#found family trauma healing

[heylittlethoughts]

14Days of MHA - Day 1 - Family

@Pikahula posted about fourteen days of My Hero Academia. As much as they have given us, it felt wrong to not participate. MHA and this fandom has given me so much. I’ve written fanfic in private for some time and this felt like a good time to post some of it for the first time. Hope you enjoy my take on the Family prompt.

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Content warning/context: Festival Day included a family event. Reader, gender neutral, Class 1-A, family/childhood trauma (emotional, narcissist abuse, CPTSD). Found family fluff, Katsuki x Reader fluff. Word count: 1.8k

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Class 1-A made their way to the courtyard for their turns to meet up with their family members. You followed along quietly lost in a world of thoughts.

You understood why the school decided to add the family event. It was jarring for some students to be away from family. A part of you was worried that yours would show up today though, just to berate you yet again for picking a life they didn’t agree with. They signed off on the dorms more as way to get you out of their life than in acceptance of your choice to be a hero. Whatever their motive, you were excited to have a layer of protection from your family trying to antagonize you daily.

Mina interrupted your thoughts with a bubbly bump into your shoulder “Hey, are you excited?!”

“Oh, yeah for sure” you forced a cheerful smile.

“Raccoon eyes, what are you doing bumping into people?” Katsuki barked at her.

“I’m just excited.” she spun around in a circle while walking. “I haven’t seen them since…” You tuned out the conversation as you caught Katsuki’s gaze giving him an appreciative smile.

When families came up in conversation you brushed it off, kept things vague, or found some excuse to leave the conversation. It’s not like you remembered much of your childhood to have anything to tell. Therapist said that was the CPTSD trying to protect you, the build up of painful little moment after little moment over the years.

The only person who knew anything was Katsuki. Because of course he was observant of that too. One night studying at his house, he noticed you getting sad watching him interact with his parents, pressing it until you explained your situation. You don’t know if he fully understood being low or no contact with family. Even so, he helped take the attention off you when it came up in group conversations after that.

You found a bench on the edge of the courtyard and leaned back on your hands as you sat down. Seeing everyone smile and hug their families made you smile. Everyone was so happy, some of them crying with joy, others laughing, some bubbly excitement at catching up with family in person.

It all was almost enough to make you get up and join. Some of the groups were mingling together, it’s not like anyone would turn you away. As you started to shift to stand, you stopped yourself. This event isn’t for you. Let them all have their time with their families. Don’t be a burden, you thought.

That familiar wave of sadness, loneliness, anxiety, whatever it was, it washed over you. You threw your head back to look up at the sky. Blinking to the adjustment of light, or to blink away the tears that pricked at your eyes.

A woman’s voice forced your head to whip back forward. “Hi there.” It was Mitsuki.

“Hello.” You said as you sat up straight on the bench. You hadn’t notice how sprawled out your arms where. “Sorry, did you want to sit down?” you offered nervously. Had she seen me tearing up?

“Thank you, could use the break from all that commotion.” She laughed lightly as her hand motioned back towards Katsuki barking at Kaminari, while Masaru was apologizing to Kaminari’s family.

You couldn’t help the snicker that escaped and the genuine smile that crossed your face. For whatever reason Katsuki did that to you. Him just existing was like a bright star in the dark sky always leading you back to where you should be.

Mitsuki caught you watching her son. “That boy of ours is such a handful” she had the tone of years of exhaustion from raising him. It was the layer of love and admiration mixed in, that caught you off guard.

That was the difference, you thought. Your family would say you were exhausting but meant it to hurt, that they would have preferred not to have you, that you were a burden. Mitsuki loved her son through it all, his attitude, his explosive energy, she loved him. What does it feels like to have a family that actually loves you, you let your mind wonder before cutting the thought off and steadying your mind back to the conversation.

“He’s not all that bad.” you smiled “It’s just how he communicates.” You couldn’t help the flutter of butterflies in your stomach as you looked at Katsuki, now laughing with the group. He had the most amazing smile.

