#giving them a bit more agency in when they leave and giving them time to recover from battle

[twin-chains]

Timeline things

I figured out how to fit the BS games into the timeline!

In order to incorporate all the heroes for this AU, the TC timeline will be split up so that “every time someone time travels and makes significant changes in that time, a new timeline split is created” (so going back in time to complete the Temple of Time in Twilight Princess wouldn’t cause a new timeline for instance). Basically this rule means that a timeline is created where the person DID travel through time and a timeline where the person LEFT and life continues on without that person, as if they just vanished into thin air. It is much more confusing than Nintendo's timeline but bare with me

This creates 4 main timeline splits

when Impa travels back and forth to aid Zelda in Skyward Sword

when Zelda sends Link back to his childhood in Ocarina of Time (we already know this one)

when Veran possesses Nayru to travel between the ages in Oracle of Ages

when Zelda travels back in time in the memories in Tears of the Kingdom

(technically Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition doesn't combine or split the timelines but rather makes the timelines super unstable since Cia brought people to her time rather than traveled herself, more on that later)

Skyward Sword

When Impa travels back and forth in time to help guide Zelda (Destiny) as Hylia's reincarnation, she inadvertently brings Ghirahim with her and starts the events of Skyward Sword as we know it. This is known as the Master Sword timeline because Link (Chosen) ends up upgrading the white goddess sword into the master sword.

However, this means Impa leaves a timeline where she didn't time travel in the first place known as the Goddess Sword timeline. In that timeline, Destiny is not kidnapped by Ghirahim but does end up being drawn to the power of the triforce on the surface. Chosen and Groose try to help her but Chosen doesn't find the goddess sword and Groose (the first ancestor of the Gerudo) ends up sacrificing himself to help defend them. Destiny somehow ends up barely sealing Demise but without Impa's guidance, she accidentally fuses the pieces of the triforce into one singular artifact known as the light force. The hylians of Skyloft still descend to found the settlement of Hyrule but some creatures (who later become the Minish) stay in the sky and discover the untouched goddess sword.

Demise's monster army is still scouring the surface as Hyrule is being founded. So in the Age of the Minish that follows, the small race descend from the sky and bring the light force and the goddess sword (referred to as the Picori Blade) to the hylians to help defeat the monsters. The light force only responds to the new princess (Power) due to her goddess bloodline. The hero of men (Mighty) wields the Picori blade and seals the monsters of Demise into the Bound Chest, thus creating the legends in the intro sequence of the Minish Cap. The Picori Blade goes on to become the Four Sword in the events of Minish Cap. Based on this, the Goddess Sword timeline contains the Four Swords trilogy (Minish Cap, Four Swords, FSA) while the rest of the games exist in the Master Sword timeline.

Ocarina of Time

We already know how the adult timeline and child timeline split. The downfall timeline is also basically the same in concept. When Young Link tries to wield the Master Sword, there's a timeline where he doesn't travel forward in time or get aged up into Adult Link. Thus, Young Link is not strong enough to defeat Ganondorf and dies during their fight.

The Adult timeline contains The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Hyrule Warriors.

The Child timeline contains Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Link's Crossbow Training, the Age of the Sheikah (first Calamity), and Breath of the Wild.

The Downfall timeline contains ALTTP, Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages, and Link's Awakening.

Oracle of Ages

In OOA, the Twinrova send Veran to possess Nayru and use her time powers to go back in time to light the flame of sorrow while Legend uses the Harp of Ages to collect the Essences to stop them. But by doing so, there is a timeline that Veran-Nayru leaves and Legend is able to defeat the Twinrova prematurely, without the flame of sorrow lit to resurrect Ganon. In that battle, as a last ditch effort, the Twinrova curse Legend with horrible sorrow before they are defeated. This causes him to carry this innate sorrow in his heart that is subtle at first and slowly grows over time but Legend is none-the-wiser and sails home.

When Legend is sailing home, he goes on the adventure in Link's Awakening. But because of his growing sorrow, he can't bear the thought of saying goodbye to Koholint or waking the Wind Fish, so he chooses to stay there and live in that dream world forever. This is known as the Dream timeline.

In the Dream timeline, it's unknown if Legend is alive or if he died at sea or is in a weird state of Schrödinger’s limbo. In Legend's absence, the monsters of his time return six years later and two young children Star and Sun are forced to take up the mantle. They do not have the hero's spirit (Legend holds it) but are endowed with the light of the goddess, going on to become the heroes of light in BS Ancient Stone Tablets. These two heroes also go on a very fast-paced adventure many years later in BS The Legend of Zelda.

The other timeline where Legend successfully completes OOA and Link's Awakening in canon is called the Reality Timeline. In the Reality timeline, Legend returns home successfully and can defeat the monsters that return with ease. Many years later, Legend's successor Clover does ALBW and then travels to Hytopia to become one of the Triforce Heroes with two other Links nicknamed Ember and Aqua. In the Reality timeline, Hyrule enters an era of peace for many years until the Era of Decline, when Fay becomes the hero of TLOZ and the Adventures of Link.

Tears of the Kingdom

When Zelda goes back in time in the beginning of TOTK, she creates a timeline where she becomes the light dragon and lives for over 10,000 years (which is the canon of BOTW and TOTK) known as the Light Dragon timeline. The young pre-Calamity Zelda would notice the dragon during her childhood and feel strangely drawn to the creature, she ends up pulling herself away from her Sheikah research sometimes to spend time trying to catch a glimpse or study ancient legends about dragons and Zonai. The events of BOTW and TOTK occur normally in this LD timeline.

In the timeline where she doesn't become the LD, Zelda solely focuses on Sheikah research and experiments with ancient relics, even re-activating a strange mini-Guardian she names Terrako. This is known as the Terrako timeline because when the Calamity hits, Terrako goes back in time to prevent the death of the Champions in HW: Age of Calamity (technically creating 3 timelines because Terrako time travels too but we're going to pretend it works out for now until another game comes out)

Hyrule Warriors

Normally, Hyrule Warriors is the game that connects all the OOT timelines because of Cia opening up the time-space portals between the eras, allowing for Breath of the Wild to come after. However in this timeline, BOTW occurs in the child timeline with Twilight Princess, which is why the past heroes mentioned in the Subdued Ceremony memory are “skyward bound, adrift in time, or steeped in the glowing embers of twilight”

Meanwhile, I put HW after Spirit Tracks when New Hyrule is founded and a new royal army is formed. Purely based on vibes in all honestly.

Instead of 'merging the timelines,' HW creates cracks and instability between the timelines, accounting for weird inconsistencies between eras like Majora's mask in Link's house in ALBW or a small subsect of the Zora evolving into Rito without the flood in the Child Timeline. Maybe that’s also how the TC heroes manage to meet up across time hehe

Although, there’s a particularly strong connection between the downfall timeline and the goddess sword timeline. Namely, the palace of the four sword can be found in ALTTP while Ganon and the dark world find themselves in FSA (since with Groose’s death, the Gerudo, and Ganon by extension, cease to exist). I like to think their worlds are unstable already due to their status as ‘failed’ timelines in a sense and messing with the hero’s spirit (fracturing it into 4 with FS and the weird limbo Legend gets into in the BS games). So to compensate for their unstable states, they start to bond together and share pieces from their world like electrons to form some semblance of stability and strength.

This was just supposed to be about accounting for the BS games but all this timeline talk kinda got away from me and became an essay, it’s fun to think about though!

[lostintransist]

Broken Beyond Bearing

-… . - .- … / -… . .. -. —. / -… ..- - -.-. …. . .-. . -..

@beloveds-embrace I hope I did this idea a bit of justice so far. Inspired by the delcious idea from beloveds found here.

AO3

CW: references to medical procedures that were not agreed to, reader is dying, A/B/O, odd dynamics, babies first time writing A/B/O.

A/N: I am really new to A/B/O so if something feels off or if you want more of this idea LMK!

Kate told you that the CIA still used Morse code in the field sometimes. It had fallen out of fashion after World War II and the alphabet soup of government agencies liked to reuse what they could. She said it worked best for short messages and when speaking could alert enemies. She talked at you nonstop on the long drive from the hospital. You wondered if the silence would bite at her toes or if the drone of the engine would keep it at bay.

She found you in the waiting room. Back straight, head upright you stare out the window across from you. If you ignore her maybe she will leave you alone like everyone else. You had been freed from a facility when some government agency or another busted them for performing illegal experiments on betas. Everyone else had a family to return to.

You weren’t everyone.

“I have a friend at this hospital. He called me when he saw that you had yet to be released,” she uses a soft voice as if the mint green and oddly shaped couches were pews instead. Pews don’t creak like plastic when you shift your weight. “My name is Kate. My friend, Ty, is an administrator here. He mentioned you needed someone to sign for you due to your beta status and the lack of documentation on your identity.”

Silence had been your only weapon against the staff there and the staff here.

She smells of alpha, the heady scent that should reek of safety and confidence. It tastes sour in the back of your throat.

“I’ve read through the information about you from Scorpio, the changes they made to you? They don’t expect you to make it another five years.” Kate rubbed her hands down the top of her slacks. “I’m here to give you an offer.”

Glancing at her without turning your head you wait. When she meets your side eye you shift your gaze back to the distant fluffy clouds dotting the sky like sheep grazing through a meadow. The sky sheep look all the whiter for the blanket of snow smothering the earth below.

“I know of a group of men, even split between them alpha and omega, who could use someone to care for. They are gone for long stretches of time and won’t pressure you for anything, only to care for you and use you as a touchstone of normalcy,” Kate lets out a breath, the shifting air bringing more of her should be comforting scent to your nose.

Voices drift past the locked doors to your right. You had posted up on the maternity floor, the staff had yet to find you here the last few times you were able to avoid their gazes.

“Why me?” Your voice whispers out. Should have grabbed the water mug the night nurse had left on your tray before you ducked from the room.

“Well, that’s the sticking point. They don’t know you would be coming. The guys have started to fray at the edges, getting reckless on jobs. I need them to be safe. If they have someone to come home to?”

Ah, so this wasn’t about you. Couldn’t ever be about you could it? No. Always a beta, never important.

Scorpio had seen six hundred seventeen betas through their doors before you quit counting. Not one of them left through the front door.

“You can’t tell them I’m dying.”

Control had to be a resource you doled out sparingly.

“Done.”

“And I get my own bed.”

The wrinkles around her face deepen as Kate settles on an unsure look.

“I’m not sure…”

“I will spend time in their nest when invited but I get my own bed,” you look at her now, face to face.

She must see something unmovable in your expression.

Sighing, her eyes drift shut and her shoulders relax.

“I will make it happen.”

Nodding once you stand.

“Lead on Kate, let us meet my doom head-on.”

Kate chooses not to comment on your morose declaration.

Maybe that is why she filled the car with her voice? She must not appreciate your brand of deadly honesty.

Her voice drifts away as she turns off the well-maintained and snow-cleared highway for a clear spot marked only by the tire tracks that lead between the dense trees.

“I’ve told them so many damn times they need to move closer but no it’s all ‘Kate you don’t understand we need the space from everyone’ and never thinking of how hard it is for people to visit them,” she mutters to herself as the color leeches from her knuckles with each slip of the tires.

“Maybe they don’t want visitors.”

Kate’s brows pull down as she glares out the windshield.

Looking back out the window you catch sight of a massive moose between the trunks before it disappears into the trees. It takes another twenty minutes of achingly slow driving before Kate finally relaxes her shoulders.

The smell of satisfaction drifts through the car heater. Turning you find a modestly large cabin, a green metal slanted roof, and a porch that reaches from one corner of the house to the other. Next to the stairs that connected the porch to the ground are two vehicles, one SUV and one large truck, though these both sit neatly under the porch. Kate parks in the open.

Without hesitation she climbs from the driver’s seat, grabbing the backpack she picked up for you with your three changes of clothes and two sets for sleeping. Kate is halfway up the stairs when you finally join her. Snow clings to the canvas of your shoes even as you follow in the large boot prints she left behind for you.

Tucking your arms close to your chest you stand behind Kate as she pounds with a fist on the door. The swish of her coat is the loudest sound beyond her beating for entry. You are fighting to keep your teeth from chattering when the door finally opens. You didn’t know cold had a smell. The only word you could find for it? Sharp.

“John. Took you long enough,” Kate pushes her way through the opening in the door.

A burly man steps back to allow her entrance. He is barely decent, his robe hanging open and tie only just covering his bits. John lifts a brow at you when you don’t immediately follow. You are not dressed for winter. When a particularly chilled bit of wind rushes past you and into the house, he moves to shut the door. Darting inside you watch him warily until you stand near Kate again. She stands in front of a massive couch. Counting the cushions, you give yourself the space to breathe. Twelve separate sitting spaces, three walls of a square, and still with room to walk behind and peer out the window that took up nearly the whole wall behind it.

“Not like you to show up without calling Kate. What is this about?” John steps around the snow you shed on his hardwood floor.

“I brought you a wife.”

They stare at each other for nearly thirty seconds. Your toes start to sting from the cold. The shoes on your feet squeak as you shift from foot to foot. Making the mistake of breathing too deeply you can taste the battle of wills between them. Kate’s shouldn’t be sour scent warred with John’s masculine, woodsy scent. He was an omega?

A long table is positioned opposite the kitchen, and central to it all is a wood-burning stove. The kitchen has an excess of cabinets. You start to count them to avoid what your nose is telling you.

“Why would I need a wife?” He finally asks.

You are also curious about the word choice. Betas weren’t terribly important in the grand scheme, born at a lower rate and died at a faster one. Populations didn’t need betas to survive, they, you, were mostly only good for keeping fights from escalating. With everyone receiving training in school anymore on how to address and deal with signs of rut/heat to avoid fights, death due to rut-related combat had reduced by over half. Betas were less important than ever. The other reduction in deaths had come from Scorpio.

Sarah had always been so proud to tell you about how you were contributing to keeping alphas from killing each other when she drew your blood or injected you with yet another unknown serum. The government had started to pump the barest amount of what Sarah called, calmers, into the water system. Said it was good for everyone, like fluoride.

“Serin, helicopter, Los Alamos, hospital visit. Would you like me to go on?” Kate said all those words as if they made any sort of sense.

John sucked in a deep breath through his nose. His eyes snapped to you.

“What are you?”

Kate steps in front of you. The slap of your hand to your scent gland runs parallel to her words. Sarah had done something to you, changed everything at a base level, including your scent.

“Beta, and a wife. Someone to care for, someone who needs you.”

His eyes are on you as sounds from deeper in the house reach your ears. Deep voices, a loud thump, then laughter. You look past John and see a set of stairs near the front door that leads to a second floor that only takes up part of the space from the vaulted ceiling.

“We don’t need anyone Kate-” he folds his arms across his hairy chest as Kate cuts him off.

“Should I ask them then? Call them down and see what they say?” She glares up at him, the height difference not making a difference even when her alpha to his omega should. You had only ever seen one dynamic, alpha ruling, all else managing to stay out of their way. That did not hold true here. They battled as equals.

