with hearing your nonsense." The numerous Noble Phantasms are released. ――――I'll make it. This is why one of my eyes is open. I pull out a shield from the hill to block the oncoming Noble Phantasms――――!

"Guh――――!" The swarm of swords batter against the shield. The shield is me myself. My body breaks up as each petal of the shield is pierced and damaged.

"―――Steel is my body, and fire is my blood." There's only one place I need to reach. The flowing power fills me to capacity in an instant.

"Wh――――at?" What caused his shock? Is it his Noble Phantasms that cannot penetrate through a single shield, or is it the magical energy in front of him?

"―――I have created over a thousand blades. Unaware of loss. Nor aware of gain."

It breaks. The overflowing magical energy cannot be controlled. Magical energy ten times the capacity of the circuit breaks its foundations trying to escape―――― "―――I cannot break through―――?" Blood trickles from my mouth. The shield is full of holes now. Even though the Noble Phantasms did not reach me, my body is full of holes. But still―――― "―――Withstood pain to create weapons. Waiting for one's arrival." The magical energy rages around. But I don't care. This body is a circuit specialized to use this "one magic" from the start. Then there should be more. There should be something beyond this if I can't make it with this circuit.

…No, it is already there. It's just that I can't see it. There was no limitation to the circuit from the start. If it was darkness, not a wall, that stopped the magical energy… Then the limit is somewhere beyond the darkness――――

"――I have no regrets. This is the only path."

Magical energy ten times the capacity of the circuit breaks its foundations trying to escape――――and I use a hundred circuits to take in a thousand times the capacity.

"―――My whole life was 'unlimited blade works'"

I cast the true name. At that instant. Everything breaks and everything reforms.

――――Fire runs. The fire becomes a wall and creates a border, changing the world. A desolate land remains. A hill with numerous swords.

"――――――――" What does he think of the scenery? The golden Servant stands there with a gruesome expression.

"…That's right. I don't create swords. I create a world that contains infinite swords. This is the only magic allowed for me."

A desolate land. A graveyard of swords, devoid of life. Every sword exists in this world, as swords are reproduced just at a glance.

This is Emiya Shirou's world. A Reality Marble. It is the greatest forbidden magic that embodies the caster's internal world. This is heroic spirit Emiya's Noble Phantasm and the only weapon I possess.

Everything is here, and nothing is here. That is why this is called Unlimited Blade Works. This is the only definite answer obtained by the one who lived as a sword all his life.

"―――Reality Marble. So this is your ability…!" I take a step forward. Stuck in the ground next to me are the swords that are floating behind Gilgamesh.

"There's no need to be surprised. These are all imitations. As you say, these are all trifling swords." I reach out my arms. The swords come out as if to accept me as their user.

"But there is no rule that an imitation cannot defeat the original. If you say you are the original, I shall surpass every one of your weapons and destroy your existence." I move forward. In front of me is the Servant with a thousand treasures.

"Here I come, king of heroes――――do you have enough weapons in stock?"

"Hah――――you forget your place, lowlife――――!" The enemy opens the "gate" and readies numerous Noble Phantasms. I run across the deserted land. The two groups of swords start the final match.

“What is that?”

The first thing Saber sees after getting to the lake is a giant mountain of meat.

She is not a normal knight. She fought many monsters back when she was called a hero. She has even fought “dragons”, considered the strongest of the fantasy races.

But even Saber falters against the mountain of meat. It is not because of its ugliness. It is because she can tell that the lump of meat and the curse flowing out of it are the same as her.

“A Servantcan a Servant turn out to be that different if the summoning is done in the wrong way?”

Or is that the power of the Holy Grail? She stares at it and shakes her head.

“Rin…! Where are you, Rin…!?”

She runs to the lake and yells to the other side.

She is hesitant to enter the black mud. It is not because it would be unpleasant. Her instincts tell her that as a half-spirit, she cannot touch it.

“!?”

She hears a voice. It is weak, but she hears her Master. She looks at the mountain of meat and

“Rin……!?”

She steps forward without hesitation.

‘Hold on…! No, don’t come in, Saber…!’

“……!” Saber stops. She stops her feet and glares at the mountain of meat while holding up her sword.

“But Rin…!”

‘Just don’t…! You’ll turn into this if you touch the mud. Please stay there and get ready to use your Noble Phantasm. This thing will explode soon. Use your Noble Phantasm on this before that…!’

Saber cannot nod to her master’s words. …She can tell that the lump of meat is about to hatch. The squirms are turning into throbs and the mud is spreading ever further.

The lake has turned black, and the mud is spilling onto the ground.

…That thing is growing.

The world’s restraining power will be activated if that thing is left alone. It is natural for her to destroy it with her holy sword. But to do that

“Please get out, Rin…! I can do it once you get out!”

‘…Yeah. All right, I’ll leave it to you. But go ahead and use it if I don’t make it out on time.

…The contract between us will go away, but you should be fine if Shirou is alive.’

“Do not say such a thing…! I do not care. I can handle this curse”

Saber runs to the black mud so she can get to that lump of meat.

But her body does not move. Her body stops when she tries to go near the lake.

“Rin, did you use the Command Spell?”

‘…Of course. I can’t let the only one who can destroy the Holy Grail die.

I told you it’s all good. I’ll easily get out from here. You can rest assured and stand by with your Noble Phantasm.’

She sounds calm and composed, like always.

“Rin.”

But it does not need to be said that it is just a bluff. The island of meat on the other side… There is nowhere for her Master to run.

“Yeah, right. Well, talk is cheap.”

She murmurs while being surrounded by arms made out of the meat. The situation is hopeless. Matou Shinji was saved. …She ripped off the blood vessels and nerves connected to the meat to let Shinji out. One can say he’s “alive”, ignoring all the after-effects he may have. No, he looks like he is just unconscious, so one could say that he is healthier than the girl carrying him.

“…The problem is after that. I guess it would be desperate if it gets its heart taken away. Will it let me go if I give Shinji back?”

She slowly moves while she stares at the tentacles blocking her way.

But there is no exit. The tentacles are blocking the way out to the lake. Even if she escapes the tentacles trying to swallow her, she will not be able to get past that wall.

“……Crap, my powers…”

She almost falls along with Shinji, but she desperately keeps herself up. She went through the cursed sea and even performed neurosurgery to separate Matou Shinji from the mountain of meat. She went as far as using her reserve magical energy that she hadn’t used for ages, but

“…Guh… That idiot. He took too much of my magical energy without any reserve. …I’m all empty now thanks to him…”

She bears the dizziness as she complains. But she’s not serious.

And it wouldn’t matter even if she did have more power. The tentacles around her are not moving because their target is standing still. They should react right away once they find out that the thing in their body is poison.

Tohsaka Rin and Matou Shinji are alive because they do not have magical energy to be consumed.

“……! …But I guess this is it… It’s getting hard for me to stay standing”

Her vision becomes hazy. Even though she has a foothold, she is still on the mud. Her nerves are getting further infiltrated with each passing second. She will become the new core of the Holy Grail if she falls down onto the meat.

But before that…

“…I’m sorry, Saber. You probably won’t obey me, so I’ll force you to do it.”

She has one more Command Spell. That’s enough for her to order Saber to use her holy sword.

“……And I have to apologize to you too.

I couldn’t… save… Shinji”

‘Just run. I do not want to hear such whining.’

“What?”

She stops her collapsing body. That voice. The voice coming into her head is definitely that of the Servant she has made a contract with.

“Wai”

There’s no time to waste. She knows his personality all too well. He told her to run, so he must have done something that she won’t escape unless she does as she’s told!

“……!!!!!!”

She runs. The arrows coming down from the sky are literally a heavy rain. They destroy the tentacles, the ground, and everything in her path!

“Ah, ku!”

There is no time to turn back. She runs full-speed while carrying Shinji.

“!”

She jumps into the lake. The arrows have swept the black mud away to make her an escape route. It is only for a short while, but there is only dirty water between her and the opposite shore.

“Hah, hah!”

She runs across the lake while carrying Matou Shinji. She runs with all her might, mud splashing around her.

“Please, Saber…!”

Her magical energy replies to the yelling voice.

There is no need to check.

The golden sword mows down everything in its path with its overwhelming power.

The mountain of meat is cut in half and breaks down.

The black mud evaporates, and the light turns the lake into a flat field.

“”

It is a waterfall of light that eliminates everything. Bathed in the light, the swordsman accepts that her battle has ended.

“This is the end. My battle is over.”

Who did she say that to? The wielder of the holy sword is on her knees and watches the light with a flood of emotions.

The Holy Grail is breaking down.

The thing she sought, the thing that should have saved her. She destroyed it with her own hands and finally realized her mistake.

One boy and one hero.

The man that got twisted at the end of his ideal was still a boy.

His regrets are so heavy that they cannot all be carried. His crimes are so deep that they cannot be atoned for. But there was something he did not give up on. The knight in red finally arrived at an answer at the very end.

Thenshe has to move forward as well.

The end where she took her hands off of the sword. She will run past that hill under her own will.

“The contract is complete. You are victorious, Rin.”

The holy sword fades away. She still has some magical energy left. She can stay in this world if she pushes herself. If she canshe would like to see what awaits them in the end.

“But that is not my role. Shirou has Rin.”

Her body continues to disappear and the knight vanishes from this world as if engulfed by the light.

Like a brave gust of wind. The king that sought the Holy Grail sets off for the hill of destiny without leaving a trail of memories behind.

“Hah!”

I oppose the longsword with a longsword. The swords break each other and the shards are sent flying.

“Damn, do not”

A curved sword appears behind him.

“…Overestimate yourself, kid!”

But I pull out the curved sword by my feet faster than him. And I swing it straight at him!

“!”

Gilgamesh retreats. I close the distance at once, pull out a sword, and slash at him.

“Guh, why…!

Why am I losing to a mongrel’s sword…!?”

I crash my swords against the appearing Noble Phantasms.

“HaaHaa, haa, haa, ha!”

I’m not thinking. My body and mind will fail if I stop. I will keep moving forward now. That’s why I will keep moving forward. The instant I see his Noble Phantasm, I reel in the exact same one and swing it with all my might!

“Impossibleam I being cornered by such a sham…!?”

“Fuh, hah!”

The sounds of swords crashing echo through the area. He cannot handle my attacks and has to destroy my weapon with his.

That will be the cause of his defeat.

He is the greatest heroic spirit, as he has over a thousand Noble Phantasms at his leisure.

But he is only an “owner”. He does not have one weapon, so he is not a “wielder” who can use his weapon to its maximum potential.

Even in this world, I am no match against any other Servants. I cannot match the ultimate one even with infinite swords. Gilgamesh must have the ability, but I do not.

Thereforethis is the only Servant I can match.

As we have the same ability, as we are both “owners”, I am always one step ahead of him since my swords are there, ready to be used…!

“DamnDamn, damndamndamndamn…!!! I did not think I would have to use my sword against a mongrel like you…!”

Gilgamesh raises his hand. The sword appearing behind him is the demonic sword, the only sword that does not exist in this world!

“I won’t let you!”

“Gah!?”

I swing my twin swords. The Kanshou and Bakuya I reel in slice off Gilgamesh’s arm that tries to reach for his sword! strike down Gilgamesh’s sword as he tries to reach for it!

“Wha”

The weapons stop. His arm and sword fall sword falls to the ground, leaving him defenseless.

“Haa!”

My body acts before I can think. Confident in my victory, my limbs move to slash the king of heroes

“!”

He jumps back. Barely avoiding the twin swords, Gilgamesh retreats still further.

“Kuhyou are stronger than me here…!”

Gilgamesh admits his defeat and tries to retreat.

“I won’t let you escape.”

I won’t let him escape. I’ll lose if he regains his composure. I have to settle the match right here!

“Dammit!”

“Damn!”

He must have realized he will not be able to escape, as he pulls out a Noble Phantasm from behind him. But I’m faster.

I’ll surely

“Huh?”

“What?”

Our voices overlap. The change happens in an instant.

The light coming from the lake eliminates the hill of swords. A great magical energy has smashed away the already-disappearing Reality Marble.

That’s fine.

The match is settled. I can beat this Servant by slashing him with my twin swords. But after the Reality Marble is blown away…

A black void.

A void big enough to swallow a human being.

It appears before meright on Gilgamesh.

“What?”

Gilgamesh looks down at his body in astonishment. …His body is being swallowed. The golden Servant is swallowed by the void appearing on his body.

“Wa”

Did he want to say “wait”? The void mercilessly swallows the Servant. …There was no way for him to escape. The void was open on his body. There is no way one can escape something that is on their body.

“What was that…?”

I stand there, dumbfounded. The void in front of me is shrinking.

…I don’t know what this is. But it seems Tohsaka and Saber were able to destroy the Holy Grail. My only guess is that the after-effect created the black void to eliminate Gilgamesh.

“……Phew. Anyway, now…”

Everything is over.

My twin swords disappear. The magical energy in me fades away.

“Ohcrap.”

And at the same time, fatigue assails me.

“…Damn. This is bad, I can’t walk.”

I want to go see how Tohsaka’s doing, but my body will not move. …Well, I’m sure she’ll be all right since Saber went to go save her.

“Right. I guess…”

I can rest a bit. And after I take a deep breath…

“What!?”

A chain wraps around my arm.

“……!” I gasp. The chain drags my body towards the void.

“Ah, kuh…!” I put power into my body, but I can’t resist. My feet slide across the ground towards the void…!

“Kufool. Does it not know Servants cannot become the core……!?”

“You…!”

He’s appearing from the void. Buthis body has melted here and there.

So that void must melt everything it swallows……!

“Guh, damn…!”

I try to get the chain off of me, but it doesn’t even budge. This chain even restrained Berserker. It’s not something I can pry off…!

“Ah, guh”

I’m being pulled towards it…! I’ll be swallowed like him if I go near that void…!

“Damn, are you trying to take me with you…!”

“Hah, I have no intention of dying…!!

Stay right there until I pull myself out, you lowlife!”

“You…”

He’s arrogant even in this situation…!

“Ohdamn”

But what can I do? I can’t get this chain off of me. I’ll be swallowed into that void along with him. Even if I hold my ground, he’ll pull himself out.

It means I’m going to die either way

[ukaiknowsbest]

Review: Tamayomi

[will contain spoilers]

Lately I have been pretty bored with the recent developments in Daiya no A and Oofuri. New Shonen anime stuff just don't appeal to me, so I bit the bullet and watched Tamayomi for at least one episode a day.

Like me, people would normally think "HOW TF ARE THEY GOING TO PLAY BASEBALL? AREN'T THEY WEARING SHORTS??? IS THIS JUST FANSERVICE?? OMYGOD"

But I did it. I watched the whole thing. 12 episodes.

And I enjoyed it.

THE SETUP/PLOT

pretty standard fare

Pitcher Yomi Takeda accidentally reunites with her childhood friend who's actually a nationals-level in middle school catcher when they both end up in the same highschool.

School: former powerhouse located in Saitama, now baseball club is almost non-existent. Yomi and a few other will try to revive the team from scratch.

Basically Shin Koshigaya is a brand new team where they struggle to look for new members and majority are first years.

They have to face other stronger teams even when they have a few members and some decent players.

Demographic is SEINEN (like oofuri, last inning, one outs, etc.)

CHARACTERS

Yomi Takeda as Main character and pitcher- skilled, resilient, funny, hardworking, does a lot of research which enabled her to perfect her form and hone her breaking ball. She keeps improving in a good pace too.

Tamaki Yamazaki former childhood friend of Yomi. Is a decent catcher in middle school. A bit well known. Good communicator.

Yoshino - team manager and coach. srsly she is a boss. She's not infallible but she tries her best.

and other decent players with adequate skill

For a sports anime they have decent cast. This is probably the closest we can currently get of a story where the girls are just focused on the sport, do their own strategizing/planning/training. All of them are cute but also serious about what they do.

There's no boys here so there's no talk about het-crushes and other distractions. It's a clamfest babyyyy.

I've seen a little of Major 2 (the one abt the son and his coed team) and I couldn't stand it because it was just slice of life in sportsy undertones.

There is also decent communication among all the players. It's pretty refreshing to watch. The catcher is well rounded and the pitcher is good. Everyone talk things out and there is not a lot of drama.

FANSERVICE

Wearing shorts to a sport that involves a lot of making contact with the ground is just illogical lmao.

Their school uniform skirt is pretty short

A little bit of their manager prodding the thighs of each person she meets but with good reason (she can tell how much muscle/exercise a person does just by a little prodding). It's a trope thing.

That's all. There are no panty shots, unnecessary locker room nudity, boob action, see through sweaty shirts. Most of the cringy things I've seen in other girls sports anime aren't present.

Eventually I even forget that they're wearing shorts or that it impedes their performance. It seems like it doesn't matter much to the characters so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I don't know if like the hugging or holding hands is considered fanservice. In my experiece we ladies just act like that irl. What they do is nothing out of the ordinary.

REALISM

3/5. They wear shorts and dont tie their hair up. The baseball part seem pretty decent though. The pacing of the story and matches was like watching IRL Koshien. It's all very clinical and straightforward.