Before either of you could say anything else, you saw Katsuki notice you and his face change. Something of surprise, annoyance maybe, or was he flustered it was you talking to his mother. “Hey Hag, what are you doing bothering people?” He yelled.

“Katsuki!” Mitsuki stood with authority. “Could you behave yourself for once?” she yelled back at him. She turned back to you, “I’m so sorry for him.” she said with a sweet apologetic smile.

“None needed” you smiled as you laughed. You’d seen them interact before and knew he was nothing but bark towards her. You found it cute how they yelled and argued with each other, knowing it wasn’t from any place of anger or actual resentment, it was endearing.

As they continued to bicker from across the courtyard, your smile and laughter faded. You couldn’t stop the waves of emotions crashing into you. Your face slipped into your thoughts. I was so behaved, and yet they never treated me with such love. Why? What did I do wrong? Why wasn’t I good enough? Why couldn’t they just love me?

Even from his distance across the courtyard, Katsuki noticed your face drop. “YN, you good?” he called over, calmer, concerned. Their fighting put on pause as Mitsuki turned to look at you as well with that same concern across her face.

Tears were pooled at the rim of your eyes. “Huh?” you said as you blinked and they streamed down your cheeks, tuning you into why they were you looking at you with such concern. No, no, don’t be a burden.

You shook your head and brushed your eyes with the back of your hands. “I’m fine.” you called out, you didn’t even believe yourself. “I don’t know what happened” you steadied yourself a bit more. “Must have been a bug or something in my eye. I’ll be right back” you were already standing and a step towards the direction of the bathrooms before all the words were out.

“Dear.” Mitsuki said almost a whisper. She took the stride towards you and wrapped you in a tight hug.

What was happening? The mix of intrusive thoughts and the warmth of a genuine hug were pulling you at opposite ends. “I’m ok-ay” your voice breaking from the now full crying that was happening.

She gently shushed you as she pulled you in tighter. “It’s okay if this is hard.” How does she- Did Katsuki tell her?

“You’ve done so much for my son, please let me be here for you.” she pulled you back to arms length to look in your eyes. Her voice sterned, she made sure you were listening before saying “Family doesn’t have to blood. It’s who you want it to be. You are not robbed of new love because of any lack of it in the past.”

Your chin trembled as you held back sodding, tears escaping down your cheeks. She pulled you back into a hug. Maybe so you don’t embarrass her, crying out in the open like this. your sinical thought intruding. You forced it away. Maybe because this is how real parents comfort their kids. You thought to yourself in a softer voice. You wrapped your arms around her and pulled yourself into the embrace.

She continued “We will be here for you, anytime you need it.”

You let yourself sob, muffled into her.

She continued “You are important to my son, so you are important to me. More than that, you are amazing on your own. You don’t deserve to feel so alone, my dear.” You could feel her head shift looking back to everyone in the courtyard. “You have so many people here who are your family. I know any of them will let you lean on them when you need it. Okay?”

You nodded against her as your breath steadied. You weren’t sure if you fully believed her. You knew everyone here was your friend, but you never wanted to burden someone else with your mess of trauma. Would they still truly want to be there for you if they knew how much of a mess you actually were?

Your thoughts were interrupted at the sound of Katsuki barking from somewhere next to you. “What are you doing hag? Trying to suffocate them?”

You felt yourself move before you realized where you were going. Mitsuki had turned and softly pushed you into Katsuki’s arms. He hesitantly held you not sure what was happening.

“Katsuki, Stop yelling.” Mitsuki said as she hit the top of his hand passing by him back to Masaru in the courtyard. You saw her turn and smile sweetly towards you. Almost a giving permission or maybe giving the mom order of let it happen, let us love you.

Katsuki’s energy shifted, concerned, feeling the tension in your body and the jagged breaths from your crying. You were still sniffling as you regained composure. “Family shit get to you?” he said in a soft grumble as he hugged you with more intention.

“Yeah” you said softly curling into his chest. He was warm and smelled sweet. Something about him always calmed your nerves. Taking a deep breath, “I’m such a mess. I was trying so hard to not let it ruin anyone’s day.”