John let his lung full of air go, a sigh of admission as his hands fell to his hips.

“No. We will take her.”

Kate nods once, settling your backpack on the couch before turning and giving your shoulder a squeeze.

When she turns back to John she gives him the final piece of information.

“She gets a room to herself. Doesn’t need to be much, but at least a place to retreat when everything becomes too much.”

He rolls his eyes but nods.

“Anything else Kate?” He asks drolly.

The glare she sends him is met with a smirk.

“I will check back in a week to see how everyone is settling.”

John walks her to the front door, opening it for Kate to step back into the startling brilliance of the sun twinkling off snow.

When the door clicks shut behind her John turns to you. His eyes drift from your feet upward until settling on your face.

“Hello, wife.”

Part 2 | Broken Masterlist | Masterlist

[nellasbookplanet]

Book recs: black science fiction

As february and black history month nears its end, if you're a reader let's not forget to read and appreciate books by black authors the rest of the year as well! If you're a sci-fi fan like me, perhaps this list can help find some good books to sink your teeth into.

Bleak dystopias, high tech space adventures, alien monsters, alternate dimensions, mash-ups of sci-fi and fantasy - this list features a little bit of everything for genre fiction fans!

For more details on the books, continue under the readmore. Titles marked with * are my personal favorites. And as always, feel free to share your own recs in the notes!

If you want more book recs, check out my masterpost of rec lists!

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor

Something massive and alien crashes into the ocean off the coast of Nigeria. Three people, a marine biologist, a rapper, and a soldier, find themselves at the center of this presence, attempting to shepherd an alien ambassador as chaos spreads in the city. A strange novel that mixes the supernatural with the alien, shifts between many different POVs, and gives a one of a kind look at a possible first contact.

Nubia: The Awakening (Nubia series) by Omar Epps & Clarence A. Hayes

Young adult. Three teens living in the slums of an enviromentally ravaged New York find that something powerful is awakening within them. They’re all children of refugees of Nubia, a utopian African island nation that sank as the climate worsened, and realize now that their parents have been hiding aspects of their heritage from them. But as they come into their own, someone seeks to use their abilities to his own ends, against their own people.

The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

Novella. After having failed at establishing a new colony, starship Calypso fights to make it back to Earth. Acting captain Jacklyn Albright is already struggling against the threats of interstellar space and impending starvation when the ship throws her a new danger: something is hiding on the ship, picking off her crew one by one in bloody, gruesome ways. A quick, excellent read if you want some good Alien vibes.

Dawn (Xenogenesis trilogy) by Octavia E. Butler*

After a devestating war leaves humanity on the brink of extinction, survivor Lilith finds herself waking up naked and alone in a strange room. She’s been rescued by the Oankali, who have arrived just in time to save the human race. But there’s a price to survival, and it might be humanity itself. Absolutely fucked up I love it I once had to drop the book mid read to stare at the ceiling and exclaim in horror at what was going on. Includes darker examinations of agency and consent, so enter with caution.

Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson*

Utterly unique in world-building, story, and prose, Midnight Robber follows young Tan-Tan and her father, inhabitants of the Carribean-colonized planet of Toussaint. When her father commits a terrible crime, he’s exiled to a parallel version of the same planet, home to strange aliens and other human exiles. Tan-Tan, not wanting to lose her father, follows with him. Trapped on this new planet, he becomes her worst nightmare. Enter this book with caution, as it contains graphic child sexual abuse.

Rosewater (The Wormwood trilogy) by Tade Thompson

In Nigeria lies Rosewater, a city bordering on a strange, alien biodome. Its motives are unknown, but it’s having an undeniable effect on the surrounding life. Kaaro, former criminal and current psychic agent for the government, is one of the people changed by it. When other psychics like him begin getting killed, Kaaro must take it upon himself to find out the truth about the biodome and its intentions.

Do You Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh

Young adult. A century ago, an astronomer discovered a possibly Earth-like planet. Now, a team of veteran astronauts and carefully chosen teenagers are preparing to embark on a twenty-three year trip to get there. But space is dangerous, and the team has no one to rely on but each other if - or when - something goes wrong. An introspective slowburn of a story, this focuses more on character work than action.

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

After the planet Sadira is left uninhabitable, its few survivors are forced to move to a new world. On Cygnus Beta, they work to rebuild their society alongside their distant relatives of the planet, while trying to preserve what remains of their culture. Focused less on hard science or action, The Best of All Possible Worlds is more about culture, romance and the ethics and practicalities of telepathy.

Mirage (Mirage duology) by Somaiya Daud

Young adult. Eighteen-year-old Amani lives on an isolated moon under the oppressive occupation of the Valthek empire. When Amani is abducted, she finds herself someplace wholly unexpected: the royal palace. As it turns out, she's nearly identical to the half-Valthek, and widely hated, princess Maram, who is in need of a body double. If Amani ever wants to make it back home or see her people freed from oppression, she will have to play her role as princess perfectly. While sci-fi, this one more has the vibe of a fantasy.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Life on the lower decks of the generation ship HSS Matilda is hard for Aster, an outcast even among outcasts, trying to survive in a system not dissimilar to the old antebellum South. The ship’s leaders have imposed harsh restrictions on their darker skinned people, using them as an oppressed work force as they travel toward their supposed Promised Land. But as Aster finds a link between the death of the ship’s sovereign and the suicide of her own mother, she realizes there may be a way off the ship.

Where It Rains in Color by Denise Crittendon

The planet Swazembi is a utopia of color and beauty, the most beautiful of all its citizens being the Rare Indigo. Lileala was just named Rare Indigo, but her strict yet pampered life gets upended when her beautiful skin is struck by a mysterious sickness, leaving it covered in scars and scabs. Meanwhile, voices start to whisper in Lileala's mind, bringing to the surface a past long forgotten involving her entire society.

Eacaping Exodus (Escaping Exodus duology) by Nicky Drayden

Seske is the heir to the leader of a clan living inside a gigantic, spacefaring beast, of which they frequently need to catch a new one to reside in as their presence slowly kills the beast from the inside. While I found the ending rushed with regards to plot and character, the worldbuilding is very fresh and the overall plot of survival and class struggle an interesting one. It’s also sapphic!

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah*

In a near future America, inmates on death row or with life sentences in private prisons can choose to participate in death matches for entertainment. If they survive long enough - a rare case indeed - they regain their freedom. Among these prisoners are Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker, partners behind the scenes and close to the deadline of a possible release - if only they can survive for long enough. As the game continues to be stacked against them and protests mount outside, two women fight for love, freedom, and their own humanity. Chain-Gang All-Stars is bleak and unflinching as well as genuinely hopeful in its portrayal of a dark but all to real possible future.

Parable of the Sower (Earthseed duology) by Octavia E. Butler*

In a bleak future, Lauren Olamina lives with her family in a gated community, one of few still safe places in a time of chaos. When her community falls, Lauren is forced on the run. As she makes her way toward possible safety, she picks up a following of other refugees, and sows the seeds of a new ideology which may one day be the saviour of mankind. Very bleak and scarily realistic, Parable of the Sower will make you both fear for mankind and regain your hope for humanity.

Binti (Binti trilogy) by Nnedi Okorafor

Young adult novella. Binti is the first of the Himba people to be accepted into the prestigious Oomza University, the finest place of higher learning in all the galaxy. But as she embarks on her interstellar journey, the unthinkable happens: her ship is attacked by the terrifying Meduse, an alien race at war with Oomza University.

War Girls (War Girls duology) by Tochi Onyebuchi

In an enviromentally fraught future, the Nigerian civil war has flared back up, utilizing cybernetics and mechs to enhance its soldiers. Two sisters, by bond if not by blood, are separated and end up on differing sides of the struggle. Brutal and dark, with themes of dehumanization of soldiers through cybernetics that turn them into weapons, and the effect and trauma this has on them.

The Space Between Worlds (The Space Between Worlds duology) by Micaiah Johnson

Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s a catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying. As such she has a very special job in traveling to these worlds, hoping to keep her position long enough to gain citizenship in the walled-off Wiley City, away from the wastes where she grew up. But her job is dangerous, especially when she gets on the tracks of a secret that threatens the entire multiverse. Really cool worldbuilding and characters, also featuring a sapphic lead!

The Fifth Season (The Broken Eart trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin*

In a world regularly torn apart by natural disasters, a big one finally strikes and society as we know it falls, leaving people floundering to survive in a post apocalyptic world, its secrets and past to be slowly revealed. We get to follow a mother as she races through this world to find and save her missing daughter. While mostly fantasy in genre, this series does have some sci-fi flavor, and is genuinely some of the best books I've ever read, please read them.

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings*

In an alternate version of our present, the witch hunt never ended. Women are constantly watched and expected to marry young so their husbands can keep an eye on them. When she was fourteen, Josephine's mother disappeared, leveling suspicions at both mother and daughter of possible witchcraft. Now, nearly a decade and a half later, Jo, in trying to finally accept her missing mother as dead, decides to follow up on a set of seemingly nonsensical instructions left in her will. Features a bisexual lead!

The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

South African-set scifi featuring gods ancient and new, robots finding sentience, dik-diks, and a gay teen with mind control abilities. An ancient goddess seeks to return to her true power no matter how many humans she has to sacrifice to get there. A little bit all over the place but very creative and fresh.

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson*

Young adult. Young artist June Costa lives in Palmares Tres, a beautiful, matriarchal city relying heavily on tradition, one of which is the Summer King. The most recent Summer King is Enki, a bold boy and fellow artist. With him at her side, June seeks to finally find fame and recognition through her art, breaking through the generational divide of her home. But growing close to Enki is dangerous, because he, like all Summer Kings, is destined to die.

The Blood Trials (The Blood Gifted duology) by N.E. Davenport

After Ikenna's grandfather is assasinated, she is convinced that only a member of the Praetorian guard, elite soldiers, could’ve killed him. Seeking to uncover his killer, Ikenna enrolls in a dangerous trial to join the Praetorians which only a quarter of applicants survive. For Ikenna, the stakes are even higher, as she's hiding forbidden blood magic which could cost her her life. Mix of fantasy and sci-fi. While I didn’t super vibe with this one, I suspect fans of action packed romantasy will enjoy it.

Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany

1960s classic. Rydra Wong is a space captain, linguist and poet who is set on learning to understand Babel-17, a language which is humanity's only clue at the enemy in an interstaller war. But Babel-17 is more than just a language, and studying it may change Rydra forever.

Pet (Pet duology) by Akwaeke Emezi

Young adult novella. Jam lives in a utopian future that has been freed of monsters and the systems which created and upheld them. But then she meets Pet, a dangerous creature claiming to be hunting a monster still among them, prepared to stop at nothing to find them. While I personally found the word-building in Pet lacking, it deftly handles dark subjects of what makes a human a monster.

Bonus AKA I haven’t read these yet but they seem really cool

Lion's Blood by Steven Barnes

Alternate history in which Africans colonized South America while vikings colonized the North. The vikings sell abducted Celts and Franks as slaves to the South, one of which is eleven-years-old Irish boy Aidan O'Dere, who was just bought by a Southern plantation owner.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

Young adult dystopia. Ellie lives in a future where humanity is under the control of the alien Ilori. All art is forbidden, but Ellie keeps a secret library; when one of her books disappears, she fears discovery and execution. M0Rr1S, born in a lab and raised to be emotionless, finds her library, and though he should deliver her for execution, he finds himself obsessed with human music. Together the two embark on a roadtrip which may save humanity.

Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

Lelah lives in future Botswana, but despite money and fame she finds herself in an unhappy marriage, her body controlled via microchip by her husband. After burying the body of an accidental hit and run, Lelah's life gets worse when the ghost of her victim returns to enact bloody vengeance.

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith

Young adult. Fen de la Guerre, living in a quarantined Gulf Coast left devestated by storms and sickness, is forced on the run with a newborn after her tribe is attacked. Hoping to get the child to safety, Fen seeks to get to the other side of the wall, she teams up with a scientist from the outside the quarantine zone.

Everfair by Nisi Shawl

A neo-victorian alternate history, in which a part of Congo was kept safe from colonisation, becoming Everfair, a safe haven for both the people of Congo and former slaves returning from America. Here they must struggle to keep this home safe for them all.

The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

Space opera. Enitan just wants to live a quiet life in the aftermath of a failed war of conquest, but when her lover is killed and her sister kidnapped, she's forced to leave her plans behind to save her sister.

Honorary mentions AKA these didn't really work for me but maybe you guys will like them: The City We Became (Great Cities duology) by N.K. Jemisin, The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull, The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole

[kitten4sannie]

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏: 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝟏 - 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞

pairing: mafia! ot8 x undercover officer! reader (fem)

genre: mafia/organized crime au, drama, angst

w.c: 3.3k

ch. summary: after countless months of preparation and ensuing anxiety, you finally revisit the infamous Black Pirates, but from the other side of the law, and it’s almost as if you’ve never left.

ch. warnings: not too many….uhhh very light depictions of violence, a bit of blood, a bit of manhandling (not the sexy kind), mingi is unhinged (?) and has a gun lmao, no smut this time but just you waittttt

a/n: hi thereeeee i cannot tell you how excited i am to share this with you all 🥹 this is my first mini series and i’ve never tackled anything this big before so please be patient with me when it comes to updates~~ (also this chapter will be the shortest of them all given it’s the intro hehe) but aaaaaaa i’m so happy we can go on this journey together >w< now sit back, relax, and enjoy ~ and if you like, please pleasee share your thoughts and feedback with me <33

song rec: scene 1 - value ~ ateez, concrete jungle ~ bad omens

fic masterlist

“Are you ready for this?” 

All you could hear was your heart thumping inside your ears, unable to focus on your Commander in Chief’s loaded question, tuning into the sounds of keyboard tapping and faceless chattering about the current crimes and cases that were plugging up the figurative drain of your local prescient, rather than what he was saying to you. Were you ready to infiltrate one of the most prevalent crime families your law enforcement agency has come to know and loathe over the better part of the year? Not as their friend, but this time, as an enemy? They had half your city in the palm of their hands and were itching to take it over, pushing the drug and gun trade into overdrive, washing countless loads of dirty dollar bills, and in turn, leaving you and your agency to clean up the mess they left behind — and what a mess they always made. Bullets, bodies, and broken dreams. Crime and punishment. Officers, regulations, and yellow tape. An endless game of chess that nobody ever seemed to win. The perpetrators of this game, their faces never left your mind, etching their likeness inside the grooves of your memory even after being away from them all for so long, at least, until now — if you stopped being such a goddamn pussy and answered your boss. 

“Y/N…? You can back out if you need to…” He gave you an apologetic smile. “Given your history, I know it might be a lot on you. We can always put somebody else in instead.” 