Plus they include a lot of interesting baseball stuff which I haven't seen happen in early stages of other shonen anime like: specifically training the pitcher in other positions, showing what fielders yell to each other, letting other relievers start to reserve their ace (ppl can yell DnA did this but remember Tanba was injury boy throughout Act 1).

COMPARISON TO OTHER BASEBALL MANGA

based on technicality Tamayomi is prolly one of the top among baseball anime/manga I have seen.

Last Inning

Oofuri

Tamayomi

Daiya no A

Now don't chase me with pitchforks because of this ranking just yet. The fact that Shin Koshigaya coach's decisions and reasonings for plays and lineups are discussed makes the show at par with Last Inning and Oofuri. (we dont see DnA kataoka talk abt this sht like..ever)

Moreover Tamayomi has similar vibes to Oofuri/Big Windup but less dramatic. I do not think it's good for beginners too (especially with just 12 episodes). You need to have prior baseball knowledge to understand what the characters were doing.

However, this show is probably the most no-fuss baseball anime/manga I have watched. It does not rely on hype like DnA and it also don't have heavy topics like Oofuri and Last Inning. It's not wacky like One Outs and it's not uber slice of life like Cross Game. It's just baseball.

My minor complaint is that they don't give numbers when talking about things like pitching speed tho. It would've been more realistic if actual numbers were dropped XD

ART/ DESIGN/ANIMATION

A.k.a the thing most viewers complain about.

Character design is subpar. Everyone's faces are almost the same. You can tell who's the character not by face but by hair and height. Personally I don't mind this. I don't really look for realism in most things I watch. And I think the hair designs are cool.

Lots of people drop this show because of bad animation. There are shots/scenes where it's like I'm watching fanmade AMV's in nicovideo/youtube from the early 2000's. Pitching motions and Batting motions look like character movements in rpg games.

It's not really a problem for me though. I think it's charming for some reason. I don't mind it. A lot of people do but I'm not them.

CONCLUSION

NGL I wanted more. 12 episodes is too short. I hope a better animation company picks this up. I'm rewatching the whole thing because I enjoyed it a lot. I'll even check out the manga if I have time.

If anyone's interested here's my tamayomi livetweet thread

This is one of the closest thing I could get to what a decent girl sports anime looks like. If the character designs, art, animation and the uniforms were just better this show would have gone pretty far.

Compared to Shonen types of manga this was relaxing to watch, especially before bed. I'd honestly recommend it you wanna watch smth that doesnt involve a lot of feelings and drama but still feel like watching an actual sport.

Girls are fun. Finally.

[personal notes under the cut]

I get that people reading this would think I'm being too optimistic about a show they considered shtty but I kid you not, I dropped Bakuten (boys gymnastic's anime) coz even with it's wonderful animation i thought it was boring af.

I have dropped so many prettily animated shows coz i just cant get into the characters nor the story.

I've also said before in my Two Car review that I am actively avoiding shows with popular VA's. Idk much abt female VA's in anime, therefore watching Tamayomi was the perfect solution for me.

The reason I like tamayomi so much is that it gave me the same feeling of watching Summer Koshien 2021. I just think an anime that made me remember that kind of feeling was cool.

I'll rewatch hanebado next. wish me luck.

[mystery-salad]

OC Interview: Matthias

Tagged by @just-eyris-things 💖 and I'm late to the party but here we are!

INTRODUCTION

1. Can you introduce yourself?

He offers a charming smile, "Matthias , Commander of the Pact."

2. What is your gender identity, orientation and relationship status?

"I'm a bisexual man, and very much a free bachelor still." He gives a wink

3. Where and when were you born?

"Right here in Divinity's Reach twenty five years ago. Wonderful city to grow up in, made a lot of connections that got me to where I am today."

4. What is your weapon of choice and fighting style?

"While the standard sword and shield are the usual for soldiers like me, I prefer dual swords. I'm not one to take a defensive stance when I can charge right in against danger. It's good to take charge on and off the field of battle."

5. Lastly, are you happy?

He lets out a soft, charming chuckle before answering. "If I wasn't happy I surely would've moved on to other job propositions by now, my parents surely would prefer I took a safer role after my time in the Seraph. But there's something fulfilling about being able to travel and help people in a way I couldn't if I'd remained here."

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

1. What’s your family like? What is your relationship with them?

"Oh they're wonderful, despite their status they love to keep a low profile though, so I'll avoid dragging this question out too long. We get along well and I try to write or visit when the opportunity arises."

2. Have you ever ran away from home?

"Never even had the thought to, there wasn't much to regret or bemoan of my childhood." He smiles fondly as he recalls, "There were night sneaking out with friends of course, boys will be boys, but I'd always come back by morning. Hopefully to parents none the wiser I'd even left, though I was not as stealthy as I'd thought."

3. Would you consider marriage or having children?

"While I'm in such a dangerous line of work I wouldn't dream of raising a family. I'd hate to be one of those absent fathers off to war. But perhaps, when retirement inevitably comes knocking and it's time to pass the torch on, I may settle down and find The One."

4. Do you secretly hate one of your friends?

"Of course not! I've had nothing but the most trustworthy and kind friends here. And while I know rumors spread that I and my co-Commander, Aildyn (@ascalonianpicnic), had a rocky start to our partnership, I can assure that the two of us work wonderfully together. Just a small cultural conventions bump was all."

5. Which friend knows everything about you?

"Oh, telling any friend everything leaves little to still keep each other on your toes does it? We all have our stories and dalliances we save for more private moments." His smile softens a little, as if fondly thinking of someone. "Nevertheless there is someone who knows the most about me, I'll keep her name secret to avoid any unwanted attention it may garner for her."

ASKED BY FANS

1. Are you literate? Have you been to school?

He feigns insult before offering a smile softening any potential misunderstanding on the action, "Me, illiterate? Id never hear the end of it from my family if I was, with how expensive the schooling I received was. And I highly doubt Logan would have put forth someone lacking in the ability to hold up the more tedious side of running an organization."

2. The eeriest prediction you made that later came true?

"I'm not one for predictions really, I prefer to live in the moment and enjoy what surprises may come."

3. What is something you were embarrassingly late to realize?

"Hmm, I like to pride myself on being observant, so this isn't a particularly easy one to recall. But as a child, it took me quite a few years to realize that not all 'bite sized food was actually bite sized. Had some hilarious moments at dinner parties my parents hosted, not that they'd agree with the results."

4. Do you have mental health or physical issues?

"I'm quite proud to say I'm in tip top shape, physically and mentally. The safety of the world is in very stable hands." He holds his hands out slightly for flourishing emphasis before settling back for the next question.

5. What is your current main goal?

"While we are between dragon threats at the moment, a wonderfully relaxing place to be, we do in fact have some behind the scenes research going on in a few various matters. I'm not at public liberty to talk about then yet, but rest assured when the Pact makes another move you'll be the first to know the scoop."

CHOICES

1. Drink or food?

"Drink of course, a nice drink with friends can happen anywhere at any time. And I'm quite the amicable socialite if I say so myself."

2. Cats or dogs?

"I enjoy both, though I prefer the independence of cats. They know what they want at all times, and I'm afraid I'm far too busy for the training a dog would require of me."

3. Early bird or night owl?

"I'm an early riser by nature, nothing like getting a solid mourning routine and breakfast in before starting the day!"

4. Optimist or pessimist?

"I fancy myself an optimist, this job would get oppressively depressing otherwise wouldn't it? You've got to be able to focus on the bright side as you look forward."

5. Sassy or sarcastic?

"I enjoy some sarcasm here and there, sass has little use in mature conversation aside from hindering the mood. Sarcasm meanwhile, can still let things roll forward with intent thrown in."

HAVE YOU EVER

1. Been caught sneaking out?

He laughs, "While I'd underestimate the count of how many times my parents caught me either sneaking out or back in after a fun night with friends, I'm sure they'd overestimate it. But yes, they've caught me at least once."

2. Broke a bone?

"I've broken an arm or leg here and there, sometimes you just slip up or fall the wrong way of course. Especially when your enemies would like to cause far worse harm. But thankfully we have access to wonderful healers, and I've never been down for long."

3. Received flowers?

The admirers of the Pact and the hard work we do are very kind, they certainly make their adoration and appreciation known. I've received more flowers than I'd have room for even if I filled my office with vases."

4. Ghosted someone?

"Of course not, I'd hate to leave someone hanging and wondering what happened. Anything I enter into, I intend to see through to however it ends."

5. Pretended to laugh at a joke you didn’t get?

"We all have moments of polite convention, and not every joke appeals to every sense of humor. I try to be discerning when necessary, but I've laughed at a fare number of jokes I simply didnt get."

He stands up, giving a polite bow to the interviewer. "Thank you for extending this invitation to me, it's always wonderful knowing how admirers feel and being able to share with the general public that we heroes are just like everyone else."

It's important to know that 99% of this interview is a bold faced lie

I think pretty much everyone's been tagged by now! At least those who want to do it! So I simply extend the invitation to say I tagged you, and mention me if you do this too! I'd love to see others who haven't gotten to this yet either 💜

[tarlos-spain]

Comfortember Day 14 - Crackling fire

Fandom: 9-1-1

Pairing: Eddie Diaz/Evan "Buck" Buckley

Characters: Eddie Diaz, Evan "Buck" Buckley

The flame between us

"Are you serious? You're a fireman, you've got a fireplace at home and you don't know how to use it."

Buck shrugged not knowing how to respond.

Eddie stared at the chimney, which was full of junk and was giving off dust all over the place. He turned back to Buck who was looking at him as if expecting him to make the great scientific discovery of the century.

"Are you serious? You're a fireman, you've got a fireplace at home and you don't know how to use it."

Buck shrugged not knowing how to respond.

"Precisely, since I'm a fireman, I don't like to play with fire when I don't have to. That's why I called you, I know you have a fireplace in your house and I've seen you light it. They say it's going to be very cold this week and I'd like to light my fireplace."

Eddie sighed and laughed.

"Let me see what I can do it, because this fireplace is more modern than mine and I don't want to mess it up." "More modern? Are there more modern fireplaces than others?" "Yes, Buck, there are different kinds of fireplaces and each one works in a different way. Come look."

Buck stood next to Eddie and followed with his eyes what his companion kept telling him.

"Well I don't see any big difference, really."

Buck turned to Eddie and suddenly found his partner's face pressed against his face. They stood like that for a moment, looking at each other. Buck lowered his gaze to Eddie's lips, but quickly withdrew it, hoping Eddie wouldn't notice, but as he looked up again, he realized he wasn't the only one looking at the other's lips.

They both pulled back at the same time, turned around and stood at a safe distance.

They both knew they were behaving like children or worse. Both knew how they felt about each other and both suspected how their partner felt, but neither had wanted to talk about it for fear of being wrong.

Their dating life had not been the best in recent years. Eddie had lost the mother of his child and then had started dating Anna whom, perhaps too late, he had realized he didn't love. Buck hadn't fared much better, first Abby, then the odd fling here and there and then the stupid story he'd had with Taylor.

Worst of all was knowing you're in love with your best friend, knowing you've had a crush on him from the first moment you've seen him, but there's always been something that's gotten in the way and you've done nothing.

So now they were there, looking at each other, dying to tell the other person how they felt, because they were both at the right time, because they had both dumped the person they were dating and they both knew Christopher would be thrilled for the three of them to start a family.

"Let's get this fireplace going." Eddie finally said. "But first we're going to have to clean it up a bit so the smoke doesn't build up."

Eddie also didn't really have much of an idea about how to start a fireplace other than his own or how to clean it, so when he wanted to realize it, after getting down to business, he found himself covered in ash that fell on him, knocked him to the floor and filled half the room with smoke.

He coughed loudly enough to scare Buck. He heard him say something to him, but the coughing was too loud and he heard nothing.

"Eddie! Eddie!" "I'm all right, I'm all right. A little smoke isn't going to kill me." "A little smoke? You've filled up with ash and dust, you're all gray." Eddie looked at his hands and arms and clothes. It was true. it looked like the remnants of a volcano had fallen on him. "Why don't you get out of these clothes and take a shower? We both know that smoke poisoning..." "Buck, take it easy, I'm fine."

But his partner was nervous, got up and started pacing.

Eddie got up, went after him and grabbed him so he would stop and look him in the eye.

"Buck, I mean it, I'm fine."

Buck nodded, he knew, he knew it had been silly that it was just dust and ash, that they'd clean it up in two minutes. But he couldn't stop thinking that something bad could happen to Eddie at any moment. He couldn't stop thinking about how he had almost lost him to a gunshot, a guy who had decided to pick him out to kill him.

"You're shaking." Eddie told him and suddenly he was hugging him, the two of them quiet, the two of them in complete silence until Buck burst out laughing. "What did I miss?" "At this rate, we're both going to have to take a shower, because you got me all dusty." "Sorry for trying to comfort you."

Eddie tried to pull away from him, but Buck and grabbed now, pulled him now and hugged him back.

They hadn't had much time to hug or be quiet, what with the blackout and Anna and Maddie and everything that had happened in their lives over the last few weeks.

Buck closed his eyes and noticed Eddie's hand on his head, in his hair, stroking it and suddenly they were looking at each other, they were both asking the other if they could step forward; if it was a good time, if it was what the other wanted.

The intense kiss that brought them together was silent but spoke volumes to both of them. Words were not really necessary for the other to understand.

They lay on the ground, among the ash that soon covered their naked bodies and silence dominated everything, because they knew each other too well to break their intimacy.

[katnissmellarkkk]

Summary: At the Seventy-Fourth Reaping for The Hunger Games, volunteering is outlawed, thanks to a tribute four years prior. Because of this, when Katniss’ sister Prim’s name is chosen from the bowl, there’s nothing she can do but hope that Peeta Mellark, past victor and now Prim’s mentor, can somehow bring her sister home alive. (Obviously heavy on Everlark.) 

AN: Hi! I don’t really have a big author’s note or anything--at least, I don’t think I do? We’ll see how long this trails on--but this is one of the fics I’ve been working on for a while. It’s multi-chaptered so there’s gonna be a lot more coming in the future, but this first chapter is honestly a little similar to the original book, with some (significant) deviations here and there, but after this first chapter, this story becomes extremely different from canon. I gotta thank, obviously, @rosegardeninwinter​ for a). making me my pretty lil banner and for b). reading the million, unpolished, unedited screenshots of my drafts that I’m sure ya’ll got tired of really quick. And also for encouraging me to write this in the first place. And also, I gotta thank everyone who liked and reblogged the lil story edit I posted months ago for this concept. It really encouraged me to write this concept out. (I’m talking about this edit right here if you forgot or never saw x). Okay, anyways, I’m talking too much but thank you! Also link to this story on AO3 [x].

Chapter One :

I stare out into the sky, introspective, as I wait for familiar footsteps to approach. The footfalls of my hunting partner, my friend even, Gale, still remain absent, despite our longstanding agreement to hunt on Reaping Day, no matter how hot it is, or how scarce the game, or how worried we may be deep inside.

Of course, how could a couple kids from the Seam not worry about Reaping Day? At least a slight bit, deep down?

Reaping Day. The day that decides the almost absolute fate of a lucky—as our assigned escort, straight from the Capitol itself, so proudly proclaims—boy and girl.

We're District Twelve. The smallest and one of the poorest districts in the country of Panem. There's an almost guarantee that whoever gets their name picked from the reaping bowl, even the strongest eighteen-year-old boy in the district, will have an almost sure fate of death. Likely before the number of tributes drops below twenty.

Tributes from our district almost never fare well inside the arena.

Almost never.

We have had a few winners in history, two of which are still around, but a few out of seventy-three games isn't inspiring much hope in anyone today.

The wind breezes against my arms, prickling the hair at the back of my neck, and I'm struck by the memory of being out here, in the forbidden territory of the woods, outside our district limits, when I was just a kid. When my dad was the one hunting and I was just along for the ride. Just along because I wanted to be with him. When I used to blindly trust him and my mother, when I thought he'd live forever, when I was too young to truly grasp the concept of the Hunger Games. When I was too young to truly grasp the concept of the world in which we live.

When I was eleven my every illusion was shattered violently. Almost as violently as the death in which my father must have endured, underground in those mines, as they exploded.

I remember hearing the alarm at school, blaring so cacophonously over the speakers that it shook the schoolrooms themselves. I remember blindly grappling through the scurrying bodies of my classmates, until I found my way to my little sister, Primrose. Her room was completely empty, but she still remained, sitting behind her desk with small folded hands, waiting for my arrival with excessive patience.

I'd always coached her on what we'd do, if there ever should be a mine accident. I made sure she knew the drill, just as I knew it. Like the back of my hand. Like a prayer or a lullaby. I could recite it in my sleep. Because my father had just as sternly instilled it into me.

I wove my way through the chaos of bodies and white-hot panic, towing Prim only inches behind me by the hand, as the kids from town lingered in the hallways, their classic, bright blue eyes large and their voices all quivering, and as the kids from the Seam dutifully made their way to the nearest exits, hoping and praying and begging silently that it wasn't their parent who had been hurt. Hoping the accident hadn't taken what was typically the sole provider in most households, here in the poorest section, in the most impoverished district.