“Fuck that!” he barked above you. Taken aback, you looked up towards him. That cocky smile across his face. “You’re amazing. The only way you’re ruining anyone’s day is by sulking over here by yourself.” he said with confidence and a hint of pink crossing his face.

A soft smile settled on your face as you leaned into him. “Thank you” you mumbled sweetly into him. You could just barely see the pink turn a shade darker.

“Come on already.” he said turning away from you while grabbing you hand. “Let’s go back to the idiots.” This version of him was one of your favorites. He was softer, gentle even. He made you feel safe and important.

As you walked back to the groups of friends and their families, their bright faces washing away any anxiety you might have had joining in on their fun. You smiled and laughed and thought, maybe it was true. That it’s okay to be loved. It’s okay to make a new family.

That even though it was chance that you all were in the same class, that this was your family and you are forever grateful for them all.

[aventurineswife]

Can you write Aventurine's reaction to seeing his baby opening eyes for the first time and revealing Avgin eyes?

A World Worth Seeing

Summary: In the quiet of a desert nursery, Aventurine holds his newborn child for the first time. As the baby opens their eyes, the unmistakable mark of their shared Avgin lineage, Aventurine is overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. Memories of his painful past and the loss of his clan resurface, but so does a newfound hope. Determined to give his child a better future, Aventurine vows to protect them and ensure their life is free from the suffering he endured.

Tags: Dad!Aventurine, Parent-Child Bond, Emotional Reflection, Hope and Redemption, Avgin Heritage, Found Family, Fatherhood, Vulnerable Aventurine, Post-Trauma Healing.

Warnings: Mentions of Past Trauma, Brief Reference to Slavery and Loss, Emotional Content‼️

A/N: CRYING, THROWING UP, 😭 WHY?! Ahem, I love Dad Aventurine or dilfs in general, I hope this fic makes you cry‼️🤗💖🫶

The nursery was quiet, save for the soft hum of the desert wind filtering through the window. Aventurine sat beside the crib, his usually flamboyant demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic stillness. In his arms rested a small bundle wrapped in soft, white fabric—his child. The baby stirred slightly, their tiny fists curling and uncurling, and Aventurine’s heart beat faster than it ever had at the gambling table.

He hadn’t prepared for this moment, not truly. For all his meticulous strategies and contingency plans, nothing could have readied him for the weight of fatherhood. He gazed down at the infant, his hair falling over his face as he adjusted the blanket.

“Come on, little one,” he whispered, his voice unsteady but warm. “Let me see those eyes.”

The baby stirred again, a soft whimper escaping their lips before they blinked slowly, their tiny eyelids fluttering open. Aventurine held his breath as two vibrant eyes were revealed—magenta and cyan, with the unmistakable black pupils of an Avgin.

His heart stopped.

For a moment, the world fell away. The distant sound of the wind disappeared, the weight of his past faded into silence, and all that remained was the tiny being in his arms. The sight of those eyes—so strikingly familiar yet entirely unique—triggered a torrent of emotions he wasn’t prepared to face.

Memories rushed in like an unbidden tide. His clan. His mother’s gentle voice. His sister’s laughter, long since silenced. The horrors he’d endured, the chains around his wrists, the pain of losing everything. And now, here was his child, carrying the unmistakable mark of their shared lineage. A lineage he had fought to preserve, even as he tried to bury its painful legacy.

Tears welled in Aventurine’s eyes, but he quickly blinked them away, his signature grin faltering for only a moment. “Well,” he finally managed, his voice soft and laced with an unfamiliar vulnerability, “aren’t you full of surprises, just like your old man.”

The baby cooed, their tiny fingers reaching out and gripping Aventurine’s thumb with surprising strength. He chuckled, a sound filled with both awe and disbelief. “You’ve got your Papa’s eyes, huh? I guess fate had a hand in this one.”

For the first time in years, Aventurine felt something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel: hope. This child was more than a reminder of his past—they were a chance at a future he never thought he could have. A future where his clan’s story didn’t have to end in tragedy. A future where this little one could live free, unshackled by the pain and cruelty that had shaped his own life.