“No..!” you suddenly protested, bringing a closed fist near your mouth as you forcefully cleared your throat. “With all due respect, sir, I’ve been preparing myself for this since you helped me…change course and join the academy.” Realizing you were digging your nails into your palms, you relaxed your grip, leaving red idents behind. “And, of course, when we realized what the Kim Estate was actually doing behind closed doors.”

“It certainly wasn’t tennis,” the seasoned man chuckled softly, leaning back slightly inside his fraying office chair, rubbing at his eyes from underneath his reading glasses, not aware of how prominent his eye bags were becoming. He let out a small sigh. “Y/N, I have a lot of trust in you. Going back into that world as an undercover operative is not a walk in the park under any circumstances, but this…they have proven to be unpredictable. I’ll ask you once more. Are you sure you can handle this case?” 

In all honesty, you were never too sure what you could handle, both in your professional and personal life, but the uncertainty never stopped you from diving in headfirst. And this, this case, being one of the dominos that would knock them all down, well…it was simply too delicious to pass up. 

You stood up, bowing your head to your superior, before giving him a knowing nod. “I’m ready, sir.” 

-

Your closest friend back in your police academy days and fellow undercover partner, Yeonjun, was the first person you spotted upon exiting your boss’ office, well, specifically his bright red hair, slowly navigating past the maze of desks and whispering coworkers to make it over to him, privy to the looks some of them gave you as you slipped past them — though it didn’t phase you anymore. Your past did not define you. At least, that’s what your therapist had been telling you the past few years. 

“Hey, partner,” Yeonjun greeted you with a smile, reaching out to hand you a paper cup full of freshly steeped coffee, leaning back to sit down on the crowded surface of his desk. “Tomorrow’s the big day. You ready?” 

You took the steaming cup, your jaw tensing as the bitter liquid hit your tastebuds. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, Choi.” You always thought of someone else when you uttered that surname. He was the complete opposite of your partner here: calm and collected, soulless when he wanted to be and full of love the very next moment, erratically ticking between the two like a malfunctioning metronome. You hated him for it. 

“Hey, it’s just Yeon, now. Come tomorrow, I won’t be my normal sexy self.” He pulled his freshly printed fake ID out of his t-shirt pocket and held it up to your face, replicating the toothy smile he had inside the picture. “Well, still sexy, yeah?” 

Chuckling, you leaned in, studying the fake ID, impressed by how real it looked. “Very sexy, Yeon, but remind me why you dyed your hair red? Is it the quarter life crisis settling in?” 

Yeonjun rolled his eyes, tucking his ID back into his pocket. “Ha-ha, funny. I just thought I should look the part if I’m going in as some renowned hacker.” 

You pushed a few files out of the way to lean against Yeonjun’s desk beside him. “Have you been studying up on your skills then?” 

“Of course, I have. I know I joke around a lot, but I’ve  dedicated my life to this, Y/N…” 

You looked down at Yeonjun’s hand, the one that rested on the desk in between you, his fingers drumming against the surface. “Good, because they don’t play around…”

The drumming stopped. Yeonjun turned his head to look at you, a flicker of light inside his brown eyes, like he was trying to understand you. “Do you…ever think about your life before the academy? Before this? Do you wish you could go back?” 

You bit into your lip, gazing past Yeonjun’s hand at one of the files that contained information about the very people you would be betraying. “I…just want to be good. Do what’s right…That’s why I left all of that. It’s why I’m here now.” 

He leaned over slightly until his shoulder pressed into yours, using his pinky to nudge at yours. “Not many would do what you’ve done, y’know. Giving up their way of life for something like this.” 

You nudged back, staring into the half empty cup of coffee you were still holding onto. “Not many people are this stupid.” 

“Not stupid.” Yeonjun pretended to clink his empty paper cup against yours, giving you a soft smile. “Brave. You’re the key component of this entire operation, Y/N. That’s huge. You’ll make a difference. Isn’t that what this is all about?” 

“Maybe…you’re right,” you replied softly, once again distracted by the folder from before, the one that was slightly open just enough to reveal the image of a man with slick back hair, dressed in quaint Victorian style clothes, with a big bow wrapped around his neck. Kim Hongjoong, owner of the Kim Estate and leader of the Black Pirate Organization. You knew him all too well, and all his closest cohorts. Would they recognize you? You hadn’t seen them since you were a young girl, forgotten by most and lost inside a system that didn’t care about you, except for the ambitious young man that swore he would one day be sat atop his ivory tower with those that followed his path. And now there he was, living the high life inside his big shiny mansion, sipping on fine wine, while you were still forcing down bitter instant coffee day after day, surrounded by people that looked at you, but never really saw you for what you were, whatever that was. Maybe Hongjoong knew. 

“Y/N…? You’re staring off into space again…” Yeonjun whispered near you, getting up from the desk once you came back to Earth. “Anyways, it’s late, and we have a lot to do tomorrow. We should get going.” 

“You’re right, we need as much rest as we can get.” You stretched out your legs before standing back up, just now noticing that you were the only two left inside the workspace, the light from your Chief’s office still peeking out past the dusty blinds. Maybe your Chief knew. 

Packing up your briefcase, you smiled at Yeonjun. “Should I dye my hair too?” 

Yeonjun pouted, resting his own briefcase against his hip. “That’s my thing.” 

-

Particles of dust and dirt filled your lungs, joining the blood that you began to choke on. It hurt to breathe, but your body carried on supplying oxygen to your lungs, not giving you a choice in the matter. You rolled over onto your back to face the night sky, your teary eyes focusing on the twinkling stars and the bright blue moon that loomed over the town, storm clouds rolling past until they blocked out the pretty view. Heavy rain began to pour down, soaking you to the bone. Even though you were losing the will to live, you still held onto the silver pair of scissors that you used to prove a point, even though it might’ve cost you your life. That was still something. However, your dear mentor still stood over you, his neck being clutched tightly by his trembling fingers, crimson slowly slipping past them. 

“See what happens when you bite the hand that feeds you? Ungrateful brat,” he choked out in between shallow breaths. Frustrated, he let out a gurgled growl, tossing his bloodied shank onto the dirt road beside his feet. You could’ve sworn you saw tears slip down his flushed cheeks, but then again, it was raining. “I didn’t want to do this…but you gave me no choice.” 

His closest companion took a step forward to securely grasp his upper arm, urging him, “Sir, we need to get you to the nearest hideout. I won’t let you bleed out like this.” 

The disheveled man’s other trusted subordinate placed a gloved hand on one of his shoulders, squeezing into it with urgency. He surveyed you past his foggy glasses, pushing them up the slope of his nose. His eyes were once filled with a sense of endearment when he looked at you, but now, they held contempt. “She made her decision, sir.” 

The struggling leader turned his head to look back and forth between his dear followers, then at his men who all waited behind them, their rain-streaked faces contorted with conflicted apprehension. They stood perfectly still like statues, until the all too familiar sound of sirens rang out in the distance. That’s when they all scattered, like rats, escaping from the flashing lights and disappearing into the dark of the night.  

Your soon to be killer was the last one to leave, looming over you as though he was Death himself, beads of rain, sweat, and blood dripping from his chin and down onto your face below. “Just one question, darling…” He held his neck tighter than before, growing dizzier from all the blood loss. “Why?” 

A small, self-satisfied laugh painfully bellowed from your chest, causing you to grab at your stomach where it had been sliced into. “The blade cuts both ways, sir. I was just following your lead…” You weakly lifted your hand up in the air, as though you wanted to reach him, but simply couldn’t. “Why aren’t you proud of the monster you created?” 

The man began to beam at you, but the corner of his lips stretched to an unfathomable degree, as though he had carved a smile into his own face. He lifted his chin up just enough to rid himself of the shadow that was cast over him, his brown eyes now void of anything, simply black. Soulless. “Oh, darling…the monster was always there. I simply dug it up.” 

You suddenly woke up and sat upright in your bed, your entire body covered in a layer of sweat, leading you to desperately kick off the comforter that had trapped you inside the sweltering heat. Upon realizing you were no longer caught inside a warped memory from your adolescence, you looked down at your stomach, lifting up the edge of your shirt to see if your scar was still there, sighing softly when you saw the jagged patch of skin. 

Your past doesn't define you. He doesn't define you — none of them do. And, now, you had the opportunity to create your own definition, and get a little revenge while you were at it. 

-

“Do we ring the doorbell…?” Yeonjun asked from beside you, nervously shifting his weight from foot to foot, getting a bit dizzy from trying to take in all of the glory of the Kim Estate. 

You were too busy studying the faded stains of blood left on the stone floor below to notice how out of character Yeonjun was already behaving, not that you could blame him. A similar prick of anxiety was already embedding itself into your mind, but you waved it away as soon as it made itself present. “We may be entering a lion’s den, but we won’t behave like them. I’ll knock.” 

Yeonjun nodded swiftly, clutching the handle of his messenger bag tightly inside his sweaty hand. “Hopefully they don’t eat us alive.” 

You gently pushed a few strands of hair behind your ear, making sure you didn’t disturb the positioning of the micro earpiece that was sitting just behind your tragus. “They won’t, as long as we prove our worth.” 

You grabbed onto the obnoxious ivory door knocker, and just as you were about to make your presence known, you found yourself being yanked into the mansion by someone much bigger than you, Yeonjun’s squeaks of protest becoming background noise as soon as the man slammed you against the nearest wall. What felt to be the cold barrel of a compact handgun pressed up into the bottom of your chin with a click, your assailant’s focused, deep-set eyes boring into your own. “Is this how you welcome all your guests?”

“Not all of them…some I leave dead on the doorstep before they can even get a chance to beg on their knees,” the man muttered in a distinctly gravelly voice, a small chuckle bubbling out of his throat. Usually, the people he dealt with would be pissing themselves at this point, but it just seemed to be another day for this strangely familiar visitor. 

You could almost see your partner out of the corner of your eye, already on his own knees, his distinctively red hair being held onto by a nameless man in a 3-hole knit balaclava. It was then that you angled your head up slightly to get a good look at your old friend, feeling the barrel push harder into your skin. “Every guard dog has to have their fun, right? And, if you blew my head off now, well, where’s the fun in that?” 

“You’re right, doll.” The tall man’s plump lips quirked up into a smirk, slowly dragging his gun past your chin, down your neck, and along the softest parts of your body, poking and prodding at you in an attempt to humiliate you. “Should I see how many new holes I can give you? Fill them all with hot lead?” 

“At least buy me a drink first,” you said through gritted teeth, trying not to show any discomfort when he pushed the loaded gun roughly into your abdomen, directly into your scar, not that he could’ve known it was there. 

He seemed to enjoy your pained response, leaning his head back to let out a sudden laugh, one that was short and abrupt like a bark. “You’re one crazy bitch…” The man licked over his plump lips. “I like that.” 

It was just then that somebody else entered the foyer, their presence so distinctly powerful, the lot of you couldn’t help but notice before he even stepped foot in the room. “Is that any way to treat a valued guest, Mingi? I thought I trained you better than that.” 

Mingi immediately de-cocked the gun and brought it behind his back, tucking it away inside the waistline of his tailored pants. “I’m sorry, sir.”

Seonghwa patted Mingi’s shoulder with a gloved hand, giving him a small nod of understanding, before turning his attention to you and Yeonjun, the both of you cautiously standing with your backs against the paneled wall. “I do apologize for my guard dog. We try to keep him on a tight leash, but sometimes…he gets loose.” His shifting eyes formed half crescents. “You understand.” 

Yeonjun glanced over at you for guidance, and you responded with a small smile, before nodding your head obediently at Seonghwa’s words, Yeonjun following your lead. “It’s not a problem.” 

Seonghwa clasped his hands together, shaking his head slightly, a strand or two of raven hair falling past his forehead from where the rest of it sat perfectly still. He couldn’t seem to understand why he was experiencing a bout of deja vu. “Where are my manners?” He pressed his palm into his chest, and gave a small bow. “I’m Park Seonghwa, the second in command, if you will, here at the Kim Estate.” 

Yeonjun bowed back instantly, pushing his dyed hair behind his ears as he stood up straight. “My name’s Yeon. That’s what I go by online.” 

Seonghwa’s eyebrows raised up slightly. “Ah, I know you.” He chuckled to himself, glad that he was able to pinpoint the air of familiarity, but still annoyed that something wasn’t quite right. “You’re that hacker that’s going around and fucking with the local government, aren’t you?” 

Yeonjun was glad he didn’t eat too much that morning, otherwise he would’ve already thrown it up by now. He brought a peace sign up to his face and smiled. “That’s me, professional shit-stirrer at your service.” 

As more men began to trickle into the foyer to see what all the commotion was about, Seonghwa slowly turned his attention back to you, the true object of his frustration. It’s like he had seen you many times before, in a dream, perhaps? In the casino they ran behind closed doors? Or maybe you were one of the many playthings that were brought in to appease the voracious appetites of his degenerate cohorts. Either way, Seonghwa both loved and loathed the way you were already inside his mind, like you had already lived there, and your existence had simply been unearthed by the sands of time. 

“And, you are…?” he asked in a slow, calculated manner, his head tilting to the side. 

“I’m a diamond expert,” you explained vaguely, motioning to the large suitcase of supplies you were holding. “I can see the value of most things from a mile away, much like your dear leader.” 

Hongjoong was already aware of your arrival. You could feel it in your bones. 

Seonghwa brought a closed fist to his chin, nodding at your words, still not completely sure why he felt so uncomfortable. “But, who are you?” 

Your bubbling amusement was starting to rush to the surface, unable to keep yourself from smiling. And, just like that, you reunited with your dear mentor, except on opposite sides of the chess board. You were delighted everyone was there to witness the beginnings of your awaited rematch. “Why don’t you ask him? I think he’ll have an idea of who I am,” you replied giddily, prompting you to motion your head to the man that stood above the rest of you. 

You felt something stir within the men that looked at you, as though what had been hidden for so long had finally come to light. You weren’t a ghost, much to their surprise — well, at least, not yet. You were, of course, taking a gamble with your life, and your partner’s as well, but risks were meant to be taken, rules were meant to be broken, and strings were meant to be cut.

As though right on time, Hongjoong dug his nails into the mahogany railing of the expansive landing, his free hand unconsciously adjusting the bow that was wrapped securely around his neck. He understood the most out of all them. Value. You looked up to him, moving your fingers as though you were using a pair of scissors. 

“Remember now?” 

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[thatnewweeb]

Sleepy | Amajiki Tamaki

Summary | Tamaki has had a long day at the Fat Gum Agency, and falls asleep on you while on the train back to campus.

CW | Fluff, sleepy boi, no warnings

Word Count | 0.6k+

A/N | I thought this idea was cute. It ended up being a little shorter than I wanted, and I'm not sure how I feel about the end result, but I hope you enjoy our shy cutie!

Being from a different year and a different course than the people being targeted by the League of Villains, you had gotten permission to leave the UA campus unaccompanied to meet Tamaki as he leaves Fat Gum's agency.