Prim and I must have not hoped hard enough, because we learned almost immediately upon finding our mother, who was now immobilized with grief, her characteristic gentle smile eviscerated and in it's place, a blank stare, void of any life at all, that our every fear from hearing that alarm were coming true.

My mom was supposed to get a job. She was supposed to find a way to provide for us, to take care of her two daughters, who were grieving her husband just as much as she was.

But instead she lay in bed day after day. On the good mornings, maybe if Prim begged and pleaded, she'd move to a chair, in front of the fireplace and stare at the flames with the same vacant expression that had replaced the loving, kind woman who'd raised us.

The money from the government, the minuscule amount of money given to keep us afloat until our mother found work, ran out. The meat our father had hunted, the plants he'd saved, ran out. The food we had the small luxury of sometimes buying—or more times than not, trading for—quickly ran out.

And our mother still did absolutely nothing.

I take a deep breath now and try to force myself to forgive her. Forgive her for not being strong enough to keep going, forgive her for not caring enough about her own children to keep them alive in the face of her grief, forgive her for being so in love that losing my father had almost killed her too.

I know it's what my father would want. And I know it's something I can't let myself do. Because if I let her off the hook, it's like saying it's okay that she almost let Prim wither away to nothing. Forget me. I will never forgive her for almost taking my little sister away from me.

Our mother did absolutely nothing until Prim's ribs were prominent, until my stomach was nearly hallow, until our cheekbones were so blatantly obvious you could count them from down the road.

And all my fears, all my resolve, to keep the three of us together as a family, went out the window. There was nothing left to do, but wait for me and Prim to be taken to the Community Home, with the other orphans or kids from unsafe families. Kids who still remained too thin, who's eyes told stories no ear wanted to hear, who still wore bruises upon their skin like freckles from the sun, who looked nearly worse than the corpses I encountered every winter, while walking from the Seam to town. Those corpses were the unlucky ones who'd actually starved to death, who had sat down to merely rest, because they had no substance to carry them any further, and somehow never got back up.

On that day, at eleven years old, living in the Community Home sounded no worse than living with the immobilized shell that had once been my mother. My resolve to hold out until my birthday, until I could get the tesserae that would feed my family for an entire year, was shattered by the harsh raindrops pelting me from the grey, unforgiving sky.

I vaguely heard the baker's wife, the mean-spirited woman, with her deeply embittered, hostile blue eyes that somehow seemed black, scream at me, calling me names, shooing me from her property.

I'd simply wanted to rummage her trashcan, so desperate for any small morsel to take back to Prim, any motivation to take even another step forward, when I felt her rough and calloused hands shove me away.

I toppled over, my legs already weak and shaky from lack of nutrition and substance. My depleted form laid on the ground, my eyes bleary from exhaustion and the shivering wind and rain.

The witch went back inside the bakery as I scarcely conjured up the will to sit upright. I was beyond done. The fighting to even gain a fraction of my mother's awareness, to get something, anything, to feed myself and my starving sister, to even stand up, became overwhelming and I felt the last bit of my resolve crumble from deep inside.

Let them come and take me and Prim to the Community Home. I don't care any longer. Let them come.

Out of the corner of my eye, a boy exited out the same backdoor the witch had gone through. He was carrying a bag of trash in his hands and my famished mind focused on that first, focused on what could be inside the contents of that bag, on what a baker could potentially be throwing away, before I realized the boy was in my year at school. I knew him, or at least, I knew his face. But he stuck with the other blonde-haired, fair-skinned town kids and I didn't even remember his name in that moment.

In hindsight, that's absolutely hysterical now.

But he evaporated as soon as he'd appeared and I closed my eyes and let the rain drown me, hoping perhaps I could be swallowed up within the downpour itself. Hoping that perhaps I'd never have to face the reality that I was out of options and I had nothing of subsidence to take home.

But then I heard a clatter and a clang and the sound of a scream. It was her, the witch. She was screaming and calling someone names my own mother had never even uttered in my lifetime.

I mentally prepared myself for her to come back outside, to drive me away with a stick or a knife. Or possibly even a hot, scorching prong.

But it wasn't the witch. It was the boy, the one from my year. The one I thought went back inside after taking out the trash, that I believed didn't even notice me before.

He was carrying bread. Two loaves, in fact. The crusts were black and burned and the welt across his face told me, without a doubt, that he was the target of the witch's insults. That he was the victim of whatever clanging noise I heard.

And though I was the one starving to death, I didn't envy him having her for a mother.

I remember vividly, the most crystal clear image I have of this day, the boy checking and making sure the witch's attention had been claimed elsewhere. And then, without even glancing in my direction, he tossed one loaf of bread to my feet. Seconds later, the other followed.

He didn't hesitate to head back inside after that, and I've spent more time in these last four years than I'd more than likely care to admit, wondering what possessed him to commit such an act of kindness. No one was kind for free, I'd learned by that point.

And yet, as I shook myself forcefully out of my stupor, and carried the loaves back to my house at the edge of the Seam, I had no explanation for his simple act. I had no basis to explain why he would help me, when no one else ever had.

The next day, I saw him at school. I passed by him in the hallway, and saw his eye had now blackened, his cheek welted, but somehow he still managed a joyous smile. He didn't notice me then. He was surrounded by his friends. Like always, he was surrounded by a constant crowd.

He is, after all, one of the most charming and sweet people Panem's ever known.

Later that day, when I was about to walk home with Prim, who was excitedly chattering about the leftover bread awaiting us on the kitchen table, the bread I'd brought home the night prior that had filled our stomachs for the first time in months, I caught the boy looking in our direction. My grey Seam eyes met his baby blues for a microsecond, before he looked away. I snapped my gaze downwards too, embarrassed, when I caught sight of a dandelion.

It was that moment that a bell went off in my head. That I saw how I could survive, how Prim could survive. How, through the things my dad had taught me, I could keep me and my sister alive.

After that day, I could never stop associating the boy with the bread, the one who gave me hope, with the dandelion that reminded me I wasn't doomed.

I never stopped associating him with his simple act of kindness, even when he became famous for some much less appreciable acts.

And I never stopped kicking myself for failing to thank him, for saving my life and my family's life, before he was whisked away, to a land far from Twelve, called the Capitol. When he later returned, now a part of a much more elite social class, thanking him for his kindness became even less of a possibility.

A girl from the Seam had no business seeking out a boy from Victor's Village. Even if I did have the guts.

Though he isn't exactly in good company here in Twelve, seeing as the only other person who holds the same title is a drunken, middle-aged man who can barely form a coherent sentence most days and lives like a hermit by his own volition.

My thoughts are interrupted by the quiet—almost as quiet as mine, but not quite—steps of Gale.

"You're late," I state without turning around, pulling the cheese from my pocket. "You're lucky Prim's cheese held up under the sun."

But Gale pulls something even more impressive from behind his back. "This will probably go nice with it," he says and I almost gasp.

Fresh bread is so rare in our district, generally reserved for the Peacekeepers and perhaps a merchant who is having a good day. Here in the Seam, fresh bread from the bakery is as common as new school shoes.

Gale updates me on his day as we split the bread and cheese and have our own version of a small feast. He'd gotten to the woods early, while I had been still at home, and shot a squirrel to which he traded for the bread.

"The baker really went for that?" I ask in disbelief. The baker was a subdued, large man, who resembled all three of his sons quietly strongly, and was one of my dad's best customers. Sometimes I think he still trades with me and Gale out of respect to my dad's memory, but a simple squirrel for a loaf of fresh bread isn't common.

"I think he was feeling generous this morning," Gale suggests a little snidely, his bitterness leaking through. "Besides. It's not like the Mellark's need the money they ask for bread. They could easily skim off their precious son and he'd probably never notice."

Gale has a special affinity for hating anyone and anything associated even minimally with the Capitol. He was lost his father in the same mine explosion I lost mine in. But whereas I don't let myself get too worked up over the inequities between the town and the Seam, and especially between us all and the victors, Gale takes a special pride in fuming over the things he cannot change.

I don't mind listening usually, since neither of us can speak our minds in public or even within our own homes, out of fear small ears will pick up on our words and repeat them elsewhere. But today, I just don't have the energy to be a sounding board.

Instead I take a segue towards a slightly different topic, but one, without a doubt, weighing on both our minds. "Prim has been having nightmares of the reaping," I murmur solemnly. "She's convinced they're going to call her name."

Gale shook his head, his demeanor becoming more subdued now. "Least Prim's name is only in there once, Catnip. Rory had to take tesserae this year."

I nod silently at that admission, knowing what it must have cost him to even allow his little brother to take additional risks of being called. Knowing it meant his family of five must be even more hungry than he leads on.

We don't say much more after that, only lingering in the woods long enough to catch some additional game from what I've already collected, and hurry back to town to trade.

As we walk back to the Seam, having divided up our goods evenly, Gale murmurs suddenly, "I might be able to stomach the idea of Rory's name being in that bowl six times if we were still allowed to volunteer."

I bypass his words the best I can. I don't want to think about what Gale must be going through, making himself sick with worry, not for himself but for a sibling in which he considers himself responsible for. And, as it happens once in a lucky moon, I feel grateful that my tesserae is still sufficient for a family of three, and I don't have to worry about Prim the same way. Her one entry pales in comparison to the thousands that are piled in that bowl.

Still, the silence between us as we walk is deafening and I can't take it any longer as we come closer to my house. "At least then, you'd get to see the Capitol," I say lightly, as a means to brighten his mood, even just a little.

At that, Gale rewards me with a humorless smirk. "Generous of the president, isn't it? To allow us district people to experience the great Capitol firsthand while they slaughter our family."

And it's true. Just a few years ago, it was allowed to volunteer as tribute in the place of whoever's name got chosen, as long as you were the same gender and between twelve and eighteen on Reaping Day.

But four years ago, when a twelve-year-old boy volunteered for his seventeen-year-old brother, an outrage sparked across the entire country. People are never happy, in any district, to see a twelve-year-old be chosen for the games. They're the youngest, the smallest, the most innocent, and never in history had a single one made it past the Final Fifteen in the games.

So when one volunteered, the country wasn't pleased in the slightest. However, like always, the anger was contained by Peacekeepers in a matter of weeks, and promises came pouring out from the Capitol that a change would be made after the games that year to ensure never again would this situation occur.

And it never again could. Because three days after the Seventieth Hunger Games, President Snow announced that all volunteering, from that point forward, was officially banned.

This new law is even more ironic when you realize that the twelve-year-old volunteer from that year became the youngest victor in the entire history of the games.

Still, I suppose the president was feeling generous that day, and he threw in a bonus treat for us in the districts. Now when someone is chosen from the reaping bowl, though their fate is sealed definitively when their name is uttered, they get to choose one family member to take on the train ride to the Capitol with them, to get a special viewing of the games with the mentors and the sponsors and the past victors, to get to experience the wonder that is the mysterious Candy Capitol firsthand.

However, when all is said and done, twenty-three family members must ride the train home alone to their districts, with their loved one in a casket beside them. The thought chills me to the bone and I shiver as me and Gale wish each other good luck. We probably won't see each other again until it's time for the customary dinner we all try to put on with our neighbors to celebrate, even minimally, that we've survived another year unchosen.

Prim is already wearing my first reaping outfit when I enter the house, though it is a bit large on her. She's slimmer than even I was at Twelve, despite her having months on me when I attended my first reaping.

I get ready quickly, if only because I want to spend time with her before we have to go. I protect Prim in every way I can but I'm powerless against the reaping.

Still, she's only entered once and that's as safe as anyone can get from being chosen. It's almost unheard in the Seam to be that safe from the games.

But my sister never did appear like she fit in here anyway. Her golden blonde hair and sky blue eyes resemble the merchants, not the Seam, and her and our mother stick out like sore thumbs next to our neighbors.

Our mom is restless now, busying herself with preparing the food for our small feast tonight and braiding Prim's hair and then mine.

I still haven't fully forgiven her for leaving us when we needed her most, but I also can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to send both your children off to be potentially chosen for an absolute death. And I let her hug me as I guide Prim out the door.

Attendance is mandatory for all in the district, but the ones viable for being chosen and those just watching don't typically enter together.

I guide Prim by hand into town, the walk feeling longer than it did with Gale. Perhaps it's the trembling twelve-year-old I'm towing, or perhaps I'm more afraid than I'm even admitting to myself.

After all, unlike my sister, I have twenty slips with my name splayed across this year. It's not as a bad as someone like Gale, who has forty-four chances of being called. But it's not as safe as the kids from town, who likely only have to worry about a handful of slips with their names.

Its not that they're rich by any standard, but they get by better than those in the Seam. Even if they're hungry, they're not at risk of starving, and no one is going to sign up for tesserae unless there is no alternative.

A year ago, my mother let it slip once over dinner, just out of the blue really, that my father had always sworn no child of his would be in need of tesserae.

I shake my head, as if to physically rid myself of the reminder. I don't want to dwell on what my father would feel if he were here. I don't want to be reminded how different things would be if he hadn't died.

I help Prim sign in and then drop her off, as gently as I can, with the other girls her age. At the last minute, she pulls on my hand, yanking me back to her with surprising force.

"Prim, I have to go stand with the sixteens," I say as she leans up and kisses my cheek.

"I just wanted to say I love you," she whispers softly, her big blue eyes so terrified, and then she steps back into the crowd of twelves surrounding her.

I sigh softly and give her what I hope is a reassuring smile. She truly is the best of our parents. Kind, smart, level-headed. She's funny and resourceful too, even if she can't take hunting animals herself.

She is the only person I'm certain that I love. And just about the only thing that keeps me going most days.

As I make my way to the sixteens, straightening my mother's dress on my hips, I check the clock. Only five minutes before we start. Before our lovely Capitol escort, Effie Trinket, reads off two names in her distinctive, afflicted accent. Before two kids know they're never coming home again.

This place isn't much. But it is all we've ever known, and no one wishes to leave it.

As more people crowd in, I begin to pick up an excited buzz in the girls surrounding me. Already knowing what I'll see, I crane my neck just the same, to peer up at the stage ahead.

Sure enough, I see exactly what I knew I would.

There's four chairs set up on the stage. One for Effie Trinket, because no one from the Capitol could ever bear to stand for more than three minutes at a time and she must have a seat to relax in before she calls out the names and sends two of us—a lucky boy and girl, as she says it—to the slaughter.

One of the other chairs is occupied by Mayor Undersee. A man who looks like he's been beaten down by life too many times as it is and would rather be anywhere but here. His daughter is my age. She sits with me at lunch, since Gale is two grades ahead of me and we rarely see each other at school. We make polite small talk but other than that, I barely know anything about her, and by association, her father.

However, it's neither of them that's stirring up the buzz within the crowd—admittedly, more so with the female portion of the crowd—and it's definitely not Haymitch Abernathy, who's stumbling on stage right at this moment. He managed to win the Fiftieth Hunger Games and I still can't imagine how. He's a paunchy man my mother's age and he's never sober, on the rare time he's even seen in public. Today is no exception, as he flops onto a chair gruffly, and murmurs something unintelligible with his eyes closed.

No, the murmuring, the now batting eyes and coy smiles, the soft vibrato still traveling within the crowd, are all because of the last guest of honor, walking upon the stage right behind his old mentor.

Peeta Mellark.

Winner of the Seventieth Hunger Games. Youngest ever. District Twelve's first and last volunteer. The twelve-year-old that changed the rules for the entire country.

The youngest mass murderer in history of Panem.

And now one of it's most beloved celebrities.

Peeta is smart—brilliantly smart—and he's always been charismatic. Even at twelve, he had the Capitol audience, as well as every single soul watching on television at home, eating out of the palm of his hand.

It doesn't hurt that at sixteen, he's become quite a looker. His blonde curls, his blue eyes, those long lashes and bubblegum pink lips. His fair, perfect skin that has not a blemish in sight. His toned, muscular body and devastatingly genuine smile that no one can help but fall in love with.

He's also the boy who saved my life. The one who committed the simple act of kindness, knowing it would cost him, to help me.

I never thanked him. And now I never can, as I'm sure he has zero memory of me. After everything else that's happened to him since, after the last four years of living as a Capitol darling, as one of the country's most cherished victors, he'd never remember the starving eleven-year-old he threw some burned bread to in a rainstorm.

But I remember him. I don't know if it's what he did for me that day or what he did for his brother only a matter of weeks later, but something about Peeta Mellark crawled under my skin four years ago and ever since, I've never been able to completely shake the feeling I get inside upon seeing him.

I break my gaze away, refusing to stare at the boy, who I will always accredit as the one who saved my life. I venomously refuse to gawk at him, like every other girl in the district.

He rarely comes out of his house when he's home here in Twelve, and I know the overzealous amount of attention he receives just by going to his parents' bakery has to be at least a part of the reason. Unlike Haymitch, who has lost his clout and his appeal with age and with deterioration, Peeta has only gained more and more notoriety as the years pass by.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in Twelve, outside of a few outliers like Gale perhaps, who'd say a negative word about Peeta Mellark.