He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the baby’s forehead. “Don’t worry, little star,” he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. “I’ll make sure you never have to face what I did. I’ll give you a world worth seeing with those beautiful eyes.”

The baby blinked up at him, their gaze curious and unclouded by the weight of the world. Aventurine smiled, his resolve solidifying like the roll of a perfect hand. Whatever risks he had to take, whatever games he had to play, he would do it all for them.

In that moment, holding his child with their shared Avgin heritage shining back at him, Aventurine realized he’d already won the most important gamble of his life.

If I see more Dad!Aventurine reqs, I'm gonna cry fr‼️😭💔😕

While writing this fic, I saw this, I'm not okay ☹️💔

[elithelakes]

sure, we all love found family in fiction. but recently i’ve been thinking about what exactly draws me to it so much. and thinking about it, it’s unfortunately all too obvious. i’m obsessed with the idea of someone not being required to support and love another person, but doing so anyways, and doing it to such an extent that they essentially become family to each other. why? well, there were people in my life that should have automatically supported and loved me, but they didn’t; it’s the idea of someone doing something by choice what someone else wouldn’t even do by requirement. what one person saw and said “that’s an unlovable mess” another person saw said “maybe you are a mess but i’m going to go out of my way to love you anyways”. needless to say i’ve been crying for a while.

[scarefox]

Not to be dramatic but "Caged Again" is the hurt/comfort show we need and deserve.

[akkivee]

i’m not posting this for any other reason than to cry over ichiro’s voice as he teases kuukou lmao 😭😭😭

[stephtuckerauthor]

Updated the graphic as the covers are now changed!! Link to TBTBU: https://amzn.eu/d/fREJqFQ

[aftgficrec]

Random Rec: 'If I Knew You'

We’ve got another random rec for you!

If twinyards angst, their personal growth and development appeals to you, then you should definitely give this fic a go. It is written from Aaron’s pov, and we see him desperately struggling to forge a connection with Andrew over more than ten years (plenty of false starts and setbacks to cope with).  In the background (at first), and crucial to the twins' relationship, the criminal case of one Nathaniel Wesninski unfolds … - S

If I Knew You by AceSirenSinger [Rated T, 43145 words, complete, 2024]

Neil is imprisoned at sixteen years old for being the Butcher of Baltimore. Andrew obsesses, and Aaron obsesses because Andrew does, and everything goes wrong and raw and painful. Feat. the twinyards breaking each other’s hearts, and a decent amount of shade on the American justice system.

tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: recreational drug use, tw: implied/referenced violence, tw: implied/referenced torture

[not-poignant]

Daily excerpt from chapter 11 of Constellations:

‘Did you still want me to play piano today?’ Efnisien said. Gwyn stared at him, and Efnisien grinned. ‘You forgot, didn’t you?’ ‘Do you just remember everything?’ ‘Like a vault,’ Efnisien said, laughing. ‘Um, probably not everything, but things like that. I don’t have to play.’ ‘Aren’t you nervous?’ ‘I am, but I enjoy playing. I’ve gotten used to doing some public and private performances. And it’s relaxing. I’m not like an actual professional, but it’s nice to do something that’s not research or data or interviews or some shit.’ ‘I’d… I’d like to hear you play again. I used to like it even back then.’ ‘Yeah, it was one of the few times Crielle was calm,’ Efnisien said, shaking his head. He walked towards the corridor that led into the rest of the house, and Gwyn followed, looking around avidly.

[void-galaxy-shenanigans]

If y’all had told me a year ago that we’d still be alive, & starting to actually trust ourself to adapt in the future & remember things, & actually accommodating our disabilities willingly...I’d never believe it.

And yet, here I am, confidently telling myself “I can figure that out tomorrow”. And yet, here I am, mostly confidently saying “I planned ahead and I did good” (buying food, preparing for both disabled can’t-prepare days & can-prepare days). And yet, here I am, mostly confidently saying I’ll be alive in 2025 & planning out my school year for fall of 2025 (roughly late August start for my university) & dabbling tentatively with spring of 2026. And yet, here I am, buying mobility aids & accommodating my disabilities in ways that make being alive not just painfully bearable but actually worth it.