You know he's been tired recently, having a lot of work, as well as recovery, to do after the whole Yakuza situation, so you thought it might be nice to surprise him.

You had only been there for a few moments, standing in front of Fat Gum's agency, before you see Kirishima and Amajiki exiting the building together.

"Hey!" you call out, making both of them look towards you.

Kirishima raises his hand and waves, Tamaki smiling softly as his eyes meet yours. The two boys walk over and say hello to you, Tamaki shyly taking your hand.

You give him a bright smile, standing on your tiptoes and pressing a quick kiss to your cheek, making him blush.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"I came to meet you, of course! I'm here to be your escort home!"

His eyes crinkle cutely as he squeezes your hand. "Our train leaves soon, we should start walking. We don't want to miss it."

You nod and give him another kiss on the cheek, flashing a smile at Kirishima as the three of you start walking towards the train station.

You and Kirishima chat as you walk, Tamaki just walking along beside you quietly, not joining in with the conversation, simply listening and glancing at you occasionally.

By the time you get to the train station, the train is almost there, so you don't bother sitting down, just standing on the platform and waiting.

When the train arrives, you enter quickly together, the train being relatively empty, allowing the three of you to sit together, Tamaki sitting between you and his red-haired friend.

Despite the train having few people inside, there are still people around, so you sit quietly, not wanting to be rude and disturb the people around you.

After a few moments, you feel something on your shoulder. When you look to see what it is, you see your boyfriend's head lulling, knocking against your shoulder.

You're a little surprised to see him asleep, you didn't expect that he'd fall asleep while still on the train, but you guide his head to properly rest on your shoulder so his neck has a bit more support.

"Should we wake him up?" Kirishima whispers to you.

"Let him sleep," you respond immediately, eyes not leaving your boyfriend. "He obviously needs the rest if he's falling asleep on the train."

"I think it's you," he says, smiling and continuing to explain when you tilt your head in questioning at him. "I think you make him comfortable. He'd never usually sleep on the train."

When he says that, you smile and look down a little, soft blush on your cheeks.

Upon arriving at the station, you gently shake the dark-haired boy awake, trying not to startle him. You do startle him though, him being a little confused, having not realised he was falling asleep.

Kirishima offered to go on ahead and leave you two alone, but considering that he's in Class 1-A, aka the class that has been targeted by the League of Villains, both you and Tamaki tell him to just walk with you.

On the walk back to campus from the train station, Tamaki continuously apologises to you for falling asleep, even though you keep insisting that it's okay and you found it cute.

Once you're back in your room, well, Tamaki's room, he tells you that he wants to stay awake and cuddle for a while, but he ends up quickly falling asleep on you once again, but this time in a place where he should be sleeping.

[yokohamapound]

ok but like consider,, dazai, akutagawa, kunikida and atsushi (or anyone else u wanna add my request is mainly for akutagawa and kunikida) working alone and you open your coat to reveal you're just wearing lingerie underneath <3

Ah, such a classic move! <3

Characters: Kunikida Doppo, Dazai Osamu, Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, Nakajima Atsushi, Nakahara Chuuya

Contents: gn!reader, exhibitionism, semi-public sex, mild derogatory dirty talk

Kunikida Doppo

Kunikida is often to be found working late in the Armed Detective Agency’s office, especially after the conclusion of a case. Or if Dazai has been especially a pain in the ass that day and prevented Kunikida from keeping to his packed work schedule. Kunikida is not the type of man who’ll let the day’s work slip over to tomorrow. That’s how nations start to crumble (according to him). 

Hours after the rest of the agency have gone home, even Fukuzawa, Kunikida is still there, typing away at his laptop, the glare of the screen making his glasses seem opaque. His only concession to the late hour is a half-drunk cup of coffee sitting beside the laptop. 

His head twists around when the door to the agency office opens. Who could it be this late at night? Atsushi coming to check up on him? Dazai coming to sleep on the couch again? He tenses when he sees the tan colour of a trenchcoat through the wavy glass of the office door, but his shoulders loosen when he sees you in the doorway. 

“What are you doing here so late?” he asks you, turning back to finish that last bit of paperwork. “And what’s with the coat? You’re not trying to dress like Dazai now, are you?”

He hopes not. Kunikida doesn’t need to be jump-scared like that every time you meet up with him. He’s only half-listening when you give him some excuse about being cold. Faintly, he picks up the sound of high heels clicking against the polished floorboards as you make your way over to him. He catches a hint of perfume as you come to stand at his shoulder. 

“I’m almost finished,” he grunts, his fingers flying so fast across the keyboard they seem to blur slightly at the edges. He’s tired, and it must be late indeed if you’ve come to pick him up. He turns his head to ask about what you two should pick up for dinner on the way home, when his jaw falls open like someone pulled out a screw holding it shut.

You’ve allowed your trenchcoat to fall open, revealing your body clad in scraps of structured silk and lace. Something classy and timeless, in soft cream or sultry black. It’s like something out of an old movie or a vintage catalogue. Kunikida’s glasses steam up briefly, before he slams his laptop closed.

“Doppo,” you chide, faking a gasp. “You didn’t put a period on that last sentence of your paperwork. You can’t just leave it…unfinished like that.”

Kunikida pulls off his glasses, his expression stern. “This time,” he proclaims, his voice deep and momentous, “I’ll make an exception.”

Kunikida drives you home, driving so close to the speed limit he’s practically edging it, with one hand buried firmly between your thighs. If you’re very misbehaved, he might use his notebook to conjure something to keep you…occupied…on the drive home.

Dazai Osamu

You went one better for this and stole Dazai’s trenchcoat. Let’s leave it up for debate whether he knew what you were up to and let you steal his coat to pull off your little performance—it’s more fun that way. 

Because it’s Dazai, you arrange to meet at a bar for a date. Preferably one where he’s not already run up a tab or been slapped by all of the female bartenders and waiting staff. There are a few of those left in Yokohama, you just have to look really hard for them. 

When you arrive, Dazai is sitting on a barstool, one foot propped on the footrest, his elbows on the bar. He’s sans trenchcoat, dressed in his dark waistcoat, with the sleeves of his blue pinstripe shirt rolled up to his mid-forearm, revealing the bandages wrapped around his wrists. Spotting you in the reflection of the bottles behind the bar, he glances over at you. Dazai’s dark eyes sweep over you from head to toe, and he immediately knows there’s something interesting going on beneath that trenchcoat.

“You know,” he drawls. “I lost a coat just like that this morning. It’s quite the startling coincidence, don’t you think?”

He's so intrigued that he even cracks open his wallet to buy you a drink (shocking, I know). Dazai's eyes are glued to the sight of you cinched into his coat. His eyes drop down when you sit on the barstool beside him, crossing your legs. His fingers tighten around the cut crystal of his glass. 

"Is that...lace?"

At your smug confirmation that is indeed lace, Dazai knocks back his drink. No time to savour the liquor. He pinches the hem of the trenchcoat and lifts it up a little further to see the stocking clinging to your thigh. 

Dazai's eyes glint dangerously in the dim overhead lights of the bar. 

"Bella." His voice is a lusty purr as his hand runs up your thigh, fingers plucking at the top of your stocking, tracing circles into your soft flesh. "I'll give you a thirty second head start. When I catch up to you..."

I hope you can find somewhere relatively private in the next thirty seconds. 

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke

If you thought it might be a good idea to copy the move above and wear Akutagawa’s trenchcoat over your lingerie, let me gently pry that idea from your eager little hands. It is not a good idea, and it will not end well. Just get your own trenchcoat. Maybe in a nice shade of camel?

Akutagawa waits impatiently for you in the middle of town, watching the civilians amble around between stores, his eyes narrowed in irritation. He doesn't know why you asked to meet him here, but it feels like a waste of his time. He decides he will wait only five more minutes before he leaves.

A flicker of something pale from the corner of his eye. It's a Pavlovian response—Akutagawa's head whips around. Instead of his former master, he instead spots you click-clacking toward him in a pair of heels, wrapped in a light trenchcoat. Hair? Done. Make-up? Flawless. 

Akutagawa's forehead furrows, his voice pitched low with annoyance and confusion. "Why are you wearing that?"

You're used to his pricky demeanour by now and it doesn't faze you. You turn so you are facing away from the crowds, slowly untying the belt. You peel open the front of the waistcoat enough to give Akutagawa a glimpse of what lies underneath. 

Black lace. Smooth skin. Silk. 

His throat tightens, and for once it doesn't signal the onset of a coughing fit. Akutagawa's eyes widen, his teeth and fists clenching.

"What in the hells are you wearing?" he demands.

"Lingerie," you say, retying the the belt of your trenchcoat. "Don't you like it?"

Akutagawa knows every alley and alcove of Yokohama. Every blind spot and dead end. He puts this knowledge to good use as he manhandles you into the nearest semi-private spot. Bands of Rashoumon wrap around your wrists and ankles, pinning you up against the alleyway wall. 

Akutagawa's pale hands tremble with suppressed excitement as he unties the trenchcoat and peels it open again. The sight of you, dressed in such a lewd fashion and bound, makes his cock harden fast enough to make him dizzy. His voice is low, curt.

"If you insist on dressing like a harlot, I shall treat you like one. After all, that is what you wanted, is it not? My attention."

Please don't worry about making any noise. He'll simply use Rashoumon to gag you. <3

Nakajima Atsushi

Oh dear, are you trying to give the poor boy a heart attack?

Atsushi is at the Armed Detective Agency office alone. Perhaps it's lunchtime and the rest of the agents and staff have retired downstairs for coffee and lunch at Cafe Uzumaki. Atsushi needs to finish his report, or he's flat broke and doesn't want to have to mooch of Kunikida in the cafe again, so he's eating some cold rice balls at his desk.

He sputters on a mouthful of onigiri when the door swings open, popping up like a daisy from his desk, expecting it to be a client. He sags in relief when he sees it is just you, hastily brushing some grains of rice from the front of his shirt.

“Hi!”

Oh, he’s so chirpy to see you. It really is adorable. Look at how the smile blossoms on his face. There are practically sparkles coming off him as he heads toward you. 

Only for Atsushi to stop in his tracks when you casually untie the front of your coat and flash him the sight of your body in sweet, pink-and-white lingerie. You’re frosted in lace and frills like a little cupcake, and Atsushi’s brain jams like the printer.

“H-buh? Whuh? You…you…”

His face burns crimson, standing out stark against his white hair, and he whips his head around to make sure there is no one else in the office, even though he’s relatively sure he’s alone. Atsushi grabs the front of your coat and covers you up, flushing when you laugh at his embarrassment.

“What are you wearing?” he hisses, his eyes wide as saucers. “Why are you wearing it here?”

“I thought it would be a nice surprise~”

“It is,” he stammers. “It’s very…it’s so nice.” He opens the coat a little, peeking at what lies beneath, before closing it again, his ears burning. “But…but not here. Maybe at home?”

You give an airy shrug. “Perhaps you can tell Kunikida you weren’t feeling well so you had to go home early?”

Smash cut to Atsushi fake-coughing down the phone to Kunikida. 

Nakahara Chuuya

It's late. Yokohama is a glittering sprawl beneath the windows of Chuuya's plush office. The office is dim, save for the light of his laptop screen and the recessed, moody red lighting of his shelves. He eases away from his emails, rubbing at his eyes, and crosses the room to pour himself a whiskey from the cut glass decanters. 

For Chuuya, 'working late' often involves taking a few heavies and going to threaten someone, not sitting and trawling through emails, but now and then he needs to engage with the corporate bullshit that comes with being an executive. 

The buzz of his personal phone draws his attention. He scoops it up, his thumb tapping the screen. He has his gloves made custom so they work with touchscreens. A text message from you pops open and he grins, leaning against the edge of his desk. 

The image is simple, but evocative. Smooth skin under red lace. He's not even entirely sure which body part it is, but it's tantalising all the same. He's sure he'll find out after your dinner reservation that evening. Steak, of course.

A knock sounds at his office door and he lets out an annoyed grunt, immediately locking his phone and laying it facedown on his desk. 

"Yeah, come in."

His annoyance evaporates the moment you saunter in, all high heels and cinched black trenchcoat. And damn, is that red lipstick? It is. 

"Hey, doll. Whatcha doin' here?" 

He's running his gaze over that trenchcoat, trying to imagine what you're wearing underneath. His smile widens into a full-blown grin when you turn and lock the door behind you. 

"Don't know where this is comin' from, but I like where it's goin'."

You make a show of it, untying the knot on the belt, letting the smooth fabric rasp as it slides against itself. First baring one shoulder, then the next, shimmying the coat off you like its a fur stole. It crumples to the ground, leaving you in all your glory.

Chuuya drags a hand down his face, letting out a low, ragged laugh that sounds just this side of feral.

"Fuck, dollface..."

Bro launches himself at you, pushing you up against the back of his office door. His gloved hands slide over your bare skin, gravity starting to make less and less of an impression on you as he floats you. His mouth crushes against yours. 

Unfortunately, you miss your dinner reservation by several hours. 

[bonus-links]

Hello! Could we have a director’s commentary on Ruins pt.11 please?? It drives me insane 🥺🥺

YEAHHH this is gonna be a long one. link to the update

this is also one of my favorite updates (and 100% my favorite dialogue in all of ch.1, possibly the whole comic so far) but I'm glad I waited to do a commentary bc I think this is actually really relevant to the latest update

cause like the conversation Loft has with botw Zelda here is very similar to the one he has with Ganondorf, though he's much less snippy during it

I wanted to give Zelda a chance to be bitter and share her grievances with the gods. Her entire story in BOTW is largely about how the legends and the expectations put upon her by them fail not only her personally but the entire kingdom. And yet she's made to feel like it's all her fault.

A lot of his comic focuses on the legacy of the Hero, but I don't want to leave Zelda (or Ganondorf) out of the conversation. The cycle makes victims of all three of them in various ways, and while I can't do everything at once, it's still my goal to explore that. The Zeldas in particular are all in interesting positions as members of the Royal Family, because they're at once always thrown in peril by it with little agency, and expected to be the facilitators of its success as the people with the closest proximity to the gods. Much to think about.

on that note BOTW Zelda is my favorite Zelda. she is my babygirl. she is my everything. I will die a BOTW Zelda defender. we haven't seen the last of her in this comic i promise :-)

okay on to actually analyzing the comic. This top panel is framed like a diptych, two paintings hinged together. these are often (though not always) associated with religious paintings and are often altarpieces. I use a triptych format in the newest update :D sidenote I think it's very cute that some of the Hylia statues in BOTW have been decorated, so i gave her a little flower crown

I imagine praying starts to feel a little strange when you are dating ur god. yeah. Also I think it's interesting that Skyloft seems to mainly worship Hylia, with the other gods being more distant. It makes sense given the whole "she personally raised us up into the sky to save us all" thing. Even though Loft is the very first hero sent on a personal religious quest directly by his goddess, I've always imagined him as kind of,,,,casually devout? In that way that it's all you've ever known. Like obviously his beliefs are deeply ingrained, but he's not as into the formality of it all as other Links we might meet later.