Of course, rumors about his random and long stretches spent in the Capitol itself are always floating around, no matter what time of year it is, but they don't affect his public persona or anyone's opinion of him. He is, after all, the most valuable figure Twelve has and perhaps the only thing we can take any pride in.

Effie Trinket steps up to the microphone just as I turn my head away from the stage. "Welcome!" She greets, so vivaciously, so brightly, I can't imagine it even resonates in her head that she's just moments away from announcing two of our impending funerals. "Welcome, everyone! To the reaping for the Seventy-Fourth Annual Hunger Games!"

I can't even bear to listen as she prattles on, with too much confidence and dignity for someone dressed in every neon color known to man, speaking in such a peculiar accent, with a thickly painted face that is so blatantly visible to the every eye here today, even in the back row. Doesn't she realize how ridiculous she is to us? Doesn't she realize how wrong it is to preach about the morals and disciplines of the Capitol, in such a prideful voice, when they're the ones about to murder us for entertainment, and in repentance for a long over war that only a few elders can still remember?

As I advert my eyes, my gaze travels once again to the back of the stage, and I'm more than a little surprised to see Peeta Mellark with a similar expression as mine. He, too, is shifting his eyes elsewhere, away from his own escort, looking sick to his stomach.

Of course, it still can't be easy for him, even with his own games four years in the past. He was a literal child when he volunteered and it's fact that he didn't understand what he was getting himself into when he took his brother's place that fateful day. His innocence was stolen as soon as the countdown ended and talk still circulates, even in the Hob, that he wakes up screaming most nights, calling out the names of fallen tributes. Though those words are not given much weight in the Seam, as we all know, people get bored in this tiny district and bored people begin to spew lies whenever encouraged.

Effie continues, in a long overdone mantra, one I could recite in my sleep, the same one she spews every year, that two kids from every district must be chosen to battle to the death in a new and invigorating—one of her favorite words—arena, in order to pay for the blood shed during the rebellion and war, in order to ensure we'll never again even think to rebel.

It would almost be easier to swallow, this whole charade, if the people sent from the strange land of the Capitol would just be honest and blunt with us. If they'd just admit that they see us as lesser than, as animals or beasts of some sort, as less than human beings. It'd be easier if the Capitol spokespeople would just outright say, "we'll take your children, we'll starve your district, we'll ruin your homes, we'll broadcast the deaths of those you love most, all to keep you too powerless to fight. In order to make sure you never are able to stand strong, we have to kick your legs out from under you first."

Instead of being honest though, Effie Trinket is reiterating the Treaty Of Treason, in a tone so serious that it takes all the self-control possible to stop several boys standing in the fourteens from bursting out laughing. Her accent and a serious tone do not mesh well together.

Once she's done though, my heart automatically skips a beat. Because, after four years of standing in this square, I know exactly what's coming. "Ladies first!" Effie announces and I feel a bead of sweat glide down my forehead, both from anxiety and from the overload of heat. Reapings always take place in the start of the hottest month of the year.

Standing in my mother's well-crafted dress, one of the most luxurious pieces of clothing we own, only makes my perspiration worsen, as the dress was clearly made to keep the wearer as warm as possible.

Our district escort makes her way over the bowl containing the names of every girl eligible to be picked in the entire district and I feel myself take in a breath involuntarily.

There's twenty chances she's going to call out my name. Twenty chances I'll be sent to an almost imminent death. Twenty chances Prim will grow into her teen years, and later adulthood, without a sister.

The gut-churning fear I'd repressed all morning, in that moment, overtakes my entire being, curling up like a ball in the pit of my stomach, as I do my best to listen on baited breath, somehow expecting to hear my own name spoken through the raucous microphone for all to hear.

Don't be me, I whisper inside my head, more fearful than I'd ever admit out loud. Don't be me. Please, don't be me.

And, as it turns out, it's not me.

Instead it's the name I never in a million years thought I'd hear. The name I believed to be so safe I didn't even allow myself to worry about her.

"Primrose Everdeen!"

[bjy-on-ao3]

Omg, i just read your dionysus fic, over indulgence, and holy shit, it was amazing! I really liked how you characterised him, and reader too, i just dont know what to say other than i absolutely loved it! I'd love to see more hades content! Maybe with Ares this time? He is always so smug, and somehow can be both very intimidating while staying super polite.... Im howwible with prompts, but maybe one where reader is a priestess of athena and somehow catches ares's attention?

I hope you don’t mind stuff rough.  I hope this satisfies your want for Ares, Anon!

In the game, Athena and Ares don’t seem to really like each other all that much, so I figured any priest/priestesses or disciples of her would have been warned about him. It also made sense for me that many of those people would double as great warriors/soldiers skilled at defense, but also in battle overall.If you’re looking for something warm and soft, please turn back. I really can’t see Ares in a gentle light, and this fic will contain blood/bloodplay, biting, bruising, and Ares getting a kick of out it all. Dubcon only because Reader agrees to the conditions of Ares being able to take what he wants if they lose. (As usual, you can find the AO3 version of all my uploads [and some things I don’t post here to tumblr] via my Masterlist blog page.)

Tags/Warnings Biting, Blood, Bloodplay, Combat, Creampie, Dubious Consent, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Reader Insert, Sadism, Shameless Smut, Vaginal Sex, Violent Sex

Summary Reader - priestess and champion of Athena and fresh off becoming victor of a tournament held in honor of the gods - has an encounter with the most bloodthirsty god of them all: Impressed, Ares offers them a boon should they best him in combat - though if they lose, Ares may take what he sees fit.

Fic Friday

Shieldmaiden (F! Reader/Ares)

The day had been a long and arduous one, filled to bursting with adrenaline and quick-thinking. Oft enough, your days were composed of training or ceremonies, or helping those who sought aid from the temple to Athena you served. But dawn that morning had heralded the start of a tournament lasting till Helios drove the sun beneath the horizon once more. In a way, those who fell quickly were rewarded with a reprieve from the constant bouts, as even though the humiliation of defeat burdened them.

Even on the heels of victory, by the time the battles had concluded, you were tired and sore, marred with minor bruises and a few nicks and scrapes. It was nothing that a good night’s sleep and some poultices wouldn’t solve, though. ‘All worth the honor of winning such a tournament’ you told yourself. Unlike some combatants, you hadn’t killed an opponent, seeking to shed the least blood possible. Your efficiency had no room for excess. But no amount of hard-won praise and self-satisfaction could change that you were looking forward to curling up and resting until the sun rose on a new day.

Traipsing back to the temple in the glowing purple and red twilight, however, a voice caught your attention. “I must say, your performance today was quite impressive.”

To your credit, you didn’t jump or flinch away, becoming stock still and turning slowly toward the source of the voice. “Who’s there? Whom do I have privilege of impressing?” You asked cautiously, unable to strip all the irritation from your tone. You had patience remaining, though you were loath to chat with someone over your victory when you would much rather be in your bed.

Your eyes landed on a tall figure you somehow hadn’t noticed before - a man - stance regal and straight. Something about the posture gave off a sense of nonchalance as well. Clad in armor of ivory and gold, accented with long shards of black and the eerie glaring face of a beast on the chest plate, he radiated an aura of menace, accompanied by a bloodlust so tangible you could almost taste it on your tongue, hot and bitter. Eyes like smoldering coals plucked from a roaring hearth stared at you intently.. Combined with the simper spread over his lips, you couldn’t suppress the chill that raced up your spine.

Something in your gut twisted uncomfortably, and you resisted the urge to put a few more paces between the two of you. Even if it hadn’t been for the myriad weapons crossed over his back, or the impressive armor, the man would have seemed someone to be cautious around, someone you shouldn’t trust. Everything put together set you on high alert instantly, the instinct of fight or flight rising in your chest like a bird taking wing. Something primal shrieked at you that, for once, flight might be the preferred choice.

“You fight rather viciously for one under my dear sister’s wing,” the man mused, his tone light, but formal.

“I asked before - who are you?” you pressed again, not interested in mincing words. You didn’t like how easily he spoke to you or offhandedly disparaged your goddess.

“Oh, no hesitation to be found. Perhaps Athena neglected to impart all of her wisdom to you after all.” you bristled at the insult, taking a deep breath and trying to relieve some of the tension coursing through you. “I am Ares, and I desired to see the prowess of my sister’s little owl before my own eyes.”

‘Little owl?’ the nickname distracted you at first, thinking to the tiny owls often depicted accompanying your Lady, but you shook your head and dismissed the thought. You hadn’t the time to concern yourself with foolish nicknames. “Lord Ares? Well, I have no desire to see you, my Lord,” you said. With the revelation of his identity, you felt even more uneasy. Ares, god of war and death, who was said to bask in the bloodshed and chaos of man. Athena had been certain her followers knew well of her violent half-brother. “I may not have all of my Lady’s knowledge, but I am wise enough to keep my distance from you and the needless death that follows in your wake.”

Your heart pounded in your chest, wary of each word and wondering if he might take offense from your rejection. From the tales told, the Olympians never took well to being ignored or spurned, but to indulge in the company of a god like Ares was no more appealing a choice. The look on Ares’ face remained pleasant, the corners of his lips set in a smug smile, and he let out a quick puff of laughter that would have been pleasant, had it not come from him.

“What a pity. Although I do not believe that choice is yours to make, little owl,” he began, closing some distance between you. You followed his movements intently, concerned he might draw one of the swords from his back and set upon you with every step closer. “Surely you do not think yourself beyond the bidding of one god solely because you serve another?”

Your hands clenched and unclenched nervously at your sides as you considered his words. Ares was right, of course. Being a priestess of Athena did not grant you any protection from other gods - not unless she interfered directly. And that kind of divine intervention was a rarity. You avoided his question and changed the subject, though you doubted he would be redirected so easily. The God of War was no fool.

“What do you really want? I’ve little time for games, my Lord.”

“I wish to see your technique for myself. Show me how that passion and diligence fares against a foe more than mortal,” he elaborated.

The blood in your veins ran cold upon his admission and your heart thudded so hard you wondered if it was audible from where he stood. Battling a god was firmly on the side of things you wished never to do. “If you think I’m dull enough that I would willingly engage the God of War, then you insult me, my Lord,” you said stiffly, trying to suppress your trepidation from worming into your voice and failing.

“What is it I hear beneath your bold tone? I trust one of my dear sister’s bold little priestesses, one of her champions, even, is not afraid of all things?” Ares taunted smoothly. From the way his self-assured smile twitched upward, barely, you knew he was enjoying your reaction.

“Fear and caution are not the same thing,” you denied fiercely.

“True enough, but it is not caution what gives you pause. If it puts you at ease, little owl, I will not take your life.”

Swallowing the lump in your throat, you scrutinized him intensely, finding no sign of whether he was lying or being genuine. All you found in those bloody eyes and stony face was cold calculation and an insatiable lust for violence. “Why should I believe you?” you asked, face twisting suspiciously.

“Because, beloved by my sister or not, if I so desired to kill you, I would have done so the instant you denied my invitation and spoke to me so disrespectfully.” He talked of ending you so casually it made you shudder, and you cursed yourself for it immediately.

It seemed you had little choice but to indulge Ares in whatever game he had in mind. “And if I agree - what is the benefit to me?” Ares had promised he wouldn’t kill you, but you saw no other purpose to fight him. You still weren’t sure he wouldn’t just kill you, despite his promise.

“Is serving one of the gods not benefit enough for you? What a greedy little owl my sister has found.” Again, Ares taunted you. You wondered if he was trying to make you angry enough to divest your caution and sabotage your battle prowess.

“That’s not an answer,” you spat back. God or not, you were tiring of whatever he was doing.

Fortunately, Ares cut to the chase. “Very well, best me and you shall have whatever boon of me you wish.”

“And if I lose?”

“Then, I shall take from you what I decide most fitting.:

“But not my life,” you added, still skeptical.

“You have my word,” Ares insisted. “Besides, would it not be such a waste to douse a promising ember when it could kindled and made to burn all around it?” he added in afterthought and once again the implications of his words unsettled you. “Now, I trust we are done with these tedious negotiations, hm?” he prompted.

Steeling yourself and willing away the stiffness and fear bubbling in your chest, you nodded. Ares had decided what the outcome of the discussion would be before he first spoke. There was nothing more to be said - at least not with words. Eyes trained on the intimidating figure of the God of War, you retrieved the shield and blade slung over your shoulders. You brandished them both, falling into the stance you were trained to use.

Across from you - hardly half a dozen feet off - Ares drew a weapon of his own. The sight of the curved blade incited your fear once more. The black blade was a ghastly thing, wickedly sharp and emanating a thick, billowing red haze the color of viscera. It was unmistakably a weapon befitting a god, and it made something deep inside you want to turn tail and run. But you knew running would be fruitless - all it would earn you was a head-sized loss of weight between your shoulders.

 At once, the both of you moved slowly, following a wide circle, two shadowy beasts in the fading dusk searching for weaknesses and flaws. All of your training and wisdom told you to wait, let Ares come to you and make the first move. But you weren’t sure your reactive way of fighting would hold up against someone of his calibre. As Ares had implied, he was no mortal, and you could only imagine the horrible strength and skill behind his blade.

Ares shattered the heavy stillness abruptly, darting forward and making a low arcing swing up toward you. There was no hesitation behind the blow and you had the feeling if you hadn’t stopped it with your blade, his falcata would have carved a clean line into your torso. Ares may have promised not to kill you, but he wasn’t above grievously injuring you. He gave you little time to think on his intentions, however, another strike quickly following when you knocked his sword aside.

You caught that swing as well, on your shield this time, and your arm stung from the force that rang through it. Blow after blow rained down on you, forcing you on the defensive almost constantly, and even then, many near misses made you tense and wide-eyed. Eventually, you found some rhythm to his assault, and Ares even paused, granting you a scant few seconds to breathe and think. Still, you needed to analyze what you learned quickly - your enduring method of fighting wouldn’t suit well against his relentless onslaught. You had fought aggressive attackers in the past, but their strength and ferocity paled compared to Ares.

Eyes flashing to and fro, following the tuck and arc of his weapon, at the same time searching for openings, you readied to strike. You would need to be swift, perfect in your timing, and hold back nothing if you wanted any hope of breaching his flurry of blows. You took your chance when his fuming blade glanced off your shield at just the right angle to slide away, instead of adding more to the numbness in your shield arm. Dipping down, you swept your own blade under his arm and up. The metal scraped past one of his pauldrons and up, and your eyes shot wider when the tip of the blade reached out towards Ares’ face.

A swift kick pushed you back, leaving you winded, and you looked back up quickly. Ares was standing in place, a small distance away, but close enough to observe small details. His blade upheld in one hand, smoking menacingly, he lifted his free hand to his cheek, brushing away the slick of blood oozing from a diagonal cut across his cheek.Your heart fell at the sight of how little damage you had done. After all that time, you had given him what was barely more than what a mortal mine might suffer from a shaving accident. It was an ill omen when you were so used to your blade striking true and dispatching opponents in only a few strokes.

“Oh, what a splendid surprise.” Your blood may as well have turned to ice. Not at Ares’ words, but his tone.

Beneath the refined and formal speech, something almost excited could be heard. You had the sudden dreadful feeling that indulging the God of War’s little game had been a terrible mistake - even if  there was no other choice. Excitement was a chilling thing to hear from a being who adored violence and death. You had expected anger, perhaps, or bitterness that a mortal had drawn blood against him. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a shock he liked to bleed as much as he liked to bleed others.

“Perhaps I underestimated you, little owl. Such skill seems wasted protecting others, do you not think so?” Ares asked, the hint of excitement vanished.

An indignation bubbled up beneath your dread, understanding Ares had meant your talents better suited to bloody slaughter and resenting that notion. You bristled, snapping back at him. “If I agreed, I would have served from the start, wouldn’t I?”

Ares ignored your response, as if he hadn’t heard. “I have seen more than enough, little owl. Our duel shall come to an end now,” he declared confidently. Again resentment and terror warred with one another within you.

When Ares bolted forward again, you barely thrust out your sword in time and turned his strike aside. The eerie cloud emanating from the blade seemed to have increased, tendrils of it whipping about, framing Ares ominously and obscuring your vision here and there.  He didn’t stop at a single blow, striking out again and again as before, but with much more strength behind the attacks. The thought that your weapon and shield or arms might shatter from the force if things kept up flitted through your mind, distracting you for the barest moment.

Ares’ blade flashed forward, and your shield was thrust away, spinning through the air before crashing down and clattering to the ground. In a lightning quick motion, before you could bring your blade in to force his falcata away, the edge was leveled to your throat. You fell deathly still, the icy blade faintly touching your skin. One false move or a twitch of Ares’ wrist and all would be done.

The war god moved closer, grabbing your sword hand cruelly and twisting your blade from your fist. The hand that had disarmed you snapped to your head, grabbing a fistful of hair at the root and making you hiss. He drew your head back and the painful pinch of his blade scarcely cutting your skin made your pulse quicken. A warm trickle crept down your skin. Held between Ares’ hand and his blade, you dared not even breathe too deeply, so close were you to both.