-

Let alone if you tried to tell me I’d be spending 6 hours writing up a TTRPG/DnD style one-shot for my best friends/adoptive siblings (both are both, they became friends first & now we agree we’re basically siblings), & actually trusting myself to DM this game....I would laugh anxiously at most. I wouldn’t believe I’d come this far.

and yet here I am, gleefully reading backstories & stats in the Monster Manual for inspiration (making so many edits for my pleasure & my players’ delight), stimming excitedly at the thought of bringing this to my found family & getting to guide them through the world I extrapolated & mended.

~

I wouldn’t believe I’d come this far.

But oh my goodness, sweetheart, you have so much more left to learn & so much light & life ahead of you. There is still time to heal, to thrive, to enjoy your own company, to make deep & meaningful connections. You aren’t dead yet, and it’s worth it on the other side. I promise 💜🥺

~Nico

[aventurineswife]

The day was sharp with sunlight, the crisp air carrying the murmur of strangers’ lives as you strolled along the cobblestone path. A cup of tea steamed gently in your hand, its warmth grounding you in the moment. Then, you saw him.

Aventurine moved with an effortless elegance that seemed to pull the world into his orbit. His hair caught the light as he passed, the tousled strands too perfect to be accidental. His eyes sparkled behind rose-tinted glasses, a flash of color that seemed as deliberate as his coat, its roulette-inspired design sweeping behind him like the shadow of a gamble well-played.

He glanced at you, a fleeting connection charged with unspoken intent, his smile enigmatic. It wasn’t the kind of moment anyone else might have remembered. But for you, something lingered—a ripple left behind in the air. For him, it was the first move in a game he hadn’t fully revealed.

Time shifted in subtle increments, and so did the distance between you. His charm, sharp as a blade, gave way to something deeper as you unraveled him bit by bit. Beneath the composure and wit lay a man shaped by shadows, haunted by echoes he rarely named. But there were moments—brief, fragile—when his walls cracked, and you glimpsed something softer.

He spoke of stars with an awe that gentled his voice. He hesitated before touching his choker, as though the weight of it anchored him to the present. You met him not with grand gestures, but with quiet understanding, seeing past the polished façade. You challenged him, not with resistance but with presence, unafraid of what lay beyond his defenses. And slowly, against the odds he’d calculated, he began to fall.

It wasn’t a simple thing, to love a man like him. The weight of his past clung to him, manifesting in restless nights spent pacing under dim light. You stood beside him in silence, your presence steady until his hand brushed yours, grounding him. He didn’t speak of his pain easily, but in those unguarded moments, the weight of his gratitude was palpable.

Even as he struggled to believe he could be more than his past, you stayed, your quiet faith unshaken. You didn’t flinch when his eyes searched yours for answers he feared to ask. Instead, you held him, steadying him until his breath softened and his resolve grew. For the first time in years, he began to believe he could be enough.

The cobblestone streets stretched out before you again, unchanged in their familiarity. The café stood where it always had, the hum of voices carrying on as though nothing significant had ever passed there. But this time, you weren’t alone.

Aventurine walked beside you, his steps no longer solitary. His hand brushed against yours until they entwined, his grip warm and certain. The shimmer of a wedding band caught the light, no longer hidden. His coat, draped over his arm, no longer shielded him. He carried himself with ease, the weight he once bore nowhere in sight, replaced instead by quiet contentment.

As you passed the café, his pace slowed, his gaze lingering on the spot where it all began. A faint, private smile tugged at his lips, a memory flickering behind his eyes. He didn’t say a word, but you felt the question in his glance, the unspoken recollection shared only between you.

You reached for his hand, the familiar warmth steadying both of you as you walked forward. The years that had passed didn’t erase the past, but they had transformed it. The echoes of that fleeting smile and the weight of his struggles had brought you here, to this moment of quiet certainty.

The path stretched on, but now, there was no hesitation in his steps, nor in yours. Together, you moved forward, knowing you’d never have to face the road alone again.