I think about Zelda in that freezing pool on Mt. Lanayru all the time. RAHHHHHHH

I've posted this before but close up of Slate running their errands, the errand being talking to the Great Fairies about if they've noticed anything weird going on lol. I actually wanted to make it a whole update on its own, but I cut it for time and also because. I don't think the Great Fairies really have any information that was necessary other than "no I don't know what's going on". So u get this panel.

I like this shot of that little statue towering over the both of them, and I mimic it a little bit in the new update here. something something about why we build monuments and what they stand for.

negative sim interaction

Loft still has to believe that Zelda and Slate's negative experiences had to have been some sort of misunderstanding. If Hylia could have helped, she would have. Knowing and loving your goddess on a human level also makes you want to give her the benefit of the doubt.

I actually really love that in BOTW Zelda resents Link for having some sort of access to the divine that she just can't reach. She has her arc about it in the game, but especially now she's come to understand that having the gods' favor is a double-edged sword. Also, that's not really meant to be Peony, but I like the idea that Champion also had an affinity for fairies. :-( Intentionally the same pose as Slate at the fairy fountain, though Slate is so tiny I probably didn't need to bother lol

that was a lot of rambling lol but i have. so many thoughts abt the subject matter of this update. this is the shit about LOZ that makes me froth at the mouth tbh

[urhoneycombwitch]

frozen like an angel

Eddie Munson x shy!Reader holiday edition.

foreword: ohhhh I’ve missed them!!! and you all!!!! happy holidays to those who celebrate, and for those who don’t, have a cozy winter fic <3 here is the masterlist for shy!reader, some references may be made to previous fics in the series but no beforehand reading required here. 

cw: Christmas activities, bittersweet fluff, Elizabeth Munson memories, mentions of Reader’s familial backstory (intentionally a bit vague, hoping to expand in future fics!)

wc: 2.8k

___

You’re not even trying to snoop- the paper flutters to the carpet all on its own, freed from the stack of Eddie’s notebooks you’d lifted to dust under. 

Expecting it to be something D&D related, you scoop it from the carpet with the intent to slip it back between the leaves of a random book- when the title catches your eye. In neat, looping black ink across the top: Christmas Apple Cake. 

There’s a pencil-drawn sketch of an apple in the top corner, faded and yellowed with time like the paper it’s on; your thumb runs over it as you scan the ingredients. 

This’ll be perfect, actually- Wayne is coming over tonight for holiday drinks with you and Eddie, a Munson family tradition that’s included you the last six or so years, and you haven’t sorted dessert yet.

The recipe is simple- a hearty, apple-filled spiced cake base, brown sugar glaze to pool on top. After hunting through the kitchen cupboards (sometimes it’s glaringly apparent you live in a former bachelor pad- the baking soda sourced from under the sink and a layer of dust), you get to work baking.

A pound of apples is peeled and diced, meticulously, to the tune of a Bing Crosby record- Eddie bemoans the cheesier aspects of holiday music, so you get your fill while he’s at work (though you’ve caught him humming along to White Christmas on more than one occasion). 

Not that either of you need the money after the generous nest-egg from various government agency pay-offs, but the part-time mechanic schedule has been good for Eddie. Wayne’s pretty much set to take over when the garage owner retires next year, and Eddie is happy to help- keeps his mind and hands busy, sorely needed after so much recovery downtime. 

And you’ve been busy, too- the apples are set to soak in cold water while you prep the batter, thinking of post-winter break classes already. You passed your first end-of-term exams with flying colors, like Eddie knew you would- never mind that they were all 101s, and that your college plans seem a little directionless- at least you’re moving. Able to do something other than waiting to get better.

Eddie’s proud of you, deeply so. That’s really all that matters for now. 

With the batter mixed, you lift handfuls of apple chunks from the water to dry on the rows of flat kitchen towels. There’s a burst of static from the living room speakers; you flick water from your hands and cross swiftly to flip the record to its B-side.

Let It Snow! rings out cheerily while you stir the apples bit by bit into the batter, Deck the Halls by the time you’re pouring the mixture into a greased baking tin. After twisting the counter timer to tick down for an hour, you clean the kitchen in good spirits.

Eddie will be home, soon- Wayne’s closing up shop, which gives his nephew plenty of time to beat him home and cook you all dinner. There’s a tender strip of beef marinating in the fridge with something Eddie referred to yesterday, ominously, as “Grinch Juice”. (The pale green of the sauce is likely due to the rosemary. You think.)

Eddie’s got the meal covered, regardless. (Plus there are always frozen pizzas to fall back on.)

The air swells with warmth from the oven, taking on a sugared, nutmeg and applesauce smell; the little window over the sink fogs over with sweet steam, making the white-snow world outside look even dreamier. Lights twinkle from the front banister, winking at the strip of sister lights across the path at the Mayfield’s door.

Plucking behind your back to loose your apron strings, you realize- for the first time in years, it feels like Christmas. Last year, you were all still learning how to be human, still nursing wounds (both external and in), stepping cautiously onto the thin ice of what it means to survive and be alive.

This year, though? You’re out in the middle of the frozen pond of life making snow angels. Ice skating over the bumps. Twirling around hand-in-hand with Eddie as you both figure it out, together.

Later, the front door creaks open then slams shut, a rhythmic thump of boots shedding snow onto the hall mat. From your vantage point on the couch- sock feet tucked underneath your body to keep warm, dog-eared Tolkien in your lap- you see Eddie before he sees you.

His back is turned as he toes off his work boots, hunched against the cold still in a hand-me-down winter coat of Wayne’s. Stray curls escape the half-up bun of his dark hair, twisting around his face, which lights up with a smile when he sees you.

“Well, well, well,” Eddie says, adopting a faux-serious, low tone as he hangs up his coat and shakes the snow from his hair. “Looks like we got an escapee from Santa’s Workshop.”

You snort, setting the book aside to roll your eyes fondly- if a red flannel shirt and jeans spells elf, you’re willing to play the part. 

Eddie approaches with menacing intent, grin so wide the corner of his lip meets the line of scarring at his cheek. 

He’s still in his work coveralls, pinstriped and oil-stained; Eddie leans his weight into his hands on either side of your head, close enough to bump noses, couch emitting a squeak of protest. 

You flick at the embroidered patch over Eddie’s heart, the one that currently reads JERRY. “Someone’s been naughty today.”

Eddie clicks his tongue, dark brows pulling together in his best approximation of someone who is very sorry. “Yeah. Guess so. You gonna tell the Big Boss on me?”

”Wouldn’t dream of it,” you sigh, tired of playing, ready to loop your arms around Eddie’s neck and kiss him silly (an action he’s more than willing to give in to).

He tastes like sharp mint, and faintly of the cigarette he probably had on break; Eddie mumbles something between kisses and you pull back just enough to hear him say, “You taste sweet.”

“Mmhm. Had to make sure the batter wasn’t poisoned,” you reply, more concerned with dotting kisses along the line of scar that disappears behind his jaw. 

Against your temple, Eddie’s lashes flutter in surprise- “You baked something?”

Pulling away fully now (with one last parting kiss to his forehead), you narrow your eyes as you shift to hold his shoulders at arm’s length- “Does me baking come as a shock to you?”

“No!” Eddie says, quickly, brows lowering from where they’d shot up just a second ago. “No, of course not. You just don’t usually… I mean, I like being the one in the kitchen.”

”I know you do.” Your hands trail to cup his elbows, briefly, before you disentangle yourself to check on the oven. The timer is just about to shriek its warning chorus- with a twist of your hand, it dings pleasantly instead. “I wanted to make something special for our Christmas dessert tonight. Hopefully it’s not actually poisoned.” 

Based on the delicious smell that wafts from the oven, you’ve got nothing to fear- the tines of your testing fork come out from the middle of the cake clean, a pair of mitts snagged to pull it out and set on the stove.

Clouds of steam rise from the fresh pastry, spiced and golden under the overhead lights- it smells like Christmas in a pan. Eddie approaches to watch over your shoulder, his hand steady on your low back as you explain the glaze that needs to be made next- he takes a lungful of fragrant air, and then his hand stills.

Eddie isn’t in the habit of interrupting you, so it’s strange when he does, voice sounding strained as he stumbles through the start of a few different sentences. “How did you- this is- that’s apple cake. My mom’s apple cake. What…”

It must be the smell, transporting him back, and for a moment, your heart sinks. Eddie hasn’t had a flashback in so long; the last one was months ago over the summer when a car backfired and sent his mind spiraling for hours after. 

You turn in his arms, speaking carefully, ready to soothe- “Shit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, honestly, the recipe just fell out when I was moving your things, and I-”

Eddie’s eyes are brimming with tears when he interrupts you again- this time, to kiss you; there’s a slip of his tear that tracks down your own cheek as you kiss him back. 

He’s holding you, now, mirroring you from earlier, thumbs squeezing at the inside of your elbows, forehead resting in a slow roll against yours as he shakes his head in disbelief. “Don’t apologize. You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. I didn’t know… I didn’t think any recipes of hers survived the move from Tennessee.”

“It was in one of your old journals,” you murmur, reaching to wipe the wet track of tears from his face even as he moves to do the same for you. “Did your mom used to make this for you?”

“Yeah.” Eddie laughs, wetly, kisses the palm of your hand where it rests against his face. “Every Christmas until I was five or so. Got the recipe from her mom, some Appalachian tradition. Wayne would know better than me.”

Eddie’s looking at the cake again, a familiar hazed-over stare that makes your heart hurt in sympathy, memories flooding back in at an overwhelming degree. You’re quiet for a few moments, pressing your face into the side of Eddie’s coveralls, letting him find his footing before asking, quietly- “Wanna help me make the topping?”

In another life, you and Eddie would run a mean kitchen together- years of learning the distinct ways in which the other moves comes in handy when you need to share cooking duties. 

He ducks under your arm effortlessly to grab vanilla while you whisk the sugars and butter, adds splashes and dashes of things to your bowl periodically until the mulled glaze is formed. 

The top of his (Jerry’s) coveralls were shoved down earlier, your help enlisted to tie the long sleeves around his waist in a makeshift apron; good thing your boy runs hot- means he’s comfortable enough to cook in a white cutoff undershirt that’s thin as a napkin. Underneath, Eddie’s all alabaster, lean muscle, black ink tattoos dancing with the corded ripples of scar tissue as he flits around the kitchen.

Between getting the steak ready to sear, and tasking you with prepping the hill of potatoes, Eddie talks about his mother- holidays of years past floating to the forefront on a wave of recollected smell. 

Along with Tennessee apple cake, Elizabeth Munson would wrap chestnuts in tin foil to roast low and slow in the embers of a Christmas fire. One year, she penny-pinched enough to buy part of the neighbor’s turkey for her and then-five-year-old Eddie.

You soak up all these memories, asking questions periodically, immersed in Eddie’s storytelling. It’s rare to hear Elizabeth’s name, and you wonder, suddenly, if that could be changed.

“You know, I really like hearing about her,” you tell Eddie gently, after a gleeful retelling of the time she crashed his sled into the big stump of maple at the edge of their woods. You give the chopped potatoes on your cutting board a push, and they tumble into Eddie’s proffered bowl. “If there’s something I can do, to help… I dunno, make it easier to bring her up- you’d let me know. Right?” 

Eddie considers this as he gathers jars from the narrow spice cupboard, lining them up in a neat row. “Yeah. Thanks, sweetheart. And it’s not… you’re easy to talk to. It’s just hard, sometimes, to learn how to remember her.”

You nod, thoughtful, watching him layer spices and olive oil into the bowl; he uses a wooden spoon to make sure all the potato sides are coated before saying, “And sometimes, it feels downright braggy. I got six whole years with her- most all of ‘em good ones- it’s not something I take for granted. And your mother-”

Eddie cuts himself off, abruptly, knuckles glistening with oil as they tighten into fists. Something inside you wilts, stretches desperately for its light source; you budge up under Eddie’s arm, place a hand to the middle of his chest where his breaths meet you with a shuddery kickstart.

“I know. But you were a kid too, Eddie. Six is just a kid.”

He does his best to hug you back with one arm as your nose seeks the notch behind his ear, a perfect fit, enveloping your senses as you breathe in the spot that smells most like him. “You can share however much or however little you want, of her, with me. Just ‘cuz my parents sucked doesn’t mean I don’t wanna hear about your one good one. Let me live vicariously, okay?”

You give Eddie a teasing little shake, a flash of teeth against his neck that has him chuckling, shaking off the anger before either of you can be derailed. The potatoes are moved to a baking sheet while Eddie preps the meat, and you send a river of brown sugar glaze over top the cake so it has time to cool.

If Wayne notes the missing piece from the corner of the dessert, later, he doesn’t mention it- the whiskey he’d brought over pairs perfectly with the rich, spiced cake. 

One bite in and Wayne’s head turns, slow, to his nephew sat beside him. Without looking up from his spoonful of melting ice cream, Eddie nods. “Yup. Mom’s cake. Don’t look at me, though.”

Wayne blinks down at the bowl in front of him, then to you, like someone’s woken him from the middle of a dream. “Tastes just like how she used to make it.”

Were it possible to bottle and live off someone’s praise, you’d like to find a way; instead, you tuck the compliment away for a rainy day and give him a warm smile. “I’m glad. I’ll make it next year, too, if you want.”

After dinner (totally delicious despite Eddie’s best attempt to scare you both off with increasingly weird holiday-themed adjectives), Eddie pulls out his acoustic guitar to try his new capo, a gift from Uncle Wayne that’s immediately put to good use.

This autumn, on the same week you went to college for the first time, Eddie taught himself how to play guitar again. A year on from the attacks, his left hand was still stiff, a deep scar across the bridge of his abductor that made more dexterous movement near-impossible.

But your boy, smart and strong and determined, found a way. Eddie surprised you over Thanksgiving break with a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Hypnotized, though with multiple false starts since both of you cried most of the way through it.

Less tears, this time around, but no less emotional- you steal glances under the pretense of wiping down the table as Eddie sits wide on the couch, black guitar propped on his knees while he adjusts the capo. 

In a nearby armchair, Wayne takes a sip from his whiskey glass- at the first few notes of Edelweiss, his eyes slip closed, lost in memory.

“This was one of her favorites,” Eddie says to you, grinning while his fingers pluck the pattern smoothly.

You lean a hip against the table, wiping abandoned, taking in the gentle movement of Eddie’s hair, his arms, while he plays. He gets so lost in the music, sometimes- a soft look that usually only shows when he’s sleeping peacefully. 

You wonder if Elizabeth looked the same, all those years ago- bent over her special Christmas cake, sneaking tastes on the back of a spoon to the set of dimpled hands that reached for her apron. 