Burning crimson watched you keenly, blazing with triumph and thet still unquenchable lust for blood. The blood you seeping from the shallow cut on your throat encouraged that bloodlust to greater heights rather than sate it. The thought made the space between you and the god feel heavy, airless.

“You fought magnificently, little owl. A far greater challenge even than I had foreseen,” Ares praised, not bothering to draw his weapon back. The tension hanging in the air, in fact, seemed thoroughly amusing to him, alluring even. You gathered all the resolve you possessed, fighting to glare defiantly at him. There was no room to show weakness. “How lovely that look suits you. Fearful, yet masked in defiance, even in the very face of death,” he drawled. You wondered if the god enjoyed his own voice as much as he enjoyed bloodshedl. “Do you believe me a liar?” Ares asked coolly after a moment of unsettling silence.

“I-” you opened your mouth intending to disagree, to ensure him you believed him - even if you didn’t trust him in the slightest -, but something stopped you. “Yes.” As the word escaped, you cursed yourself.

To your surprise, Ares’ proud smile grew. “Such an unwise thing to say,” he mused, “Are you trying to provoke me, now, little owl?” he asked nonchalantly, applying the scantest amount more pressure to his haze billowing blade. You winced, but quickly corrected your expression until your focus was on Ares once more. “No matter, our duel is over. Now comes time to take what I deem ample compensation for my victory.” At last, Ares drew back and took his falcata with him, and you could breathe again.

The start of a cold sweat broke out on your skin, and you felt clammy, except for the hot, sticky trickle drying on your neck. You swallowed thickly, willing your tongue to obey you, and spoke again after a moment of recovery. “So, what do you want? Out with it.” you pressed, perhaps too demandingly for one whom had been in your previous position. Yet with the blade no longer threatening to carve your throat open, you couldn’t help the annoyance and unease that crept into you.

“Tread carefully, little owl. I spared you before,” Ares reminded you casually, though the sharp warning edge suffused his words. He would take your insolence only so far. “Continue to disrespect me and I shall take your words as invitation to grant you a most painful end.” He paused, slipping his dark blade back where it belonged, before turning to you. “As the spoils of my victory, this ought to suffice.”

In an instant, so quick you had no time to wonder what had come over him, Ares was upon you again. His hand, having previously disengaged when he took his weapon away, returned, entangling itself in your hair again and forcing you to remain still. Before you knew it, Ares stepped uncomfortably close, bowing his head and slashing his lips across yours in a kiss that was neither delicate nor considerate. It was a kiss fueled by strength, full of teeth and heat that left you in a stupor.

Ares didn’t bother with the tedious task of coaxing your lips open with his tongue, choosing to bite down viciously, and blood oozed out to meet him. It slicked his teeth and tongue and your mouth fell open in a gasp of pain, and Ares thrust his tongue into your mouth.  It swept along your teeth for a moment, before wrapping around your own and fighting it into submission. A heady metallic taste washed over you as you futilely tried to win the war of flesh. Blood. Your blood. Mixed with the coppery flavor was something more subtle, spicy and earthy at once.

When Ares relented and pulled away, you strove for breath, the taste of him and your blood lingering in your mouth. But he had only begun, giving you little time to recover. You had long enough to question why you had kissed him back - or had you been trying to fight him off? - before he jerked your head back and inclined his faced further. His lips, hot and the barest bit sticky, met the curve of your throat. He swept down your skin, leaving angry bite marks and blotches in his wake, until he was nestled against the juncture of your neck and shoulder, unprotected by armor and bared by your tunic.

He bit down again. Harder than before, and his teeth sank into you, another rush of blood welling up.You couldn’t control the pained cry that burst from your lips. You were used to injuries from training or battle, yet hardly in such sensitive places, and almost never from someone’s teeth. It burned when Ares lapped greedily at the wound and you hissed. His free hand had curled behind you at some time you hadn’t noticed, pressing you forward, the unyielding planes of his chest plate and pauldrons digging into you uncomfortable.

A new sensation was blossoming beneath the pain, one that should have been utterly foreign and unthinkable, given the brutality Ares was treating you with. Maybe it was the burning, hungry expression in Ares' eyes as he looked up from your skin, lips tinged red. Or maybe it was the crushing embrace he held you trapped in. Or maybe the way he held you utterly compliant and vulnerable in his grasp. Or maybe it was all of those things combined that made heat fill you from your core and pool between your legs. A dangerous, confused lust was rising - one it would have been wiser to reject.

“Such splendid sounds, little owl,” Ares said, his voice lower, a wild delight tinging it. “I desire to hear more. Do not disappoint me.”

With a rough push, your feet left the ground, and you tumbled backward away from Ares’ grip, too startled and dazed from the confounding feeling brewing in your belly and the painful throbbing in your lip and shoulder to catch yourself in time. You grimaced when you met the ground, making to prop yourself up. But Ares followed you, shoving you down completely and pinning you there. Again, his armor prodded uncomfortably at you. Past the pleated leather folds attached to the armor torso, something still distinctly hard, but much warmer prodded at you as well.

When large hands groped at your tunic -  somehow both callous and perfect - some degree of sense insisted you stop him. But others argued with it. They insisted there was no point, this was the spoils Ares chose to claim. You wouldn’t be able to stop him if you tried. One devilish voice even craved more. Your internal debate crashed to a halt when Ares jerked your tunic down, the faint sound of fabric ripping lost to you. His lips fell upon your skin again where the fabric fell away, biting and sucking like he was trying to devour you. Many of them stung, not all as harsh as the bite to your shoulder, but several more drawing blood or leaving the areas soon to bruise, painting your skin in garish colors.

More pained sounds left your lips, gasps and whimpers and groans, though mixing more steadily into them were noises that belied some twisted pleasure. A hiss that became a moan. A gasp that turned into something breathy and thick. Something was stirring more and more hotly within you, transforming pain into a muted pleasure and adding fuel to the embers smoldering between your legs and in your belly.

Ares’ hands were as greedy as his lips, groping and kneading unmarred skin, roughly grabbing at your chest, pinching your nipples and making you cry out pitifully. Before long, he had covered your torso, shoulders, and neck in darkening bruises and blood, teeth marks and scrapes. Pulling away until he was looming over you like an ominous shadow, you could still make out the satisfied look languidly spread across his lips. His eyes seemed even more fiery, near crazed, as if he were high on your blood and pain.

“Such a careful, focused beast in the heat of battle. Now look at you, little owl, stained and trembling,” he purred, and his tongue trailed over his lips, cleaning the crimson staining them. “How beautiful a sight. The color suits you well.” He grabbed at your tunic some more, gathering the bottom around your waist, meeting the neckline he had pushed down. “As fragile and easy to see through as glass. Ought I shatter you like it, then?” Ares asked, greedily taking in the even larger expanse of flesh revealed to him. You wondered if he meant to litter the rest of you in similar marks.

Your lips parted, and you didn’t speak for a second, waiting for the mental gears to  turn. Your only choice was the illusion of it, so you may as well as pretend your answer meant something. “Break me as you please, Lord Ares,” you told him, surprised to hear how your voice sounded. Strain and breathy, and the realization strengthened the heat and wetness at your center you couldn’t deny, likely plain to Ares’ eyes with your tunic no longer guarding it.

“How bold a choice of words, little owl.” Ares sounded pleased, possibly having expected you to retort defiantly, or have no words at all. Yet you had indulged his words instead. He trailed a thick finger gingerly over your throat, tracing over your racing pulse. “It would thrill me so to watch the life bleed from you.” You believed him completely. There was no denying in different circumstances Ares would revel in your death. “Alas, I shall have to make do sheathing a different blade within your supple flesh.”

A hint of excited impatience shone through as Ares sat back on his knees, leaving you to lie waiting in the dirt for what he would do next. With an iron grip, he grabbed your thighs, lifting them both off the ground and splaying them over his pauldrons, on either side of the crossed blades on his back. The cold touch of his armor on your overheated, abused skin made you shudder, and you watched as he lifted the lappets of the armor.  

Your eyes lingered on what had thrust against you from behind layers of leather before, and you swallowed nervously. Ares was endowed impressively and in the embrace of a gentle lover that might promise a minor discomfort, but pleasure overall. Ares had shown no intention to treat you gently though - the ache and throb from the aftermath of his attention reinforced that - and you were under no illusion he was going to change that.

The new hesitation must have shown in your expression, a dangerous thrill creeping onto Ares’ own face as he brought the head of his cock to your folds. You thanked the stars that his brutal attentions had somehow elicited a perverse hunger from you, soaking your core. Though you imagined he would have fucked you raw whether or not you were wet. In fact, he might have enjoyed it more that way. Fortunately, his dick slipped slickly between your lips, gathering some of your wetness and pushing against your slit.

Ares didn’t take his time entering you, nor savor the moment, bucking his hips forward and splitting your cunt wide. You arched your back stiffly and hissed, both at the awful burn from the way his cock stretched you and the surprising satisfaction from the overwhelming fullness. You drew deep breaths, trying to adjust to the thick intrusion, fighting the pathetic whines that threatened to spill out.

Ares didn’t give you time to adjust to his size, rutting harshly against you, calloused hands digging roughly into your thighs. He leaned forward, bending you nearly in half, far enough a tendril of his silvery white hair brushed against your stomach, making your skin jump. The stretch ached to be sure - it would have even if Ares had been more thoughtful - but caught up in whatever perverse mood electrified the moment, there was pleasure bleeding into the pain.

Pleasure from the way he filled you so completely, creating a delicious friction that made your gut heat and tense. Pleasure from the rough slant of his hips against yours and his balls slapping your ass. Pleasure from the renewed vigor and sting of his lips and teeth attacking your neglected skin once more. It was agonizing and mindnumbing and enjoyable in a way you couldn’t have had any hope of explaining, at least not in a right sense of mind.

Each hard rock of his hips and searing puff of breath against your skin wore away at what little pride you retained, if you could claim to have any scrap left, looking such a mess. You might regret the memory later, but in the heat of the moment, there was no time for regrets or second thoughts. There was only room to try and enjoy what Ares had claimed as his reward.

As your dignity shattered and disintegrated like dust, the heat of your body and between your thighs grew, until you cried out into the air, the pleasure finally rising high enough to meet the pain and break loose from your throat between whines and winces. One loud cry that twisted and broke from another especially vicious bite must have gotten to Ares, eliciting an answering sound that was deep and primal.

Continuing to pound into your cunt, Ares looked up from his savagery of your skin, eyes glittering with amsement and lust of multiple kinds. His hot breath rolled over your bruised chest and his silky words rumbled over you. “You ought to thank me for my mercy,” he growled, and amidst the pain and pleasure you laughed to yourself. Mercy for a war god amounted simply to not killing you it seemed, even if the alternative was marking your body viciously and claiming it for himself. “Go on, then, little owl,” he compelled you, puncutating his words with a harder buck of his hips that left made you shout.

You opened your mouth, at first only pants and huffs and whimpers broke away. You gathered the words on your tongue he demanded of you. “Th-thank...aah...thank you, Lord Ares!” you cried out, surprisingly yourself. “Thank you f-for sparing me.”

He seemed satisfied with you pitiful answer, shaky and broken as it was, though he remained close to your skin. His pace grew stronger, faster, and he drew his tongue over some of the more bloody marks he’d left behind, coating his tongue again in your essence. His eyes swept hotly over his handiwork, bordering on frenzied. “Is it not such a wondrous feeling, to break bleed so, little owl?”

The smooth, husky tone of his voice, though it spoke such sick words - words you would have rejected in another setting - drove your own fervor higher, the molten spring of tension in your abdomen coming to the edge of its breaking point. You responded without hesitation, mind bent only on the promised releasen. “Yes, yes, my Lord!”

No more words fell between the two of you then, only the primal symphony of moans, grunts, groans, and gasps, enough to be heard by any soul unfortunate enough to be passing nearby. You hadn’t thought Ares’ thrusts could become any crueler, but as he chased and neared his own release, they did, until each thrust stung, hurting almost more than they pleased. His hands still clenched around your thighs and you could only imagine the intensity of the bruises that would be left behind - perhaps even worse than the many peppering your neck and chest and torso.

Despite the pain, your cunt squeezed around him, fluttering erratically as you danced on that edge so, so close. Until at last, it burst. But not before Ares finished with a sound so dark and heavy and alluring it could be called inhuman. Your walls embraced him even tighter as his cum filled you to overflowing, hot and wet, and you screamed and cried into the darkness of evening that had taken over.

When all was still at last, youtruly began to feel the extent of the damage Ares had done. He didn’t remain atop you much longer, not seeming to need to catch his breath, and when he pulled out of you, you shuddered, feeling sore and empty. Already tired before Ares had sought you out, and even more so after your combat, you were completely and utterly exhausted. Lying there, each pound of your heart making the bites and bruises pound along with it, you wondered if passing out in the dirt was a viable option.

Ares didn’t concern himself with your thoughts, however, or whatever it was you intended to do now that he was finished with you - for now at least. He just looked down at you, tucking himself back beneath the lappets of his armor and looking no worse for the wear. “Farewell, little owl. Do take care. And consider what I have said,” he began. “Your talents ought be used for something far more satisfying.”

You didn’t answer, letting your eyelids slide closed for a minute. When you opened them again, you were alone and the air was still and silent. You begrudgingly sat up, preparing to tackle the ordeal of standing and making the rest of your way home and to your bed. You wondered how you were going to explain your state to your fellows the following day.

[mama-ghostie-61542]

A Thousand Lifetimes

Rated M++ for language and themes

If you recognize it--IT AIN'T MINE

Sorry for the OOC-ness

Chapter 7

Kihyun

The next day, after two fittings with costumes, two phone interviews, a shoot for an ad, and a tv spot; I finally got back to the dorms, and back to that story.

Bryn PoV--

As if today wasn't bad enough, I walked into the house to find it completely empty. The kids wandered around and I tried to field a million questions about where they were gonna sleep and what we were gonna eat. That and the meltdowns every five minutes led me to try to call my little brother. I really just needed to talk to another grown-up. As soon as I had supper figured out, I called Joey.

"Hello," said a voice on the other end of the phone.

"Ummm. Hi?"

"Oh. Hello," The voice was familiar, but it wasn't Joey.

"Is Joey close?"

"Sorry. Who?"

"Sorry. Jooheon. Kids call him 'Uncle Joey'. Guess it stuck."

"Hmm. No. You just missed him."

"Dern. Can you pass on a message?"

"Sure."

"Can you tell him to call Bryn when he gets back?"

"Oh! I didn't recognize your voice, Bryn. How are you? It's Kihyun. Joey is in the shower. Can I help you with whatever you need," I asked, biting my lip and praying she would say yes. Just the sound of her voice was both soothing and somehow able to tie me up in knots.

"Actually, I was calling to vent. I've had a particularly terrible day today. Joey is my sobriety sponsor."

"He is? Wow," I said before Honey came charging at me, his hair still wet. "I would still LOVE to talk to YOU," I shouted.

"Gimmie my phone, Kihyun."

I handed him back the phone and heard him say

"What's up, Sis?"

Though I couldn't hear exactly what was said, I could tell by the look on his face, it wasn't good.

"Really?"

Then, Honey sighed. "Lemme see what I can do from here."

"Please, let me help."

If it were possible for him to get any more pissed off, he did. "HE WHAT," he yelled. Then, he pulled the phone from his ear and said, "I need a one way ticket to Peoria International!! I'm gonna kill him. I am gonna fuckin' kill him." Next, he put the phone back to his ear, "Lemme see what I can do here, Sis," he growled as he demanded numbers and wrote them down, and then hung up.

As he started digging on the internet to find the cheapest fare, HyunWoo said, "Hold it, Hot Shot. What happened?"

"That douchbag finally left. He took everything! Even the kids stuff. He left them with NOTHING! That is why Sis was calling. He cleaned out their account and took everything. Damn lucky he couldn't touch the shop accounts or he would have cleaned them out too. Literally everything. She needs a little cash to feed the kids til Friday."

"Thank God it is Wednesday," said CK. from the far side of the room. If anyone had bothered to look, the reflection on his glasses was an Amazon cart with 37 things in it. The only time ANYONE has that many things in an Amazon cart is when they are buying groceries. However, most of those were chips or snack cakes.

Honey, Min, and HyungWon all sat down to iron out how much and what they were gonna contribute.

Silently, I picked up my bank book and palmed the slip of paper with her info on it. Only HyunWoo saw me slip out the door. He stopped me as I waited for the elevator and handed me a few bills from his own wallet before turning back towards the room.

"What," was all I could get out before he interrupted, cutting me off mid-question.

"We look out for our own," He answered before he opened the door to the dorm.

After heading to the nearest Western Union, I called the number on the slip from Honey. When she picked up, I smiled.

"Hey, Bryn, it's Kihyun. I wired you some money. Should be about $100, if everything gets exchanged right."