[ripolsgrove]

I survived human trafficking. Now I write fiction that helps others survive too. Book One of my Dead Soul series is free because I know what it’s like to be broke and desperate for hope. If you’ve ever needed a story to help you keep going—this might be it.

[stephtuckerauthor]

I've just released my first novel and the first in a trilogy! The Bonds That Bind Us is a story of trauma, healing, found family, and growth. It is a literary fiction with a gay romance plot, and is currently FREE ON KINDLE FOR EVERYONE!

[noobiestnoober]

The Price of Freedom (Diluc X Lumine)

After finding out about his past in the Fatui, Lumine tries to get Diluc to talk about his pain. But when he finally opens up, she realizes that the weight of his burdens is far heavier than she imagined—and that he’s been protecting her from more than just enemies.

The Dawn Winery was quiet at this hour, its vast fields stretching under a sky speckled with stars. The scent of wet earth lingered in the air, the remnants of an evening rainstorm still glistening on the wooden railing of the veranda.

Lumine leaned against it, arms crossed as she studied Diluc, who sat in the dim glow of a flickering lantern. He had been silent for a long time, swirling the deep red liquid in his glass, though he hadn't taken a single sip. The shadows beneath his eyes seemed heavier tonight, his posture stiff despite the familiar surroundings of his own home.

"You know," she started, voice light but edged with intent, "when Kaeya and I argue, he always says you carry too much. That one day, it’s going to break you."

Diluc let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head. "Kaeya says a lot of things."

"Doesn't mean he’s wrong." Lumine shifted, her gaze steady. "I know about your time in the Fatui."

Diluc’s grip on the glass tightened.

Lumine waited, patient but unwavering. She wasn’t Kaeya—she wouldn’t poke and prod at his wounds with teasing jabs. She wasn’t Jean—she wouldn’t quietly bear the burden alongside him without question. She was Lumine, a traveler who had lost her world, just as he had lost his.

And maybe that was why he sighed and spoke.

"When I left Mondstadt, I wasn’t just running away," Diluc admitted, voice low. "I wanted to destroy the Fatui." His words were sharp, deliberate. "They took everything from me. So I made them believe I was one of them."

Lumine tensed. She had heard rumors of what he had done, but hearing it from his own mouth made it real in a way she hadn’t expected.

"They welcomed me as if I had been born for their ranks," he continued, eyes dark. "For years, I fought among them, moved within their circles, learned their weaknesses. And when the time came, I used that knowledge to dismantle them from the inside."

Lumine’s chest felt tight. "At what cost?"

Diluc let out a slow breath, finally setting the glass down on the table beside him. "At first, I thought the price was worth it. But when I came back…" He gestured vaguely toward the winery, toward Mondstadt. "Nothing felt the same. I had seen too much, done too much. I had let them believe I was truly theirs, and sometimes I wonder… if, in doing so, I let myself believe it too."

Lumine exhaled through her nose, stepping closer until she stood beside him. "Diluc," she said, voice steady, "you are not one of them. You never were."

He chuckled dryly. "Then why do I still hear their voices? Why do I remember every name, every face I had to betray or kill just to get out?" He looked at his bare hands, his gloves abandoned on the table. "For all the lives I saved, how many did I condemn?"

Lumine hesitated, searching for the right words. She didn’t offer empty comfort, didn’t try to tell him it wasn’t his fault—because they both knew it wasn’t that simple.

Instead, she sank onto the railing beside him, looking out at the vast vineyard. "You know," she mused, "when I first woke up in Teyvat, I didn’t know who to trust. Every nation I stepped into had their own conflicts, their own agendas. Sometimes, I wondered if I was just some piece on a board, getting moved around without even realizing it."

Diluc glanced at her. "And now?"

"Now," she said, turning to him, "I know who I’d trust to watch my back." She nudged his shoulder, firm but not forceful. "And you’re one of them."

Diluc blinked, caught off guard.

Lumine smirked, watching his expression carefully. "You’re not just some weapon to be used against the Fatui. You’re not just Mondstadt’s protector, or Crepus’ son. You’re Diluc." She gave him a knowing look. "And you’re my friend."