In your back pocket, the recipe card in her handwriting is tucked safely away. While Eddie plays, your fingers brush the outline of the pencil-etched apple, sending a prayer or a wish of some sort to the snow angel in your head.

He’s doing great. He’s so loved and cared for, with me. I hope you know I’m taking care of him. Merry Christmas. Thanks for the cake. 

___

for more shy!Reader content: masterlist

[bachiras-toaster]

jealousy and it’s consequences : ̗̀➛

BSD MEN x gn!reader

cw: smut, manipulation, obsessiveness, possessiveness, they’re all a little toxic (except atsushi), giving head (ranpo), receiving head (poe), riding (Atsushi), masturbation

synopsis. how bsd men deal with their jealousy after seeing you with their rival.

characters: dazai, chuuya, ranpo, poe, atushi, akutagawa

DAZAI, seeing you with Chuuya

He sees you with Chuuya? He dares you to hang out with him more. He's serious! Go wild. Hold hands, kiss him— Do it all right in front of Dazai. If you have the nerve to do all of those things in the first place, then surely you wouldn't be opposed to not doing it behind his back? If you're going to so obviously make him jealous, do it to his face.

He will take it out on the both of you-- You more-so than Chuuya. Dazai would probably give Chuuya a quiet and humorous warning, telling him that he could only give him so many more second chances before him hanging out with you really started to tick him off. As for you, he's gonna make sure he has you all to himself from there on out. It's clear that you purposefully making him jealous must be the result of him not giving you enough attention. Well, don't worry, because now he is completely focussed on you. He'll make sure that another person won't even do so much as look at you- Even if it means constantly having you at his side in the agency, cornering you and separating you from your coworkers.

The thing is, he'll act really nice about it, telling you how it's just because he wants you all to himself! He can't stand the thought of you around other people, and seeing you hang out with Chuuya just made him realise that. You're the light of his life, believe him. He can't have other people trying to take that away from him.

When it comes to the sex afterwards too, he gets even more needy. He's a lot more touchy with you, desperate to mark and grab any bit of skin that he can. He's whining and crying to you while he leaves his seventh hickey on your collarbone, his saliva pulling from your skin to his lip as he complains about how he feels so lost without you. Do you prefer Chuuya? Be honest with him. If you really loved him more, you'd let him leave more hickeys on you and you wouldn't try to conceal them the next day. You hated seeing how he teared up while doing so, it just meant you couldn't help but softly pat his head and sigh, treating him as if he were a sick puppy.

CHUUYA, seeing you with Dazai

He'd make his annoyance super obvious from the get-go. He probably wouldn't outright say he's jealous, but he'd heavily imply it. Whenever you come back to work, telling him that you had a fun day out with Dazai, you could swear you'd see Chuuya's eye twitch uncontrollably for a second or two. You'd constantly hear those remarks saying "What's so great about Dazai anyway?" or "How funny can he even really be?" Soon, those remarks tumble into off-handed insults, such as "Dazai doesn't have the mental capacity to take care of someone." He would never blame you for hanging out with him, it will always somehow be Dazai's fault. Dazai must have coaxed you and tricked you into hanging out with him!

His solution would simply be spending more time with you. But, instead of closing you off from the world, he shows you off instead. Insists on going out on dates, PDA in public, walking past the detective agency holding hands in the hopes that Dazai would see it through the window and take the hint... You know, the basic stuff.

But when he's fucking you, the jealousy really shines through that man's eyes. He has you pinned down as he thrusted deeper into you, forcing you to choke out his name as a flurry of moans escaped your lips. Are you still thinking about Dazai right now, or have you finally come to your senses? He's so relentlessly rough with you when he's jealous, so you better pray that that jealousy is mild and not angry, because your legs would have a field day. He'd keep going at it until he was satisfied, ensuring that only his name could linger on your tongue- Only then would he accept that you're only his.

RANPO, seeing you with Poe

Questions the hell out of you. Like, you've been spending a lot of time with Poe recently, haven't you? There's a sort of blunt curiosity to him and he just can't help but swarm you with these queries. "Did you hang out with Poe today?" "I heard you and Poe went to the park." "Yeah, I was busy earlier, but I'm glad you found someone else to hang out with. It was Poe, right?"

He would victimise himself a lot, really dramatising the situation. He'll ask you if you really love him or if you think he's actually worth hanging around. If not that, he'd constantly try and convince you why you should hang out with him instead. If he sees that you're about to leave the agency to go to and meet Poe, he'd immediately stop you. Suddenly, it looks like the perfect day to go for a stroll around the park with Ranpo, don't you think? Or go to the movies? Maybe a nice library? You can even choose the place! Just don't choose Poe over him, he will cry when you're not looking.

Giving him head is the only possible solution to convince him that you wouldn't leave him for somebody else. Having you tucked sweetly between his legs as he leaned back in his office chair, his hand gently stroking the back of your neck- He really deserves this after going through the stress of thinking that you and Poe had something going on. He's an arrogant man, but he can't help but worry, you know? But since you can put aside some time in your schedule just for him, then he supposed that he shouldn't be too concerned.

POE, seeing you with Ranpo

He isn't very surprised at the idea that you could choose Ranpo over him, because of course! Anyone would. It's Ranpo, right? The smartest man alive- Who wouldn't choose Ranpo over Poe? If destroys is self-esteem and his self-worth seeing you and his rival get along so well and so easily. He is very aware of the fact that Ranpo is very intelligent, but would he have the brains to take you away from him? Is he that cruel of a person?

He tries everything to win you over from that man. Even if you don't realise it, doing so much as interact with Poe's rival is enough for him to spiral and to cause him to believe that you must already be considering ditching him. What is it that you want? Gifts? He can deliver that to you in truckloads. Do you want a relaxing holiday? He'll write up a cute story for you, no problem. Poe would kiss the ground that you walked on if it meant that you chose him over Ranpo. He would try everything in his power to remove that man out of the picture, but we all know that there isn't a novel complex enough to trap the Ranpo Edogawa.

So now Poe's tucked between your thighs, working his tongue at your senses as begging that you stay with him. The head is good, right? Tell him that it's good. Tell him he's doing a good job. You need to ensure him that you could never leave him for someone else, otherwise he'll keep whining about it against your skin. He'll continuously ask you if you like how he makes you feel so he can ensure that he can keep doing the right things. He's a listener. If he finds out what you like, he'll use it to his complete advantage.

ATSUSHI, seeing you with Akutagawa

Perhaps the least toxic one when it comes to dealing with jealousy. He doesn't blame you, he only blames himself. You know he gets super self conscious, right? There's no doubt that you're only hanging out with Akutagawa because he hasn't been treating you well enough. At first, he would confide in his friends, like Kyouka or Kunikida. Kyouka would threaten to hurt you, but he would frantically beg her not to put you in harm’s way; and Kunikida would tell him that he shouldn't be jealous, and that you're allowed to have other friends. But he simply can't help it.

It would lead him to pour his entire heart into taking care of you. He needs you to know that he loves you completely, and that you're the only one for him. Gifts, dates, compliments, praise, he'll provide it all for you. If you still choose Akutagawa after all of that, he'll accept it, but he hopes you'll choose him in the end.

So now you need to ride him, tilting his chin up so you could stare down at his pretty little face. He'd whine and cuddle you as you bounced up and down on his lap, blushing profusely as he mutters how much he loves you. He'll give everything to you, everything you want. He'll treat you right. He doesn't want to be jealous, he just wants to be yours.

AKUTAGAWA, seeing you with Atsushi

What could that stupid weretiger have that he doesn't? He's threatened to kill Atushi enough times now, so seeing you interact with him doesn't help his bloodlust and the desire to knock his lights out- in fact, it's just a greater motivation.

And his jealousy is so obvious in the way he threatens you too, grabbing you by the collar and telling you he wouldn't hesitate to have the Port Mafia toss you on the side of the street if you continue conversing with the enemy. You need to make a decision: The Port Mafia or the Armed Detective Agency- Akutagawa or Atsushi? The decision is clear, right? He knows that you wouldn’t dare choose the weretiger over him and you were simply doing this in order to get a rise out of him. He knew all too well.

So now, instead of giving you all of the attention you could dream for, he ignores you. He turns away and isolates you until you’re practically begging for his attention once again. It was just a joke, you just wanted a little bit more love— That’s what you would tell him, but it would never be enough to undo the anger in his heart.

There is no jealousy sex that comes afterwards, it’s just plain voyeurism. While he works on something to do with another one of the Port Mafia’s upcoming attacks, he’d tell you to touch yourself while he plans this and if you’re good by the end of it, he’ll finish the job. But now that just leaves you in another seat on the other side of the room, your legs spread open as you tried to stimulate yourself at the sight of him working. Of course, Akutagawa had no intention of actually touching you to serve as punishment-but you weren’t aware of that, leaving you whining and biting down on your lip as you prayed he would look at you for just a second. Even through your masturbation, he still chose not to look you in the eye, which you found was even more agitating than him not touching you instead.

[ethereal-moonglitter]

┊ ┊ ┊. ➶ ˚ 

┊ ┊ ┊ ˚✧ 

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ ☁ 

☁ 

Down, boy!

A Dazai and Chuuya (separate) x Fem! reader

Author's note: I hit the idea from @hidden-oracle ! Ori and I were brain rotting about our selfship and she sent me a picture of that viral "Down boy!" image so here we are <3

One might assume he holds all the power—that he is the master. That his lover is wrapped around his little finger, hanging onto his every word, ready to obey without question. His charm is unmatched, he has had people on their knees. He had people begging for a smidge of his attention. After all, his strength is legendary, his presence commands both fear and awe. He stands unrivaled, untamed. How could someone like him ever be conquered?

The very thought is absurd. It’s impossible! A man so terrifying, so ruthless as him. And yet…

Yet that is far from the truth. The power does not rest in his hands but in hers. His lovely queen, the only one who can bring him to his knees with nothing more than a glance, a whispered word. The world may see a monster, feared and revered, but in her presence, he is something else entirely. A man so devoted, eager, so hers. And oh, how he loves to follow her every whim, to give himself over to the only one who could ever truly own him.

➤ Dazai Osamu

Old habits are hard to forget.

Violence is in his being as much as blood is. It’s a part of who Dazai Osamu is, of who he has become. It’s what he is known for. He didn’t become the youngest executive for nothing. Death follows him everywhere, a lingering shadow he can never quite escape. Even now, as a member of the Armed Detective Agency, his body still remembers the rhythm of battle, the instinct to strike first, to eliminate threats without hesitation. The path of bloodshed he once walked is not so easily left behind.

Sometimes, that past claws its way to the surface, unbidden, leading to moments of discomfort. The awkward pauses when his reactions are just a little too sharp, a little too lethal. Even when the agency is forced to collaborate with the Port Mafia? The ghosts of his old life press in even closer. Because no matter how much he tries to change, one truth remains. The darkness never really leaves him.

Especially now, with his beautiful girlfriend watching. He shouldn’t slack off, not when her gaze was on him, sharp and expectant. He could feel it, burning into him like a silent challenge, urging him to put on a show. And really, how could he deny her that? He glanced at her briefly, a subtle smirk tugging at his lips. Just a little distraction, nothing more. But his opponent was quick, seizing the opportunity.

The strike came fast. The stranger was using a knife. It was efficient, practiced, lethal, aimed in between for his ribs, pircing the lung. The strike would've left anyone gasping for air. But to Dazai, it might as well have been moving in slow motion. His body reacted before his mind even needed to register the danger. With an effortless shift of his weight, he sidestepped, letting the attack slice through empty space as though he had never been there at all. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he rolled his shoulders, shaking off the moment as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience.

“Tsk, tsk,” he mused, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Taking advantage of a distracted man? How cruel.”

The enemy grew restless, fists tightening before launching another attack—this time a punch, wild and desperate. But alas, Dazai was faster. A smirk played at the brunette’s lips as he leaned back just enough for the strike to miss.

“Is that all? Really?” His voice was light, almost disappointed. “I was hoping for a bit of a challenge, you know.”

His opponent barely had time to react before he moved. Dazai was quick, precise, with no wasted effort. Fingers found a wrist mid-strike, twisting just enough to throw them off balance. Then, with a well-placed tug, Dazai sent them stumbling forward, effortlessly turning their own momentum against them. Dazai leaned in, his grip deceptively gentle as he murmured,

“Come on, you can do better than that, can’t you? I have to impress my girl, and you’re making this too easy.”

His tone was teasing, playful even, but his eyes—sharp and calculating—betrayed the truth. He was in control. He always was.

The opponent gritted their teeth, desperation creeping into their movements as they struggled to break free. But Dazai had already seen it coming. With a subtle shift, he applied just the right amount of pressure, forcing them to adjust their stance. And in that instant, his foot swept out in a fluid, effortless motion, delivering a precise kick to the back of their knee.

They collapsed forward, crashing onto the cold, unforgiving floor before they could even process what had happened.

“Oops,” Dazai chuckled, tilting his head with a mock look of sympathy. “Looks like you’re a little off balance there, bud.”

The enemy’s fingers twitched, scrambling for a hidden blade—a last, desperate attempt to turn the tide. With a sharp, reckless jerk, they thrust it toward Dazai’s hand, aiming to cripple him with the speed and ferocity of a cornered animal.

But Dazai had already anticipated it. He was always five steps ahead.

Before the blade could even graze his skin, he withdrew his hand with infuriating ease, as if he had simply grown bored of the fight altogether. The failed strike carried too much momentum, and the knife plunged deep into their own shoulder. A sharp, agonized yelp tore from their lips.

“Too slow,” Dazai mused, his voice dripping with amusement.

In one fluid motion, he plucked the blade from their trembling grip, twirling it between his fingers as if testing its weight. Then, with a lazy flick of his wrist, he pressed the cold steel against their throat, his smirk widening ever so slightly.

His opponent froze, breath hitching. The fight was already over. They both knew it.

Hidden in the shadows, she watched with intent. She had seen this side of him before, the effortless way he danced between mischief and menace, predator and charmer. But she also knew what he was thinking. She couldn’t let him kill the suspect, especially not with the rest of the agency watching. They also needed the suspect to find out where the missing children were.

Stepping forward, her voice rang out: “Down, boy.”

Dazai’s smirk widened at the sound of her footsteps. The sound effortlessly drawing his focus away from the trembling fool beneath his blade.

His grip on the knife neither tightened nor loosened, just lingered, as if savoring the moment. Weighing his options. But in the end, he knew that he could never disobey his lovely queen.

"Woof~!"

Her soft laughter sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. "Being so obedient today, Samu," she mused, stepping closer.

"Only because you asked so nicely, bella," he teased, voice low and honeyed.

With a dramatic sigh, he shifted to the side, giving her space as she moved in. He knew exactly what was coming, and as always, he was happy to let her take the lead. With practiced ease, she reached down, securing the suspect in handcuffs, her touch firm.