"Kihyun, you guys didn't have to do that. My dad was already gonna feed the kids. I just needed to talk to someone. This has got me so shaken up, I want a drink really bad. Guess I wasn't too clear with Joey."

"Really? Then why was he," I stopped as a shadow fell over me. "Well, shit. Guess who is now standing right behind me."

"Tell him to calm down."

"Bryn says to calm down. She told me to sit on you if I have to."

"Kihyun! I did not."

"I paraphrased," I laughed. "Besides, Sweets, if looks could kill, I'd be dead right about now."

"Really," she chuckled.

"Oh yeah. He is probably gonna follow me all the way to the dorm. I guess I am not allowed out on my own," I laughed.

"Why," She asked.

"I tend to do dumb things, according to others. Though they may be a little impulsive, they always work out in the end. So don't look the horse in the mouth."

"I won't."

"Good girl," I laughed, "So why did you call him, anyway?"

"I needed someone I could yell at that would not take it personal."

"I am always here. Though, I may occasionally yell back."

She laughed. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Making me laugh. I needed that. "

"Damn. I was looking forward to the screaming match. C'mon, get it started, Angelface," I said as I stopped at the stoplight and waited for the crosswalk. "Do you want me to start," I asked, then pulled the phone away and yelled.

Bringing the phone back to my face, I asked as the crosswalk lit up and I crossed the street, "How was that," I grinned.

"A 10. A fuckin' 10. Have you thought of being a Rockstar," she laughed.

I could almost hear the smile on her face, which made me laugh. Even if my throat killed me in the morning it was worth it.

"Hey, hang on a second. I want to send you something," I said as I put my phone on speaker and started the camera.

"Oh dear God, what now," she asked.

I took a short video of me sending her a kiss and sent it off. "Nothing bad."

"Ok, if you say so. Just not cool with unsolicited dick pics from strange men."

"I would not send you unsolicited dick pics, nor am I a stranger. Now, if you asked for them...Like a good girl," I started and looked over at Honey, who was looking at me with the 'better never do that' face. "Uh-oh."

"What?"

"I'm getting side eye."

She laughed and said, "I know just the look. It screams, 'You'd better not be sending photos of ANY part of your anatomy to my sister'."

"Yes," I laughed. "So how are you feeling? Better?"

"Much. Thank you."

"No problem. I'm here all week. Try the veal," I laughed. "Still want a drink," I asked.

"No. The laughs did it for me. Thank you."

"You are very welcome, Darling. So did you get the video I sent?"

"I did. That was very sweet. Thanks."

"You are very welcome, Pretty Lady. Well, we are back at the dorms."

"I should probably go then," she sighed.

"Just remember I am also available for Mitzvahs," I chuckled, which made her laugh. "Seriously, Sweetie, anytime you need a sounding board or a laugh fest, a screaming match or some naughty-Ow, Mother fucker!-I got smacked on my arm for that last bit. I am always here,"

"Thanks again. Until next time."

I paused and came VERY close to telling her how I felt but said, instead, "Again, you are welcome."

"Bye, Kihyun."

"Bye, Bryn," I breathed, then hung up.

Honey looked at me as he crossed his arms over his chest, "It took everything you had to not tell her 'I love you' didn't it?"

All I could do was nod and hope that my dreams tonight would be better than they had been.

As we got into the elevator, He said, "It was good hearing that you made her laugh."

"I love the sound of her laughter. Once I got her started, I didn't want her to stop. I think that she is just as funny as she is sweet."

"You do know that she will do one of two things, right?"

"What two things?"

"Either immediately send the money right back, or hang on to it and physically give you back every bit. She hates asking for help...of any kind," he said as he opened the door to our dorm.

"Yeah? Wonder why."

He just laughed, "Her ex-fiancée, ex-husband, and her father."

"What happened," I asked as I made us a pot of coffee.

"They all held every penny over her head. Her dad decided he wanted her out the minute she turned 18 and to do it, he threw her out the boat, so to speak. Said if she floated, she never needed help anyway; and if she sank, well, it was her own fault."

"That's abuse. Financial abuse."

"Yep. He was the kind to tell her everything she had was his, that she owned nothing; not even the clothes on her back. He comes from the 'I Own You' school of parenting. Her ex-fiancée would demand she work, then make her late, so she would lose any job she got. Then, he'd take any money she got paid and use it for crap he wanted rather than the bills she had it ear-marked for."

"Oh, tell me he didn't."

"Oh he did. Spent it on girls at the local under 21."

"Shit. He screwed around on her, didn't he?"

"Yep. Which is why if you ever think about cheating, I will castrate you myself," he growled.

Somehow I knew he would do it, and I would let him. "Don't have to worry about that. Can you tell me about her ex-husband?"

"That asshole was a piece of work. Emotionally, Mentally, and Fiscally abusive. The entire time they were together, he would pinch a penny until it died if it was something she needed, but she was expected to turn over her things and cash to him. She worked second shift in a factory; out of the house from half 1 to almost 1 am. He was in semi driver school at the time, racked up a HUGE amount of debt; I'm talking almost 40K. Constantly accused her of cheating when he had a different lot lizard every night. It's a miracle he never gave her anything."

I was disgusted by this guys behavior. To have a woman like her waiting at home and trying his best to break her.

"And that isn't even the worst of his offenses. He screamed at her one night while he was over the road, on training. She was at work, and he called her on her lunch break. The entire time, he screamed at her for having a cold sore and yelled about her cheating loud enough for her co-workers to hear. Her boss to tell her to turn off her phone; that he was tired of hearing that jerk yell at her. The guy he was learning with, told him that 'If I were her, I would be calling the lawyer first thing in the morning, after that shit.' He 'apologized' pretty quickly after that."

"Icky. I hope she ended it there."

"No. That girl has a ton of stay and No show. He ended up deployed to Egypt and told his brother about the girls there. Never thought his brother would run and tell her. She still didn't leave. You left a blister on her cheek one night and he threw her out in the snow."

"Stay and no show? I'm not sure I understand."

"Horse terms," came a voice from the doorway. I had forgotten Hoseok was staying with us while his apartment was getting the pipes fixed. "When a filly is learning to ride, it's said she is full of Show and no Stay. Meaning she looks good, but is too skittish to stand still. Sis--Well Sis may not look like much, but she has tons of loyalty to those who show her the same. She has the patience to play a 30 year long game, and the courage to weather ANY storm. But she has a problem knowing when to leave, and so she gets hurt."

"Hold up! He threw her out in the snow?!"

As Hoseok filled his own mug, he answered, "Yeah, he threw her out of the apartment in the middle of a snowstorm. Lucky her parents were in town. So if you start this with her, and you ever want out; you are gonna have to straight up tell her to go. She won't understand otherwise. She doesn't play games and has a tough time with subtly. So always be direct and honest with her."

I nodded taking it in. There was something I thought I wanted, so I asked, "How is her aegyo"

"If you are looking for overt aegyo, don't. Hers is subtle but she has got it in spades, and she doesn't even know it. It's in the way she plays, either with her guy or her kids," he said as he leaned against the counter, "It's in the subtle blush when you say or do something for her without her asking. It's in a compliment and the smiling eyes that comes with it. She has never had some of the things other girls take for granted, like a stolen kiss or flowers on her birthday. Other things, like those romantic gestures, she has only had once or twice. If I remember right, the last guy to 'play' was an FWB years and years ago, and that guy only stole one kiss, once," Honey replied.

"Don't expect her to run with girls. Most girls find her too harsh, too rough. She doesn't appreciate girls and their whiney, gossipy ways. She never wears makeup, and I have never once seen her with her nails painted. She is a guys-girl, a tom-boy through and through; wasn't made delicate. She is stronger than most people will ever know. However, her heart is extremely delicate, it's been broken and bruised so bad, even I wonder how she is still alive. So, let me tell you, right now," Hoseok said as he sat down his mug and leaned over the counter in my direction, "She may not be blood, but she is my sister."

"Hmm," I nodded. "You really don't have to worry about that," I replied. "How are you related to her again," I asked.

"Distant cousin. Her auntie married my mothers little brother, for all of five minutes. I am only gonna tell you this once, if you hurt that filly in ANY way; you wont walk again."

"Got it," I replied, cringing.

"You know that she won't ask for what she wants or needs. You are gonna need to be damned good at reading between the lines, cause she is so afraid that if she tells you what she needs, what she wants, you will do the same thing every one else has done," Honey said after a minute.

"Run," I answered nodding.

"Yep. Most men can't handle her intensity so they either run or try to turn her down to levels that they can handle without realizing that her fire isn't meant to be dimmed, but fed. She is gonna need you to be just as emotional as her, to show her that it is ok to feel again. She is very touch oriented, very tactile. So a lot of her feelings are touch related."

"I understand, Joey."

"You had better. The only reason I didn't beat the shit out of the other assholes, is that I wasn't there. If I had been, I would have had no problems with a few months in the county lock-up. And if Clark had tried that shit while I was there..."

"Really?"

"Yeah. See, the shit of it is, she fades into the background. She doesn't want all those things that other girls want. She isn't the kind to run or chase. She doesn't play games. She is also emotional. Ease into it. Don't try to love bomb her, she went through that shit with Clark and won't put up with it from you," Hoseok said, then turned to Joey, "Speaking of, did you hear what Lone Elm called him?"

Joey shook his head.

Hoseok grinned. "Elm called him a fuckin fishstick."

Joey started laughing, "Elm called him 'Fishstick'."

I looked back and forth between the two men who were holding themselves up on the counter while they laughed. "I don't get it. What-What's a fishstick?"

A hand landed on my shoulder from behind. I turned to see Changkhyun standing there, an amused look on his face.

"Fishsticks are only available in the States. They are mashed-up fish paste, about an inch wide by around six inches long, which is then breaded. Then, they are to be baked in an oven. Either they turn out soggy or they are hard as a rock; inedible either way. Which is good, because they are fuckin' gross. Nasty little things."

"Are they like the fish at Mickey's?"

"No," CK stated. "The fish there is actually decent. Fishsticks are generally served in school hot lunches on Fridays due either to religious reasons, or because they are cheap and can be purchased by the gross. At any rate, they are still inedible."

"Icky. How in the hell can people do that to their kids?"

"Not a clue. That was why I always took my lunch on Friday. Every Friday, the hot lunch was always the same thing; rock hard fishsticks, soggy tater tots, dehydrated-rehydrated mixed vegetables, and golden glow salad with mayonnaise on the top. It was the grossest meal I have ever seen in my entire life."

I shuddered to think of those poor kids. Forced to eat that nasty stuff.

After reading that, I was glad her kids never had to eat that. She fixed boxes for them. School lunches in the States sounded gross.

'Some things were ok.'

'I thought you took your lunch, Mami?'

'I did. My dad said cold lunch was cheaper. But, there was one day, once or twice a month, that I would get school lunch. They called it pork pattie day, but it was a breaded pork tenderloin on a bun. It was pretty decent. It was pretty gross the rest of the time, but that day wasn't too bad.'

'Have I watched you fix those before?'

'Not sure.'

'Are those the sandwiches where you beat the pork chops to nothing and then bread and fry them?'

'Yes.'

'Those do look pretty tasty,' I said as I dug around for what to fix the next day, so I could write it on the board. 'Hmm. Help, please. Can't figure out supper.'

'Whatcha got?'

'Hmmm. Some sausages, some tiny shrimp, and a package of chicken,' I said as I dug around in the freezer.

"You can use the shrimp and chicken in Gumbo.'

'It has been quite a while since I've had Gumbo. I've never made it before though.'

'Look it up. There are a million Gumbo recipes out there.'

'I think I will do that. Thanks, Baby. Have I told you, today, how awesome you are??'

'Yes, but I can always stand to hear it again,' she laughed.

A/N)--The above abuses......actually happened. First hand experience.

[angels-in-overcoats]

Scott and his family had just moved into a new neighborhood. His dad had gotten a promotion at work, and they thought it would be best to live in one of those "fancy" neighborhoods. Scott and his brother Caddy couldn't complain though. A new, better house. What was not to love? As they were getting unpacked, one of their neighbors came by.

"Hello," she said, "I'm Holly; I live across the street from you. Well, I just wanted to introduce my self and to introduce my son." She turns around and calls her son over. "JackSepticEye, these are our new neighbors." JackSepticEye said hi and ran back to play in his yard.

"Well," said Scott's mom, "I'm Franklin, and this is my husband Glenn, and my two sons, Scott and Caddy." They each introduced themselves, and then Holly invited them to her son's birthday. Scott and his brother were about to object, when their mother said that they would love to. When Scott and his family are done packing, Scott went up to his mom.

"Mom, why would you invite us to some kid's party? If you haven't noticed, I'm not some dumb kid."

"Scott," said his mother, "We just moved here; we should show that we want to spend time with our neighbors. Now, we're going to that party, and that's final." Scott started to talk, but stopped himself, knowing that he couldn't do anything. Whenever his mom said something, it was final. He walked up to his room and plopped down on his bed. He sat there looking at his ceiling when suddenly, he got a weird feeling. Not so much a pain, but... a weird feeling. He dismissed it as just some random feeling. He heard his mother call him down to get his stuff, and he walked down to get it.

The next day, Scott walked down stairs to get breakfast and got ready for school. As he sat there, eating his breakfast, he once again got that feeling. This time it was stronger. It gave him a slight tugging pain, but he once again dismissed it. As he and Caddy finished breakfast, they walked down to the bus stop. They sat there waiting for the bus, and then, all of a sudden, some kid on a skateboard jumped over them, only inches above their laps. They both jumped back in surprise. "Hey, what the hell?"

The kid landed and turned back to them. He kicked his skate board up and caught it with his hands. The kid seems to be about twelve; one year younger than Scott. He wears a Aeropostale shirt and ripped blue jeans.

"Well, well, well. It looks like we got some new meat." Suddenly, two other kids appeared. One was super skinny and the other was huge. "Well, since you're new here, I'd like to introduce ourselves, over there is Tobuscus." Scott and Caddy looked over to the skinny kid. He had a dopey face that you would expect a sidekick to have. "And he's JonTron." They looked over at the fat kid. Talk about a tub of lard. This kid looked like he hadn't exercised since he was crawling.

"And I," said the first kid, "am ProJared. Now, for all the kids in this neighborhood there is a small price for bus fare, if you catch my drift." Caddy stood up, ready to punch the lights out of the kid's eyes when one of his friends pulled a knife on him. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, I had hoped you would be more cooperative, but it seems we must do this the hard way." The kid walked up to Caddy and took his wallet out of his pocket. Scott got that feeling again. Now, it was truly strong; a burning sensation. He stood up, but Caddy gestured him to sit down. Scott ignored him and walked up to the kid.

"Listen here you little punk, give back my bro's wallet or else." ProJared put the wallet in his pocket and pulled out his own knife.

"Oh? And what will you do?" Just as he finished the sentence, Scott popped the kid in the nose. As ProJared reached for his face, Scott grabbed the kid's wrist and broke it. ProJared screamed and Scott grabbed the knife from his hand. JonTron and Tobuscus rushed Scott, but Scott was too quick. He threw ProJared to the ground. Tobuscus lashed out at him, but Scott ducked and stabbed him in the arm. Tobuscus dropped his knife and fell to the ground screaming. JonTron rushed him too, but Scott didn't even need the knife. He just punched JonTron straight in the stomach and JonTron went down. As he fell, he puked all over. Caddy could do nothing but look in amazement at Scott.

"Scott how'd you?" that was all he said. They saw the bus coming and knew they'd be blamed for the whole thing. So they started running as fast as they could. As they ran, they looked back and saw the bus driver rushing over to ProJared and the others. As Scott and Caddy made it to school, they didn't dare tell what happened. All they did was sit and listen. Caddy just thought of that as his brother beating up a few kids, but Scott knew it was more. It was something, scary. As he got that feeling he felt how powerful it was, the urge to just, hurt someone. He didn't like how it sounded, but he couldn't help feeling happy. He felt that strange feeling go away, and stay away for the entire day of school. Even as he walked home due to the whole thing near the bus stop, and how now he probably wouldn't be taking the bus anymore, he felt happy. When he got home his parents asked him how his day was, and he said, in a somewhat ominous voice, "It was a wonderful day." Next morning, he heard a knock at his front door. He walked down to find two police officers at the door, his mother looking back at him with an angry look.

"Scott, these officers tell me that you attacked three kids. That it wasn't regular fighting, and that they were stabbed. Stabbed, son!" Scott's gaze fell to the floor, showing his mother that it was true.

"Mom, they were the ones who pulled the knives on me and Caddy."

"Son," said one of the cops," We found three kids, two stabbed, one having a bruise on his stomach, and we have witnesses proving that you fled the scene. Now, what does that tell us?" Scott knew it was no use. He could say him and Caddy had been attacked, but then there was no proof it was not them who attacked first. They couldn't say that they weren't fleeing, because truth be told they were. So Scott couldn't defend himself or Caddy.

"Son, call down your brother." Scott couldn't do it, since it was him who beat up all the kids.