Diluc stared at her for a moment before a slow, almost imperceptible breath left him. Then, finally, he spoke.

"Thank you," he said, simple but sincere.

Lumine grinned. "That’s what friends are for."

The lanterns flickered, the night air cool against their skin, and for the first time in a long while, Diluc felt the weight on his shoulders ease—if only just a little.

[damnedwhispers]

🔥 TEASER — CHAPTER 13 🔥

The fire had been waiting.

It had lived inside me for years—coiling in my marrow, licking at my ribs, pressing against my lungs. Waiting for the moment I’d finally set it free. Finally let it burn.

And I did.

Silence drapes over the room, broken only by the steady rise and fall of his breath. Slow. Deep. Asleep. Vulnerable.

I had never seen him like this before. At rest. Calm. Gentle.

It should have stopped me. Made me hesitate.

It didn’t.

I find it without thought, as if drawn by something deeper than choice. His thread is rough beneath my fingers—thick, pulsing, wrong. A living thing. A dying thing.

The fire roars to life.

It rips through me, a searing, all-consuming inferno that spreads from my chest to my fingertips, down my spine, igniting every nerve in my body. The pain is instant, brutal, merciless.

My veins turn to molten lava, my bones white-hot steel, my skin cracking, blistering from the inside out. My throat tears open in a silent scream, my muscles locking as if my body were trying to contain the agony.

But it is nothing compared to what I feel in the thread.

His soul convulses under my touch, struggling, fighting, twisting in desperate, futile resistance. The fire takes hold of it, eats through it, piece by piece, devouring him from the inside out.

His body jerks once in his sleep, a single breath caught in his throat—then his eyes snap open. Black. Hollow. A void where he had once been.

I feel it—the sharp, panicked realization. Feel his confusion coil into fear, then terror, then nothing.

His soul shatters.

And I—

I shudder.

Because beneath the pain, beneath the unbearable burn that has me clawing at my own skin, there is something else.

Pleasure.

Sick, twisted, euphoric pleasure.

I gasp, my vision swimming, but I don’t let go. I can’t let go. The fire won’t let me go.

It surges, ravenous, searing through my ribs, carving me from the inside out, its embers licking at my throat, curling around my heart like a lover’s embrace.

Heat licks at my forearm—slow at first, then consuming, blistering.

I feel it form—my flesh searing, cracking, burning, as the invisible mark of what I’ve done brands itself into my skin. The fire left its mark on me, as I had on him. A reminder. A balance. A trophy.

And I savor it.

Every inch of the pain, every ember of suffering, every flickering remnant of his life snuffed out beneath my hands—I drink it in.

I weep at the sensation of it, my body wracked with exhaustion, agony, bliss.

And when the thread finally snaps, when his soul finally dies, when the fire finally ebbs—

I ache for more.

I barely feel myself collapse. Barely register the raw, gasping sobs ripping from my throat. Because here, in the stillness that follows, with his desiccated body cooling beside me, his soul nothing more than scattered remnants in the abyss—

I have never felt more alive.

༶❃༶⋆┈┈⟢⟢⟢⟢⟢✦⟣⟣⟣⟣⟣┈┈⋆༶❃༶

✨ Who did Lyra kill? And why? ✨

Find that out (and possibly more) in the next chapter—lucky number 13—dropping Saturday night, March 1st!

🔗 Read Chapters 1 - 12 NOW on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62181382/chapters/1590608

🎵 Cue ‘I Did Something Bad’ by Taylor Swift playing in the distance…

[void-galaxy-shenanigans]

to be so full of love. (/awed, positive)

to love someone so much that my eyes want to tear up because I get the privilege to love them. to love someone so much that I want to protect them from the people who wronged them.

to be loved back so deeply that they want to protect my from the people who hurt & wronged me. to be loved back in such a way that we both subconsciously gave eachother the same titles of connection.

I’m lucky enough to meet you & love you & to be allowed to see you vulnerable, and to be seen & loved in return & to be safe to be vulnerable with someone...

I’m so full of love.

maybe being alive is a miracle, because I get to share it with you. maybe moments like this are worth living for. 🥺💜