Dazai watched her work, his smirk never fading. Oh, how he adored her like this. Unable to resist, his fingers slipped toward her thigh, grazing her soft skin, savoring the warmth beneath his touch. The moment was too perfect to ignore. But as much as she enjoyed his touch, now was not the time. She shot him a warning glare, sharp and precise. “Hands off, we’re working, Samu,”

Dazai chuckled, tilting his head with a lazy grin. "You know, I just can’t help myself~" he mused, his voice playful. "Seeing you take charge like that? Ah~ it’s almost too much….. so breathtakingly alluring. My love, how do you expect me to behave when you’re this irresistible?"

Chuuya's under the cut!

➤ Chuuya Nakahara

Being a Port Mafia executive was a hell of a lot more work than anyone gave it credit for.

Paperwork stacked up like a mountain, mission after mission piling on top of each other. It was exhausting, monotonous, and downright boring. Honestly, Chuuya Nakahara would rather be doing anything else—like lounging around with his girlfriend, enjoying some peace and quiet.

But noooooo, here they were, stuck helping the damn Armed Detective Agency track down lost kids. Lost kids. Of all the things they could be doing, this was the one that required his attention? And of course, Dazai had to be involved! Making everything ten times more ridiculous than it needed to be.

Can they be any more useless? Dazai especially.

The two of them were walking into the abandoned warehouse that the Agency told them to go to. The creaking of the old wooden floorboards echoing through the eerie silence. The air was thick with dust, the scent of rust and mildew hanging in the air. The dim light filtering through cracked windows did little to reveal what was hidden in the shadows. What the hell were they even looking for here?

"Stay close," Chuuya muttered, his eyes scanning the dim, dusty warehouse for any sign of movement. The Agency had given them little to go on—just that it was urgent. Typical. They were useless anyway, they just had to pull the Port Mafia into it

Without thinking, he reached for her wrist, his fingers closing around it. To anyone unfamiliar with them, it might have seemed rough, the grip firm and commanding. But to her, the way his thumb gently caressed the soft skin of her wrist spoke volumes. It was possessive, protective, yet tender, a silent promise that no matter what happened next, he wouldn’t let anything touch her.

A shift in the shadows caught his attention, and without hesitation, he pushed his girlfriend back gently, positioning himself between her and the potential threat. He wasn’t going to risk her getting hurt—especially not over something as stupid as a damn undercover mission.

The figure stepped into the light, a sneer playing at the corners of their lips, revealing the glint of a weapon in their hand. The stranger clearly didn’t want them here. They said nothing, just waiting for the two fo them to make their move.

"Great," Chuuya muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Just what I needed today."

He didn’t wait for the enemy to make a move. In one blink fo an eye, his ability, Upon the Tainted Sorrow or gravity-manipulation, swirling to life around him. The air grew heavy as the room seemed to constrict, pulling the very weight of the enemy toward him.

"Stay out of this, okay?" Chuuya added, voice low and sharp as he glanced back at his lover. "I’ll handle it."

She didn’t mind taking a step back. As much as she loves the action, it was nice having to relax. She knew that Chuuya won’t let her join anyway. She made sure she was a good ways away but she kept her guard up incase anything happens.

The enemy hesitated for a moment, clearly underestimating the red head. It was the last mistake they’d ever make. Chuuya grinned, the thrill of the fight lighting up his veins.

The two were in a stale mate, just staring, sizing each other up. Chuuya’s eyes narrowed as his fingers flexed, already manipulating the gravity around him. His opponent, a tall figure cloaked in shadow, sneered back, their hands glowing with an ethereal energy as they conjured a shimmering shield around themselves.

"You're in my world now," Chuuya muttered, his voice low and menacing as the power surged around him, his signature gravity manipulation pulsing through the air. A dangerous glint sparkled in his eyes, and the ground beneath his feet trembled as he prepared to strike. Chuuya lunged forward, floating using his ability. He then quickly switched, increasing his gravity, as he went in for a punch.

His opponent smirked, raising their arms as a translucent barrier appeared between them and Chuuya. The shield shimmered like glass, catching the light as it expanded, blocking Chuuya's punch but Chuuya wasn’t deterred.

He swung his hand sharply to the side, still using increased gravity to harden his punches. The air around them thickened, the ground beneath the enemy’s feet warping, pushing down on them with crushing force. The opponent’s shield flickered and bent as the pressure mounted, but they quickly raised their arms higher, creating another layer of defense.

Chuuya grinned, his confidence never wavering. "You really think that’ll save you?"

With a snap of his fingers, the gravity around the opponent spiked, sending them hurtling toward the ceiling. The shield cracked under the immense pressure, but it held for just a moment longer—long enough for Chuuya to close the distance. He dashed forward, his movements fast and fluid, and with a swift kick, he launched himself into the air, using the distorted gravity to propel him upward. His opponent’s shield flared as they desperately pushed back against the gravity, trying to maintain their defense. But Chuuya was faster.

He grabbed the edge of the shield with one hand and twisted the gravity around it. The shield bent under the pressure, splintering like brittle glass. In that same instant, he shot a surge of gravity downward, slamming his opponent to the ground with a bone-shaking thud. The opponent struggled to get up, their shield flickering, weakened but not entirely destroyed. "You’re resilient, I’ll give you that," Chuuya taunted, landing gracefully beside them. "But you ain’t beating me,”

With another snap of his fingers, the gravity reversed, yanking his opponent’s body into the air. They gasped, arms flailing, struggling to summon another shield. But Chuuya wasn’t about to give them the time. He snapped his fingers again, and the gravity came crashing down, sending his opponent slamming to the floor in a crumpled heap.

Chuuya grinned darkly as he increased the gravity around his opponent, forcing them to their knees. "How about we end this, yeah? Can’t keep my girl waiting." His voice dripped with impatience, the power swirling around him as he prepared to finish it.

After all, when you’re an executive for the Port Mafia, mercy isn’t exactly on the menu.

“Down, boy!”

Chuuya’s gaze snapped away from the kneeling man, irritation flaring as he turned to face his lover. He blinked a few times, trying to process what the hell she just said. “What the hell did you say to me?” he asked, his voice laced with annoyance.

She met his gaze, her expression unwavering. “Did I stutter?”

The silence between them stretched for a moment as Chuuya stood there, eyeing her with a mix of frustration and something else—something he couldn’t quite place. Finally, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “No, ma’am,” he muttered, his tone reluctantly submissive.

“That's What I thought.”

“You're annoying,” He scoffed. Which caused her to laugh. “You love me though.”

[random-blurbs]

Made for the Camera

Iron Fist x reader

a/n - i just love hot fictional men (lowkey ass but free smut is good smut; requests are open 🙂‍↕️)

You had rehearsed this so many times in the mirror as you flashed a beaming smile, hearing the clicks run rampant in exchange. The flashes of the camera was killing your eyesight as you tried to maintain your normal composure. “Any plans to join an agency?”

“Any lovers?”

“Show us a trick?”

You felt your eyebrow twitch in annoyance hearing the stereotypical questions these interviewers always have. In the corner of your eye you see your manager motioning a smile onto his face. Directly towards you. Suppressing your anger you just continued posing, there’s worst things in the world and this isn’t one of them. You can’t complain when you’re practically made for this life. Never wanting anything more than be adored and captured forever in time.

Waving your goodbye to the crowd you let your manager direct you towards the event, familiar faces coming to view. It was a gorgeous event filled with every known superhero to exist. To thank them for all their hard work while shoving food down their throats. “So we’re going to meet the investors of that clothing brand you worked with last week.”

“Wait which one? Because one of the assistants tried getting grabby and it was just weird.” You shuddered stopping the waiter from walking off thanking him for the glass of champagne. “It’s the one with the name I can’t pronounce-.” Groaning he smacked your arm lightly reminding you to fix your attitude in these type of settings.

“I don’t want to.” You whined making him shake his head, “Don’t matter that’s where the money is.”

“Randy my man! How are you!” Not skipping a beat to abandon you at a social function he barely spared you a glance wanting to catch up with the random man leaving you to sip your drink. At least he isn’t in your ear telling you your future depressing plans. “You ok?” Not noticing the tall man right beside you, you immediately apologized realizing you were in-front of the drink bar blocking his way.

“You’re fine.” Offering you a kind smile you see him debate on what drink to get, but he left you feeling stupid as you were struck by his looks.

He is one fine-

“Astralis right?” Snapping you out of your thoughts you quickly nodded your head noticing his eyes were back on you, “And you’re Iron-Fist?” It immediately sounded stupid when those words left your lips as it takes one look at his outfit to know who he was. Who doesn’t know him? Those bandages really hug all the right muscles-

You can’t get distracted.

But jeez you did not know how attractive he was in person. You’re not stupid you know a fine man when you see one. But those interviews you watched on TV did not do him justice, up-close where you can see his boyish grin for yourself he had you whipped. How does one look hot and cute at the same time? Noticing your distressed face, he chuckled, an unknown glint in his eyes. “I was just asking since I’ve noticed your work. You seem to be quite the person.” Taking notice of his tone, he was careful to choose his words for some reason. To be fair he doesn’t really need to take care he can say anything to you at this point and you’ll take it. “The legendary Iron-Fist noticing me? I am one lucky person.”

He noted the look you were giving him, a seductive smile now taking place on your face. “You really aren’t subtle about this.” He laughed quietly, hoping the drink drowns his nerves noticing the tentative steps you’re taking towards him. “Can you blame me? I don’t need anybody snatching you up.” You admitted leaving him stun at your confident words not used to being one-upped, he bit the inside of his cheek looking around him if anyone is seeing the same thing he is.

You have to be some succubus sent to him, and if you were…- they won. He’s giving in. “Do you charm everyone you usually meet?” You suddenly ask, never giving him time to recover from your previous words. “No, I only turned it on for you.” He didn’t give you some lengthy explanation of how you’re the only woman in his life that you’re used to hearing to excuse their sleeping around. Not that you care; when you’re in the mood you just want to get to it. Quick and simple with his words it made a smile be drawn onto your face. “Did you come in here wanting to…” Trailing off you made the childish finger in hole motion making him finally laugh out-loud.

“To be fair I came for a drink.” Reminding you of how you guys even met to begin with. “And if anything… I was going to ask-.”

“Y/N, Y/N! She’s over here she’ll love talking to you! Hey Y/N!” Groaning you offer him an apologetic look which he waved off, painfully so. Your manager somehow within the time gone has gotten himself drunk, and brought more clients to deal with. "Randy what did I say about this." Giving a strained smile to the clients behind Randy's back, you pull his ear close to your lips. “I don’t pick up clients at these events. You know the reason why-!”

“You should be grateful to me.” You didn’t know if you looked more offended or Randy did. But seeing his face as if he was a victim was enough to piss you off even further. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“We can chat about this real quick if you don’t mind!” The clients tried cutting in, pissed that they’re interrupting your conversation, but you knew better than to tell them off. “Just give me a moment.” They seemed to ignore your annoyed smile, trying to continue the conversation while shoving their business cards your way.

Going to begrudgingly grab their card to maintain face even after their annoying act, a pair of rough hands quickly swiped it away from them. “I know a couple of people that are willing to take this.” He stood in front of you letting you see the true stature of the man you wanted to be in bed with already. Not wanting to make it awkward he looked as if he was genuinely checking out the cards leaving the client’s frazzled. "O-Oh wait it wasn't fo-!"

"She's busy talking to her manager why don't we go somewhere?" Walking past you with a wink his arms wrapped around the annoying client's neck dragging him away as he had playful smile on his face.

Has it been that long where someone gives you some basic decency, you want them more.

You’re too fucked up in the brain for this. Hoping to see him again in better circumstances you turn your attention back onto your drunk agent wishing you gave him your number.

————————

“Long time?” Maybe it was the strange predicament that you’re in. Said predicament being the reason why all the blood is rushing to your head. Same predicament that has you tied up upside down, with an attractive masked man beside you.

“Quite.”

You see him practically admire the handy-work of the assholes who tied you up still leaving you woozy. “You trying to get an idea for later?” He quirked an eyebrow amused as if time never gone by you two.

3 months exactly.

Months of settling on seeing your face on the tv.

Who knew he’ll be longing for a woman he only met once.

He wants more of you in any way you’ll give him.

“You want to say please?” Rolling your eyes you tried lifting your head to relieve the starting pain. “Don’t be like that.” He teased twirling your hair around his fingers, delicate touches that has you shivering.

“You truly know how to woo me.”

“Since you asked so politely.” Sarcasm lacing his voice, he efficiently got you down, taking care in setting you down. “How did you even find me?”

“Your agent was worried about you, you haven’t been picking up his calls.” Thanking your agent internally you winced feeling how much the rope dug into your ankles. Without skipping a beat you felt his arms scoop under your legs, letting out a gasp as your hands instinctively wrapped around his neck. “Still- you telling me this wasn’t on purpose?” He didn’t have to know you were going to heal your leg taking advantage of the feeling of his chest against your body.

“Aren’t you glad to see my face.”

You’re thankful in more ways than one for his face but he doesn’t need the ego boost. “Is there a way to repay you?”

Casting you a knowing look you lightly slapped his chest ignoring right off the bat how strong it was. “Like something actually nice.”

“You are something nice.” Can’t help but giggle you looked around trying to find anybody, “Where did you put them?”

“Gave them over to the police they’re cleaning it up now.” Biting your lip nervously, it’s not like you have free time at the drop of the hat, your agent would probably have you modeling tomorrow and you’ve been overdue for some patrols.

“What if I repay the favor here then?” He wasn’t too surprised by your offer, and he’s not too surprised by his own feelings towards it.

“Do you really think you can handle it?” Purposing making it have double meaning you looked up at him with a pleading look, “Oh c’mon you wanna waste this chance?”

You both knew the answer to that.

Maneuvering your legs to wrap around him feeling his hand cupping your ass to keep you up, using his other hand to grip onto your neck tightly pulling you in a heated kiss. Sighing happily against his lips you felt his tongue tease yours, squeezing your ass closer, feeling his dick harden against you. Tugging at your hair, exposing your neck, he bit into it feeling you squirm underneath him. He sucked onto your neck softly, as you let yourself just enjoy the moment. Feeling the desperation from him with every kiss he sets you on a broken counter letting him position his body between your legs. Reconnecting your lips you felt his costume underneath your fingers, it wasn’t cheap but it was thin enough to press against him feeling the sturdiness of his body. How his giant hands rested on your hips keeping you steady, nipping his lip playfully to feel how those hands grip onto you tighter, feeling the warmth against your skin, wanting those hands to be everywhere on you.

“You could’ve had this so much sooner.” He murmured taking off your shirt with no problem feeling the air nip at your chest. “It was obvious you wanted to do it.” Letting him ramble, you just tugged at his hair directing him towards your chest with a mischievous glint. He can’t even fake an annoyed expression as you knew he wanted every part of you. Peppering kisses across your chest, you would feel his wet tongue lap at it every once in awhile, before sucking on the spot making you moan out in pleasure. Fondling your left tit as he snapped your bra off before latching himself on your nipple. Shivering at the warm feeling of his mouth you sighed contentedly as you felt his tongue swirl around it, teasing it lightly making you buck into his body. Wrapping your fingers around his black hair, you gave it a harsh tug feeling the vibration of a moan on your nipple from him exciting you further. “You missed me that bad?” You teased making him pull away from your nipple with a pop, flashing his cocky grin at you.