"Sir, it...it was me. I was the one who beat up the kids. Caddy tried to hold me back, but he couldn't stop me." The cop looked at his partner and they both nod.

"Well kid, looks like a year in Juvy..."

"Wait!" says Caddy. They all looked up to see him holding a knife. The officers pulled their guns and locked them on Caddy.

"It was me, I beat up those little punks. Have the marks to prove it." He lifted up his sleeves to reveal cuts and bruises, as if he was in a struggle.

"Son, just put the knife down," said the officer. Caddy held up the knife and dropped it to the ground. He put his hands up and walked over to the cops.

"No Caddy, it was me! I did it!" Scott had tears running down his face.

"Huh, poor bro. Trying to take the blame for what I did. Well, take me away." The police led Caddy out to the patrol car.

"Caddy, tell them it was me! Tell them! I was the one who beat up those kids!" Scott's mother put her hands on his shoulders.

"Scott please, you don't have to lie. We know it's Caddy, you can stop." Scott watched helplessly as the cop car speeds off with Caddy inside. A few minutes later Scott's dad pulled into the driveway, seeing Scott's face and knowing something was wrong.

"Son, son what is it?" Scott couldn't answer. His vocal cords were strained from crying. Instead, Scott's mother walked his father inside to break the bad news to him as Scott wept in the driveway. After an hour or so Scott walked back in to the house, seeing that his parents were both shocked, sad, and disappointed. He couldn't look at them. He couldn't see how they thought of Caddy when it was his fault. He just went to sleep, trying to get the whole thing off his mind. Two days went by, with no word from Caddy at JDC. No friends to hang out with. Nothing but sadness and guilt. That is until Saturday, when Scott is woke up by his mother, with a happy, sunshiny face.

"Scott, it's the day." she said as she opened up the curtains and let light flood into his room.

"What, what's today?" asked Scott as he stirs awake.

"Why, it's JackSepticEye's party." He was now fully awake.

"Mom, you're joking, right? You don't expect me to go to some kid's party after..." There was a long pause.

"Scott, we both know what happened. I think this party could be the thing that brightens up the past days. Now, get dressed." Scott's mother walked out of the room and downstairs to get ready herself. He fought himself to get up. He picked out a random shirt and pair of jeans and walked down stairs. He saw his mother and father all dressed up; his mother in a dress and his father in a suit. He thought, why they would ever wear such fancy clothes to a kid's party?

"Son, is that all your going to wear?" said Scott's mom.

"Better than wearing too much." he said. His mother pushed down the feeling to yell at him and hid it with a smile.

"Now Scott, we may be over-dressed, but this is how you go if you want to make an impression." said his father. Scott grunted and went back up to his room.

"I don't have any fancy clothes!" he yelled down stairs.

"Just pick out something." called his mother. He looked around in his closet for what he would call fancy. He found a pair of black dress pants he had for special occasions and an undershirt. He couldn't find a shirt to go with it though. He looked around, and found only striped and patterned shirts. None of which go with dress pants. Finally he found a white hoodie and put it on.

"You're wearing that?" they both said. His mother looked at her watch. "Oh, no time to change. Let's just go." She said as she herded Scott and his father out the door. They crossed the street over to Holly and JackSepticEye's house. They knocked on the door and at it appeared that Holly, just like his parents, way over-dressed. As they walked inside all Scott could see were adults, no kids.

"The kids are out in the yard. Scott, how about you go and meet some of them?" said Holly.

Scott walked outside to a yard full of kids. They were running around in weird cowboy costumes and shooting each other with plastic guns. He might as well be standing in a Toys R Us. Suddenly a kid came up to him and handed him a toy gun and hat.

"Hey. Wanna pway?" he said.

"Ah, no kid. I'm way too old for this stuff." The kid looked at him with that weird puppydog face.

"Pwease?" said the kid. "Fine," said Scott. He put on the hat and started to pretend shoot at the kids. At first he thought it was totally ridiculous, but then he started to actually have fun. It might not have been super cool, but it was the first time he had done something that took his mind off of Caddy. So he played with the kids for a while, until he heard a noise. A weird rolling noise. Then it hit him. ProJared, JonTron, and Tobuscus all jumped over the fence on their skateboards. Scott dropped the fake gun and ripped off the hat. ProJared looked at Scott with a burning hatred.

"Hello, Scott, is it?" he said. "We have some unfinished business." Scott saw his bruised nose." I think we're even. I beat the crap out of you, and you get my brother sent to JDC."

ProJared got an angry look in his eyes. "Oh no, I don't go for even, I go for winning. You may have kicked our asses that one day, but not today." As he said that ProJared rushed at Scott. They both fell to the ground. ProJared punched Scott in the nose, and Scott grabbed him by the ears and head butted him. Scott pushed ProJared off of him and both rose to their feet. Kids were screaming and parents were running out of the house. JonTron and Tobuscus both pulled guns out of their pockets.

"No one interrupts or guts will fly!" they said. ProJared pulled a knife on Scott and stabbed it into his shoulder.

Scott screamed and fell to his knees. ProJared started kicking him in the face. After three kicks Scott grabs his foot and twists it, causing ProJared to fall to the ground. Scott stood up and walked towards the back door. JonTron grabbed him.

"Need some help?" He picks Scott up by the back of the collar and throws him through the patio door. As Scott tries to stand he is kicked down to the ground. ProJared repeatedly starts kicking Scott, until he starts to cough up blood.

"Come on Scott, fight me!" He picks Scott up and throws him into the kitchen. ProJared sees a bottle of vodka on the counter and smashes the glass over Scott's head.

"Fight!" He throws Scott back into the living room.

"Come on Scott, look at me!" Scott glances up, his face riddled with blood. "I was the one who got your brother sent to JDC! And now you're just gonna sit here and let him rot in there for a whole year! You should be ashamed!" Scott starts to get up.

"Oh, finally! you stand and fight!" Scott is now to his feet, blood and vodka on his face. Once again he gets that strange feeling, the one in which he hasn't felt for a while. "Finally. He's up!" says ProJared as he runs at Scott. That's when it happens. Something inside Scott snaps. His psyche is desJonTroned, all rational thinking is gone, all he can do, is kill. He grabs ProJared and pile drives him to the ground. He gets on top of him and punches him straight in the heart. The punch causes ProJared's heart to stop. As ProJared gasps for breath. Scott hammers down on him. Punch after punch, blood gushes from ProJared's body, until he takes one final breath, and dies.

Everyone is looking at Scott now. The parents, the crying kids, even JonTron and Tobuscus. Although they easily break from their gaze and point their guns at Scott. Scott see's the guns trained on him and runs for the stairs. As he runs JonTron and Tobuscus let out fire on him, each shot missing. Scott runs up the stairs. He hears JonTron and Tobuscus follow up behind. As they let out their final rounds of bullets Scott ducks into the bathroom. He grabs the towel rack and rips it off the wall. JonTron and Tobuscus race in, knives ready.

JonTron swings his knife at Scott, who backs away and bangs the towel rack into JonTron's face. JonTron goes down hard and now all that's left is Tobuscus. He is more agile than JonTron though, and ducks when Scott swings the towel rack. He dropped the knife and grabbed Scott by the neck. He pushed him into the wall. A thing of bleach fell down on top of him from the top shelf. It burnt both of them and they both started to scream. Scott wiped his eyes as best as he could. He pulled back the towel rack and swung it straight into Tobuscus's head. As he lay there, bleeding to death, he let out an ominous smile.

"What's so funny?" asked Scott. Tobuscus pulled out a lighter and switched it on. "What's funny," he said, "Is that you're covered in bleach and alcohol." Scott's eyes widened as Tobuscus threw the lighter at him. As soon as the flame made contact with him, the flames ignited the alcohol in the vodka. While the alcohol burned him, the bleach bleached his skin. Scott let out a terrible screech as he caught on fire. He tried to roll out the fire but it was no use, the alcohol had made him a walking inferno. He ran down the hall, and fell down the stairs. Everybody started screaming as they saw Scott, now a man on fire, drop to the ground, nearly dead. The last thing Scott saw was his mother and the other parents trying to extinguish the flame. That's when he passed out.

When Scott woke he had a cast wrapped around his face. He couldn't see anything, but he felt a cast on his shoulder, and stitches all over his body. He tried to stand up, but he realized that there was some tube in his arm, and when he tried to get up it fell out, and a nurse rushed in.

"I don't think you can get out of bed just yet." she said as she put him back in his bed and re-inserted the tube. Scott sat there, with no vision, no idea of what his surroundings were. Finally, after hours, he heard his mother.

"Honey, are you okay?" she asked. Scott couldn't answer though, his face was covered, and he was unable to speak. "Oh honey, I have great news. After all the witnesses told the police that ProJared confessed of trying to attack you, they decided to let Caddy go." This made Scott almost bolt up, stopping halfway, remembering the tube coming out of his arm. "He'll be out by tomorrow, and then you two will be able to be together again."

Scott's mother hugs Scott and says her goodbyes. The next couple of weeks were those where Scott was visited by his family. Then came the day where his bandages were to be removed. His family were all there to see it, what he would look like. As the doctors unwrapped the bandages from Scott's face everyone was on the edge of their seats. They waited until the last bandage holding the cover over his face was almost removed.

"Let's hope for the best," said the doctor. He quickly pulls the cloth; letting the rest fall from Scott's face.

Scott's mother screams at the sight of his face. Caddy and Scott's dad stare awe-struck at his face.

"What? What happened to my face?" Scott said. He rushed out of bed and ran to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and saw the cause of the distress. His face. It... it's horrible. His lips were burnt to a deep shade of red. His face was turned into a pure white color, and his hair singed from brown to black. He slowly put his hand to his face. It had a sort of leathery feel to it now. He looked back at his family then back at the mirror.

"Scott," said Caddy, "It's not that bad..."

"Not that bad?" said Scott," It's perfect!" His family were equally surprised. Scott started laughing uncontrollably His parents noticed that his left eye and hand were twitching.

"Uh... Scott, are you okay?"

"Okay? I've never felt more happy! Ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa, look at me. This face goes perfectly with me!" He couldn't stop laughing. He stroked his face feeling it. Looking at it in the mirror. What caused this? Well, you may recall that when Scott was fighting ProJared something in his mind, his sanity, snapped. Now he was left as a crazy killing machine, that is, his parents didn't know.

"Doctor," said Scott's mom, "Is my son... alright, you know. In the head?"

"Oh yes, this behavior is typical for patients that have taken very large amounts of pain killers. If his behavior doesn't change in a few weeks, bring him back here, and we'll give him a psychological test."

"Oh thank you doctor." Scott's mother went over to Scott." Scott, sweety. It's time to go."

Scott looks away from the mirror, his face still formed into a crazy smile. "Kay mommy, ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaa!" his mother took him by the shoulder and took him to get his clothes.

"This is what came in," said the lady at the desk. Scott's mom looked down to see the black dress pants and white hoodie her son wore. Now they were clean of blood and now stitched together. Scott's mother led him to his room and made him put his clothes on. Then they left, not knowing that this was their final day of life.

Later that night, Scott's mother woke to a sound coming from the bathroom. It sounded as if someone was crying. She slowly walked over to see what it was. When she looked into the bathroom she saw a horrendous sight. Scott had taken a knife and carved a smile into his cheeks.

"Scott, what are you doing?" asked his mother.

Scott looked over to his mother. "I couldn't keep smiling mommy. It hurt after awhile. Now, I can smile forever. Scott's mother noticed his eyes, ringed in black.

"Scott, your eyes!" His eyes were seemingly never closing.

"I couldn't see my face. I got tired and my eyes started to close. I burned out the eyelids so I could forever see myself; my new face." Scott's mother slowly started to back away, seeing that her son was going insane. "What's wrong mommy? Aren't I beautiful?

"Yes son," she said, "Yes you are. L-let me go get daddy, so he can see your face." She ran into the room and shook Scott's dad from his sleep. "Honey, get the gun we..." She stopped as she saw Scott in the doorway, holding a knife.

"Mommy, you lied." That's the last thing they hear as Scott rushes them with the knife, gutting both of them.

His brother Caddy woke up, startled by some noise. He didn't hear anything else, so he just shut his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. As he was on the border of slumber, he got the strangest feeling that someone was watching him. He looked up, before Scott's hand covered his mouth. He slowly raised the knife ready to plunge it into Caddy. Caddy thrashed here and there trying to escape Scott's grip.

"Hey all," Scott said. "Scott here.”

[kissable-vance-medici]

||Temeplate credit to @video-space !! ||

[INFO]

Name: Leilani christan ormsby/thistlewaite

Gender:Male

Pronouns: he/him

Sexuality:Gay

Weapon/fighting style of choice: Paddles/ Bats

[DIALOGUE]

Greetings:

-"Well hello, mind for a talk James?"

-"Hopkins! Greetings, a moment of your time please?"

-"Jimmy, can we speak?"

-"James, How are you?"

Saying Goodbye:

- "I have to go check on my baby Perri, see you later James"

- "Well times ran out, I have to hear another phone call from my mother."

- "I best be going, my designs aren't going to finish themselves!"

-"Fare well Hopkins, I have to catch a gift from my Fathers' in the office about now"

Chasing:

- "Get back here, you, you doormat!!"

- "Once I catch you, you'll be hearing from three lawyers!"

-"Stop running, face me coward!"

Out of breath:

- "I'm wasting time, you're lucky I have plans today.."

- "No..Wait till I catch my breath then you'll be unlucky.."

-"Oh! My side! Heavens I need to run more.."

Walking around talking to themself:

- "My Daddies won't stop sending me hideous sweaters!"

- "Sometimes I wish I did come out a girl just so my mother would leave me alone about the subject"

- "Dresses aren't that bad to wear, mommy used to make me wear them when I was small! Maybe they're just tad itchy is all.."

- "Would life for me be much better if i was born a girl, well maybe for mommy's life.."

- "Having two dads ain't so bad as mommy always told me.."

- "My Daddy isn't as bossy as Mommy, I wish she'd get boys are more better than girls"

- "Only good gift I've gotten from my Daddies is Perri, no boy could replace him when it comes to those nights.."

-"Perri is what's keeping me from giving into my mothers wishes of what she wants"

-"Perri is like a baby to me, speaking of, I should go down to buy him treats"

-"My Mother says kissing boys here is dangerous, I think the only good advice she's given my entire life"

-"Maybe lower class boys can be handsome, well MAYBE can at least.."

Conversing:

- "Did your Mother ever make you say you were a girl?"

- "You know those rubber things in the small packages? I don't think it's gum.."

- "You know James, you are cute but I wish you dressed less poor so if we were seen together my parent's would suspect a thing!"

- "I think I have Scoliosis, I've been forgetting a lot of things"

- "When I was little I found this strange collar in my Daddies' room, I'm still wondering if they were gonna get me a puppy."

- "What do you normally shop for James?"

- "Do you think when you drink blue punch, your pee is blue? I swear some toilets suspiciously have Blue in them"

- "My mommy had a small dog named Lily when I was 7, she liked dirt, reminds me of the jar of dirt I used to make a dirt mountain in the living room when she strangely vanished.."

Conversation Response:

- "Oh my."

- "Indeed."

-"Quite interesting, may you say more."

- "Undertsable, I get that."

- "Couldn't get that, but I will try."

Complaining:

- "Maybe for once boys dressed nice I'd kiss them!"

- "I wish my Mommy would lay off, only if I had the guts!"

- "God dammit, I stepped in gum!I think I'm gonna cry…"

- "Perri accidentally pooped on my arm when I was chatting with a cute boy, I cant believe he'd do me like this!"

- "My last pair of underwear is once again missing! These pants are really not soft, think I'm getting another rash on my- you know where!"

Unknown/Cut Dialogue:

- "It is normal to faint five times after a hot shower?"

- "My Mother is getting on my back after that date with one of the bullies, wish she got that he actual showers?"

- "What the hell is a V card, is there letter cards I never heard about? And why do people always take them?"

- Sometimes I'll be doing something but blink and find myself on the floor, I don't get what the nurse means by neurocardiogenic syncope? Is that like a sleep thing?"

-"I have 10 brothers, no wonder my mom wanted me to be a girl"

Starting fight with Cliques:

[Bullies]

- "God, I hope your pimples don't pop during a punch!"

- "Bet you fight like you dress, poorly!"

- "You nothing more than pennies on the ground!"

- "Come at me you heathens!"

[Greasers]

- "I'll be washing my hand when I'm done with you!"

- "Under all that leather is nothing more but a walking non-sqeak door canister!"

- "Don't slip on your hair gel when you get a run start!"

-"Fast food places use less grease than you put in your hair!"

[Nerds]

- "You may have brains, but i know you dont have brawl!"

- "You're weaker than my baby cousin!"

- "You're gonna wish you keep that nose in a book!"

- "Hope you like not seeing for a week, four eyes!!"

[Jocks]

- "Keep those sweaty hands away from me!"

- "Smells like wet jockstrap!"

- "Come at me you Sport freaks!"

-"Football dont teach you punching skills!"

[Townies]

- "Glad bullworth doenst have you in it"

- "Proud Derby dont waste money on you!"

- "Ready to get a taste of Bullworth!"

- "I'd sue you but I dont think you have enough money to even pay for a parking hours at the cournt house!"

Requesting an errand:

- "James, If you do this thing for me maybe you can buy better clothes?"

- "Quite an heavens call, Hopkins I need help!"

- "Speak of the devil, James I need a errand please, help one out"

- "Jimmy dearest, mind getting em a few things? I'll pay extra!"

Friendly Comments:

- "Good evening James, you look stunning for once!"

- "Proper clothes, Hopkins I'm quite shocked"

- "Jimmy, ya know Perri doesnt find you all that bad?"

- "James, you make me question if some boys do have have taste here"

Unfriendly Comments:

- "Whered you find those? Bottom of your moms drawer?"

- "At least I have two daddies"

- "Move aside, I dont need to waste my eyesight on you punk"

- "The only thing thatd describe you is what you find vomited near the dumpster melted in the pavement"

[EXTRA]

Demanding flowers:

- "Maybe a little something can make me not mind your clothes?"

- "A gift would be nice if you really cared"

- "Honey, if you didnt have the fashion to ask me out, do you have the gift to make up for it?"

After receiving flowers:

- "I hope you checked for spiders, I might cry"

- "Well, i mean, clothes arent all that important right now.."

- "Quite nice of you James, ain't you a sweetheart?"

Before kissing:

- "I quite flattered, come here baby"

- "A kiss?Been awhile since a nice boy asked me this"

- "Let me see what's it like to kiss boys like you"

Post-kiss:

- "Oh James, I quite enjoyed that"

- "You know, maybe if your open tonight, I can measure some designs on you?"

- "I now get what Gord means"

- "We cant hold hands, I dont want any longer calls with my mother, BUT James I do appreciate this"

[PHOTO OF YOUR OC]

Tags: //Honestly i dont know who to tag 😔// @video-space @gordvendomewhore

[queen-of-songs]

The Accidental Crush of Sansa Stark and the recurring annoyance that followed- Chapter 2 pt.1

"Sansa? If you could date any boy counselors here, who would you date?" Shireen, an adorable little camper asked as she walked all of them to canoeing. Sansa paused. Was her developing attraction that obvious? One of the golden staff rules was that there were to be no summer romances or if there was one, to be discreet to the point leadership didn't have any suspicions.

"She'd date Harry of course! Have you seen the way he looks at her?!" Beth giggled. "They would be like Ariel and...Philip!"

"Philip is Aurora's prince, Beth. Ariel's prince is Eric remember?" Alys shook her head at Beth. "I think Sansa would be happiest with Sam!"

"Sam likes Gilly, he blushes every time he's around her," Osha spoke up and the girls around her nodded in agreement.

"Sansa should go out with Dickon, he's so handsome!" Minisa sighed dreamily while Lyanna rolled her eyes.

"Can't you all see Sansa likes...." Lyanna began before Sansa interrupted her. "Girls, I appreciate you all comparing me to a Disney princess and wishing for my happiness. But I assure you, I don't feel that way toward anyone here."

Most of the girls seemed convinced by her little white lie and forgot about their question within seconds. All except for Lyanna. Lyanna stood behind while the other girls went down to the canoeing river. She tilted her head at Sansa in curiosity and Sansa took a deep breath.

"What is it Lyanna?"

"I saw you look at Jon at the pool yesterday."

"Lyanna, I had sunglasses on. I was looking at everyone in the pool." Sansa scoffed, hoping the defiant little camper would drop it. But Lyanna raised her chin with a sly smile on her face.

"Maybe that's true. But I saw you look at him a couple of times today at breakfast and you didn't have sunglasses then. You get a big smile on your face when he's around like the Disney princesses do."

Perhaps I should tone it down a bit.

Sansa took a moment to collect herself and sighed. "Lyanna, Jon is my coworker and friend. I smile when I see all my coworkers..."

"It's different with Jon. That's the way my mom looked at my dad before he died." Lyanna sadly smiled and quickly ran off to join her fellow campers, while Sansa stood in silence.

——————————-

"Girls, can I ask you something?" Sansa asked as she turned up the volume to skype her friends during break time. Margaery was in the process of making an anniversary gift for Theon, Dany was painting her nails so they could be ready for her date night with Daario, Missandei was painting a portrait for Grey, and Brienne was ordering a knife for Jaime's birthday.

"Sure, Sansa!" They all sang in unison.

"Am I being too obvious if one of my campers can tell who I am attracted to?" Sansa spoke quickly, hoping they missed it. But judging by how they were all looking at each other as if they were in the Brady Bunch credits, they did.

"OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Missandei shouted.

"I bet it's Harry! Margaery surmised.

"I think it's Dickon. Did you see the pics Sansa posted that tagged him in? They'd be absolutely perfect together!" Dany sighed happily.

"Well, are you going to tell us who it is?" Brienne rose an eyebrow.

"It's the guy I told you all about that pissed me off a few weeks ago. We've patched things up and he's really...cool." Sansa blushed and saw their collective smiles.

"You never told us Mr. Broody's name, what is it?" Margaery inquired.

"His name is Jon, Jon Snow," Sansa responded, and immediately Dany spat out her drink. "Jon Snow?! You like him?!"

"Yeah. Do you know him Dany?" Sansa asked, confused out of her mind.

"He's my nephew," Dany responded and Margaery's eyes widened. "Dany, how on earth do you have a nephew the same age as you?"

"Remember my older brother Rhaegar? Jon is his whoops kid after he had an affair while Elia was in a coma." Dany shrugged.

"Oh yeah! But you've never mentioned him before, why is that?" Missandei asked in curiosity.

"I didn't know he existed until he came to live with Rhaegar and Elia four years ago. He's hasn't been around much because he was either going to school or working at camp." Dany answered and Brienne leaned forward. "Dany, what were you going to add about Jon earlier when Sansa mentioned that she liked him?"

"He's a great guy...but Sansa, he has a girlfriend. Her name is Lysa Tully. He's been dating her for years. I am truly sorry, Sansa." Dany's face was full of sadness.

"Dany, don't be sorry! I'm glad you told me before I made a fool of myself. Now I can be more cognizant of my actions." Sansa put her hands in a heart shape and Dany laughed as she responded with heart hands back.

"But damn, I wish it were different. It would be so cool to have you as my sis...niece in law. Seven hells, that's so weird...."Dany began before all the girls cackled in unison.

Before long, Margaery narrowed her eyes. That typically meant she was vying for information. "Dany, give us the deets on Lysa."

"My brother and Elia think she's a character," Dany grimaced.

"That sounds like how my grandmother would describe Mr. Baelish and Mr.Varys," Margaery hummed.

"Rhaenys tolerates her and Aegon can't stand to be in the same room as her. My experience made me want to slap her, honestly."

"What happened?" Brienne inquired and Dany sighed. "She made Daario feel uncomfortable because he's not from "here," whatever "here" is supposed to mean."

"Oh. She's one of those types of people... ew does that mean Jon is as well???" Missandei rose an eyebrow.

"No, not by a long shot. Jon is super passionate about social issues and has always been involved in some way or another. He and Lysa got into an argument after she made Daario feel uncomfortable. She ended up apologizing, though I didn't think it was truly genuine. I think it was only to show Jon that she was "improving." Dany shrugged, while Brienne, Margaery, and Missandei collectively sighed. Sansa bit the inside of her cheek.

Of course, he has a girlfriend. He's good looking and has a kind soul. Who was I kidding? Well, maybe I can try to be his friend at least. Yes. That's what I'll do and my feelings will go away. They have before and they will now.

After making her decision, Sansa spoke up.

"Well ladies, enough about me and my sad crush life. Tell me about all your individual plans with your guys!!!!!!"

———————————-

"Sansa, you should go! I'm sure it'll be loads of fun!" Her co-counselor Mya exclaimed.

The leadership team decided last minute to have counselor late-night swim and Sansa internally debated if she really wanted to go.

If I am trying to friendzone my crush, shouldn't I try to limit the times I see him wet and shirtless?

"I'm really tired, Mya. I just want to take a hot shower, it's been a really long day."

It wasn't necessarily a bad excuse. It had been a long day. It hadn't even been five minutes after Sansa ended her skype call with her friends when she heard Dickon radio for her help. Two of the girls got into a fight during canoeing and poor Beth cried the entire time after she fell backward in the river. The next skill area didn't fare well either after Minisa got bit by a brown recluse and had to go to the hospital. Then later in the day, the porch swing broke off at the merchandise store and Lyanna sprained her ankle. Sansa had gotten well acquainted with nurse Thoros. Because she worked so well with the little ones, she typically made calls throughout the week but never this many in one week.

"That's true but Sansa, you've been such a trooper today. You deserve a break." Mya reasoned.

"You were there too, Mya. I wouldn't have survived today without you, honestly. In fact, why don't you go tonight and I'll go tomorrow?" Sansa responded.

"Are you sure, Sansa?"

"Absolutely."

"Aww thanks, Sansa." Mya smiled and hugged Sansa tight for a few seconds before going to her room in the cabin to get a bathing suit.

"Oh by the way Mya, I'd wear the blue one. Harry blushes a little when you wear it." Sansa looked at her nails while Mya's mouth slightly dropped.

"How did you know?! I thought I was hiding it well."

"You are! I'm the only one who can really tell because I'm a big sucker for enemies to lovers so I can tell by the little things."

"...Harry blushed a little when I wore it last?"

"Yeah and I'm pretty sure he was going to say something before one of his campers jumped in the pool with his stuffed kittens." Sansa and Mya began chuckling as they remembered the sweet little boy who wanted to prove cats weren't afraid of water.

"Well thank you for the heads up, Sansa." Mya began to leave before leaning back in the doorway. "Should I wear my braids up or down?"

"Do whatever makes you feel confident."

"I'm going to wear them down. Harry Hardyng, here I come." Mya sang as she left the cabin into the hall to go change.

"Sansa?" a soft whisper woke her up and she could see Mya's outline by the bed. Sansa rose up on her elbow and she could tell Mya wanted to talk out in the hall. She followed her out quietly and then sat against the wall.

"Mya, how was it?" Sansa rose an eyebrow and a deep blush appeared on Mya's brown skin.

"It was wonderful. We... we kissed under the water. It was magical." Mya sighed happily and Sansa's heart leaped with joy.

"Did anyone see you two?"

"Surprisingly and thankfully, no. Everyone was distracted by Sam and Gilly. He finally asked her out!"

"Sounds like a good night for everyone it seems." Sansa smiled and closed her eyes for just a moment before Mya spoke up.

"Do you like anyone Sansa?" Sansa opened her eyes to see Mya have an eyebrow raised.

"Erm... not really." Sansa lied and Mya scoffed as she began redoing her braids.

"Are you sure? Because I'm pretty sure I saw you staring at your former pool duty partner a bit the other day. Is that why you switched?"

"For one, for some reason, I thought Jon was going tonight before I remembered he and Harry are co's this week. Two, it doesn't matter how I feel."

"Why doesn't it matter, Sansa?"

"Because he has a girlfriend." Sansa's voice cracked a little and Mya's face filled with sorrow.

"I'm sorry I brought it up, Sansa."

"It's okay."

"What's your game plan?"

"My game plan? I want to become his friend and try to friendzone him."

"Friendzone your crush, hmm. I've never heard of that before. How are you going to do it?"

"Ask him about his girlfriend, what he likes, try to steer from anything super personal, keep a healthy distance, and....I'll talk about guys I find attractive."

"Besides Jon, who else would you want to go on a date with at camp?"

"Not really." Sansa shrugged.

"Any guys back home?"

"Um sort of I guess? If you count teammates/friends Robb brings home during breaks. His is name is Pyp. He's really cool and kind." Sansa smiled.

"Ooh tell me more!" Mya rested her face on her hands as the girls did during storytime before bed.

"He's majoring in Civil Engineering. He plays left wing on the hockey team at White Harbor, he's pretty good. I wouldn't be surprised if he was drafted in the WHL. He's pretty funny and a movie buff."

"Why didn't you go on a date with him then?"

"I was scared after everything that went down with Waymar, that I was a little hesitant to date."

"What did happen with Waymar?" Mya questioned.

"I made a fool out myself for him. I wore different clothes, dyed my hair black, and I even started going by my middle name to seem "cooler" to him. I..." Sansa shuddered. "I gave him special favors in the hopes, he just so he'd finally see me. One day, he texted me to meet up with him at his house and I went over thinking that he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend. I got there and the door was wide open. I thought it was a bit strange and I went in, worried if Waymar was okay when I heard noises coming from his bedroom. I opened the door and caught him having sex with my former best friend Myranda. I closed the door and ran down the stairs. Waymar and Myranda came down right before I left. Waymar forgot he texted me and tried to apologize while Myranda just smirked at me. I asked her 'How could you?' and she said 'You're the biggest fool to ever think you had a shot with Waymar and I only became friends with you to get to him along with your money. Who would anyone ever want to date someone like you? You're a stupid and ugly little girl. Oh, you're crying now. How sad? No one's ever had the guts to tell you that? You're sasquatch with no curves or boobs."

Sansa looked down at the crown, while hot tears streamed down her face. Mya gathered her in her arms as Sansa sobbed.

"You know what Myranda said about you isn't true right? You're beautiful on the inside and out. Hell, I wish I was as tall and skinny as you." Mya whispered while Sansa shook her head.

"Mya, you're beautiful."

"So are you! Being tall sounds great, I don't like always having to crane my neck to look at Harry when we're bantering. The pool is probably one of the few kisses where he won't have to practically bend down to kiss me. Don't get me started on being curvy and having to find jeans that don't feel like they're not suffocating my thighs and butt while having a huge awkward gap in the back." Mya ranted. "Don't be hard on yourself, Sansa. You're amazing, you need to believe that. The girls love you, I love you, your other friends and family love you, and everyone at camp does. You need to love yourself."

"Thank you, Mya. You're right, I do need to work on loving myself." Sansa smiled.

"That's the spirit!" Mya high fived her and then they heard the door open from Mya's room to see Beth's face full of tears.

"What's wrong Beth? Did you have a nightmare?" Mya asked, her voice full of concern.

"No, I..." Beth's lip wobbled. "Miss Mya, I woke up and I realized I don't have any more underwear for the rest of the week."

"How many did you bring Beth?" Sansa asked as Beth sat down in between her and Mya.

"My brother packed me six."

Only six for Sunday through Friday? I'd pack at least twelve or fourteen... Wait! It's only Tuesday?!

"But it's only Tuesday Beth, how did you go through six?" Mya's eyes widened.

"I... I peed myself a bit on Sunday when I was waiting for the bathroom after I took my shower, so I had to change. Monday, I got my unicorn undies wet from the shower after I dropped them. I asked Lyanna to get some out of my bag. Today, after I fell in the water I got scared I was going to get leeches so I changed into my last pair. I just keep getting bad luck!" Beth started to tear up and an idea popped up in Sansa's mind.

"Beth, are all your dirty clothes in a bag?" Sansa asked.

Beth nodded and Sansa sighed in relief.

"Okay, I'm going to wash all of your dirty clothes in the washer and you'll have your five pairs clean again."

"Won't people judge me for re-wearing the same undies again?"

"No, it's none of their business and besides sometimes I wear the same undies when I don't take a shower for a day if I didn't sweat." Sansa shrugged.

"Same." Mya agreed and Beth looked at the both of them in amazement.

"Thank you so much, Miss Sansa and Miss Mya!" Beth hugged them both and went back into Mya's room.

"What. A. Night," Mya exclaimed and Sansa couldn't help but agree.

"Drinking coffee right before lunch?" Jon asked as Sansa filled her coffee mug.

"Yep. I'm exhausted, I had to wash one of my girls' clothes because she didn't pack enough underwear. She was upset and it broke my heart. Yesterday just wasn't her day."

"Beth right? She's a sweetheart." Jon smiled before he took a sip of his tea.

"She definitely is." Sansa nodded in agreement.

"Is she your favorite this week?"

"We as counselors aren't supposed to have favorites." Sansa attempted to be stern as Jon rose an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. Sansa began laughing so hard that her nose snorted and coffee spilled down her nose.

She grabbed a napkin and dabbed at her nose, refusing to make eye contact with him.

Seven hells, why must I embarrass myself in front of hot guys??? Why can't my laugh be sweet and adorable???

"I like your laugh, it's cute. You should do it more often." Jon's deep voice broke into her reverie and she lifted her eyes to see a small grin on his face.

"You should make more dramatic faces and jokes then," Sansa smiled back and Jon laughed a little.

"Noted." Jon nodded and then his eyebrows knitted together. "I just realized you didn't go to last night's late-night."

"Nope, besides doing Beth's laundry, I took a hot shower and talked to Mya out in the hall for a bit."

"Oh, Mya? Harry had heart eyes when he came back to the cabin last night. About damn time something happened."

"Mr. Jon? Did you just curse on campgrounds?" Sansa dramatically exclaimed and Jon chuckled as he shook his head.

"I sure did, Miss Sansa. Am I going to lose points now?"