“Yeah I did. Are you going to deny you did?” Letting your hands caress his cheek your hand messed with the yellow mask covering his eyes. You couldn’t read his expression, but his body did enough talking. His heavy breathing, his curious hands, his mouth. “Of course not.”

“Then why didn’t you come see me.” It almost sounded pathetic making you grin at him, he wouldn’t admit how that made him feel.

“I’m a hard-working person. Who else is going to pose in front of the cameras if not for me.” He let out a laugh making you pause, “You don’t have to work yourself to the bone for that.”

“I’m not. It’s as easy as breathing, I look good no matter what.” He believes whole-heartedly that you are the most gorgeous person he’s laid his eyes on, but he had his fair share of cameras and it was anything but easy. “Just because you suck at it doesn’t mean I do.” You jab pushing him away from you, glaring at him. “Oh c’mon it wasn’t like that. Really I’m sorry Y/N.” Holding onto your cheeks he placed a soft kiss on your nose, trying to seem as apologetic as he can, he really didn’t mean to come at your job like that simply not on the same page of difficulty for a job like yours. “Where is it?”

He was confused as you practically manhandled his body, patting down his outfit as your hand lingered over certain parts trying to look for whatever you are. “What are you talking about?”

“Your phone.” Still confused he reached behind his waist belt pulling out his phone, handing it over to you. Opening the camera, he saw you swipe to video before passing it back to him. “I’ll prove to you that I always look good, from any angle.”

Whatever he did in his past life to deserve this moment he just thanks the Gods for it. He didn’t need anything more.

“Are you sure? I might look better than you in it.” He baited as you nonchalantly shrugged your shoulders. “You wish.” This was not an opportunity he wanted to waste. Propping his phone up to capture the two of you, he already sensed a snarky comment coming his way making him clamp his hand over your mother, making your eyes widen in shock. “I’ll just fuck you in every angle to see if we can find one.” Swallowing nervously you couldn’t help but blush feeling his big hand completely cover your mouth.

“So let’s start with this one.” Gripping onto your hair tightly you groaned as you felt him push you down, knees scraping the floor. It felt intimate as you hand grasp the edge of his pants, swiftly pulling everything down, trying not to look impressed about the size in front of you. Spitting on it your hands wrapped around it started to jerk him off immediately making him moan aloud. Feeling his warm dick as your hand moved up and down slowly before letting it touch your lips softly. Opening your mouth you felt it get bigger in your hand as you started to suck on it. In a consistent motion you sucked on the tip, with your hand stroking him at the base hearing him let out a louder moan. “Fuck…” Every noise that escaped his lips gave you more of a want to please him, wanting his moans to be all you hear, as you let your tongue twirl around the tip. “You’re right about this angle at least.” Peering up at him you feel yourself get more impatient at the sight in front of you. Looking down at you with a blissed out smile, letting out airy moans, his cheeks were flushed red as you see his chest move up and down, eyebrows knitting whenever you take him all in your mouth hearing you struggle below him. If you could see the what he was seeing as he let his hand rest on your cheek stroking it softly, for the encouragement to continue a little longer. Feeling your tongue press the tip of his dick almost finished as he tapped your cheek, “I’m almost done, mo-.” Letting out an unexpected loud moan he felt you bottom out, sucking him whole. “H-hey!” Feeling your hand tighten around his thigh you looked up at him innocently, you wanted him cum right there right now.

Holding onto the top of your head, he let out a desperate moan as he tried holding it back, “You’re gonna make me cum stop!” With no sign of stopping, he finally wrapped his fingers around the hairs on the back of your head, tugging at his harshly making you get off his dick effectively. “You can’t be mad that you were getting good head.” You challenge making him chuckle, “You’re so fucked.” Throwing you over his shoulders you let out a yelp at the sudden change, trying to hold in a yelp as his hand smacked your ass painfully so. Kicking his pants to the side he propped you against the counter, ass-up tearing off your pants before bringing his hand down for another hard slap. Letting out a yelp of pain you tried telling him off but were met with fingers being shoved down your mouth. “Just shut up and enjoy it.”

Didn’t have to tell you twice.

Palming your ass, as it soothed the stinging pain he just brought upon it, you hear him spit on his free hand, feeling the teasing fingers by your hole. Brimming with anticipation you let out a choked out moan feeling the stretch of his finger in it, his hand was anything but normal. With already one finger you felt so good knowing how big his hands are you bucked into his hand motioning for another one. “God you are such a slut.” His raspy voice accused letting another finger in as you tried not to bite onto his fingers in your mouth. Your body felt flushed as you feel the stretch of his two fingers being pumped in and out in perfect rhythm. The squelching coming out of you egged him on, wanting to hear more, wanting to be the reason why there is more. Adding one more you practically bit down on his fingers feeling full off of those. He felt every part of your body accept him, as your ass was practically bouncing back onto his fingers desperate for him to continue, the flutter of your hole sucking all his fingers in he can only assume how it would feel on his dick. Taking out his fingers from your mouth, you let out a drawled out moan as you feel him pump his fingers out quicker. His free hand was immediately put to work as he messed with your clit, making you gasp in pleasure, “W-wait!” The motion of his fingers was getting too much for your body, and you refuse to let it end early. “Now you want me to stop?” Realizing how bad this is falling back onto you, you grip onto the counter tighter as you tried controlling your breathing, feeling yourself coming down soon. “P-please… I just want you in me.”

“That was going to happen regardless.” You practically feel the confidence overflowing from behid you as you tried biting back a scream feeling his quickened pace having you on edge. “It’s ok baby just do it.” He encouraged as his fingers stretched you deliciously so feeling the former hand now resting on your ass, maybe he knew you had a thing for his hands, making sure you feel it caress every inch of your ass, the warmth burning your skin as you bit onto your lip, “Nu-uh.” Gripping onto your lower jaw he helped you keep it open as you let out a string of moans, music to his ears as he hears you come undone, begging him to go faster. Feeling your hole suck his fingers in deeper coated with all your juices, as your ass bucked into his fingers consistently. “Fuck… right there…just-!”Jaw going slack as you cried out riding out your orgasm feeling yourself tighten around his fingers, every part of you feeling sensitive as you tried pulling yourself off of him; feeling weak at your knees his hands being the only reason why you’re still up.

“This angle too! It’s basically impressive.” Not caring for his words, you tried regulating your breathing as you came down from your euphoric high, not able to question him laying you out on the counter, the cold surface making you sigh in delight compared to your sticky skin.

It wasn’t until you practically jumped at the tip of his dick going in, clutching his wrist from stopping him. “What are you doing!?”

“Are we really going to act stupid about this?” You wanted to smack that smile off of his face as he innocently smiled at you, body twitching as you felt him slip a small part of his dick in. “Your pussy is practically begging for me.” He reasoned letting his fingers wrap around yours, using as momentum to make you come slamming down onto his dick. You both moaned out in pleasure not leaving you any time to adjust as he sought out your other hand to pull you back down. Letting out moans that practically resembles pleas he sees your head fall to the side as you drooled in pleasure, overstimulated by it all. “Nghh... let’s see - if you still look good fucked stupid.”

Feeling every inch of him as he thrusted in and out was a euphoric feeling that you know you’re always going to chase for again. His hands wrapped around your wrist bringing you back onto his dick as if you’re some rag doll, whining out in pleasure as your body could barely handle anything more.

His cock slams back into you feeling the ridge of his tip scrape against your walls, feeling every bit of him in you. “God you’re...so beautiful.” Gravely and rough his voice was giving him away but he didn’t care. The sight he had of you was a heaven he didn’t think he deserved, seeing how your hole practically swallowed him up every single time. Grunting he felt himself get close feeling your hole flutter around him again. “Oh fuckkk... - please just hurry.” You whined as you felt the tears prick your eyes, and a strange feeling start to build up in your stomach.

“Shit-!” He grunted abandoning your wrist for your hips, moaning out as you feel his fingers dip at your skin deep. He started to fuck you in a brutal pace, as if he wanted to bruise you making sure he pulls you out all the way before slamming you back onto his cock. Not caring how loud you became you cried out for him, wanting him to use you in any way, which he quickly complied to as he felt himself come closer. You shudder feeling yourself slowly go limp as he fucks you through your overstimulation going at a brutal pace that you couldn’t help but enjoy admire his blissed out expression as he played with your clit just moaning out curses feeling too much pleasure across your body. Feeling yourself let go before him was practically a curse as he fucked you in a bruising pace, going faster and faster, not satisfied with leaving you as it, grinding his dick against your hole everytime he entered was enough for you; as your legs shakes uncontrollably your last ditch was effort was wrapping them around him in closer finally making him bottom out as he finished with a guttural moan. Feeling his cum fill you up inside, you felt the warm ooze drip out from you making him look at you with a tired smirk.

Weakly reaching towards his face, you tugged down the mask finally seeing his whole face, not disappointed by what you see. “You got a mask fetish?” He joked making you throw his mask back at him as he let out a loud laugh. “Na just knew I was going to be disappointed.”

Chuckling he gets closer as he towers over you, feeling the warmth of his body bounce off of yours, seeing his arm cage you beside your head. “You really are beautiful though.” Pressing a soft kiss on your lips it was a jarring difference to what you both had shared, but you relished in it cupping his cheeks to pull him closer. Until you both couldn’t breathe you begrudgingly pulled away feeling more tired than anything.

You see him glance over at the still recording phone he couldn’t help but let out a boyish grin, “Can’t believe I have this all to myself.” You laughed as you feel him stuff himself into your chest, his breath tickling you.

“Isn’t the famous Iron-Fist so lucky?” You teased hoping to talk about the recording more in depth later, considering this isn’t an everyday thing you do. And only want to reserve it for those who you hold dearly.

“Call me Lin.” Shocked that he gave you his actual name and weren’t settling with superhero names you smiled knowing you can pursue this worry free. “Don’t look so surprised we just created a sex-tape like on our second meeting.” Nudging him to not ruin the mood, he settles his head on your chest hearing your now steady breaths, letting you play with his hair as you stay in this bliss for a moment longer.

[katsukistofu]

my caffeine mix-up! pt. ii

contents ౨ৎ ⋆ hawks x fem reader. fluff. slightly suggestive. you accidentally pick up the number two hero’s coffee so picks you up instead. | part i

note: fukuoka is the canon location of hawks hero agency

You stare at the text for what embarrassingly feels like at least the tenth time this hour.

pick you up at 8 ;)

Was sent mere moments ago from the contact Hawks, that had several hearts next to his name that you don’t remember him putting, saved in your phone after he dropped you off at work this morning.

Nearly giving your coworkers who just so happened to be looking out the windows at the time synchronized heart attacks in their cubicles, which would’ve been very hard to explain to your boss.

Who, thank All Might, was not here today.

But the millisecond you walked out of the elevator onto your floor, their nosy natures quickly won over their states of disbelief.

Desperate for the juicy details, nothing could stop them from swarming you like a group of hungry piranhas, and you’re flooded with a sea of questions you’re simply at a loss for how to answer.

“How did you meet him?” “So when’s the wedding?” “Were you rescued in a villain attack that wasn’t on the news yet?” “Oh my god, did you two—?”

“Guys!” You cut them off with a frantic wave of your hands, you did not need to hear the end of that sentence. “We just happened to meet. I, uh.”

Your coworkers look at you with expectant eyes, eagerly waiting to hear your no doubt heart-racing meet-cute story with the hero so popular, that when the paparazzi got a picture of him sipping kombucha tea, the drink went out of stock in stores nationwide faster than you could even say its name.

“I accidentally took his coffee order.”

You cringe a bit as you finish, and you’re met with the most comically shocked faces you’ve ever seen in your entire life.

“You WHAT!?”

“Damn I literally just tweeted ‘my coworker stole Hawks’s coffee’ and it already has a hundred reposts.”

“Oh honey, you’re lucky our boss is out sick today. He’d fire you for that.”

“Yeah, Hawks is his all-time favorite on the charts since All Might.”

You groan. “I know! He was so nice about it too, I still feel bad.”

“You should be.”

All your coworkers simultaneously glare at your company’s front desk receptionist that somehow snuck up to your floor, who for some reason takes that as a signal to continue.

“I could never be illiterate enough to take his order if I was in that coffee shop.”

“No one cares, Janet,” everyone says in deadpanned unison.

Janet huffs and turns to leave, but not before pointedly throwing another withering look at you.

She never did like you ever since you politely corrected her grammar in that passive aggressive email she sent when you were a new hire.

Not illiterate your ass.

Throughout the day, you answer more emails, calls, and print papers in a daze.

When you go to forward an email, all you can think about is how his strong arms felt on your waist. When you go retrieve ink to refill the printer, all you can think about is his gentle yet firm grip that he had on your thighs.

This could not be healthy.

But what if it was? You’ve never been touched so intimately, so softly before, like you were something precious, even in your fleeting experiences with relationships.

No one’s made you feel this safe like he does from just being in their presence.

But you blame that on him being a hero. He was probably trained on how to calm civilians down, especially during rescues.

You don’t really think that applied to people who stole his coffee, but maybe that was just you trying to feel special.

With a shake of your head, you straighten yourself in your chair. You had to get it together.

No more thoughts of Hawks on company time until it’s time to clock out!

But it seems like the winged flirt had other plans.

hawks ♡♡♡ [12:00]

hey

[sent an image]

hawks ♡♡♡ [12:01]

saw a pretty flower on

someone’s roof and it

reminded me of you :)

You freeze when you see the notification pop up, mid-bite through the food that you picked up from your favorite aesthetically pleasing cafe for lunch.

With a mouthful of sandwich, you click on the message to text back, when suddenly the realization hits you.

You had no idea what to wear for the date.

Oh my god, what were you even supposed to wear? Was there some kind of etiquette for this?

I mean, it’s not like he’s taking you to the Hero Gala. It’s just a higher end homey sushi and ramen place, but still.

Pinterest probably didn’t have “cute date outfit ideas for going out with the freaking number two hero” in their search results.

In your mind, you nervously run through different casual but still elegant clothes to wear. Maybe that nice blouse you had been saving, the one with the ruffles on the sleeves? You bite the inside of your cheek. No, maybe your classy sleeveless turtleneck midi dress instead?

Ugh, but you’ve already worn it out too many times last month. Not to mention the current ninety degree weather would cook you alive in that.

You pray that the paparazzi wouldn’t dare to stalk you on your date, but imagine if they did and took a picture of you two?

Caption: Hawks takes girl that never wears anything else out on date.

Even worse, caption: Hawks seen taking girl that can’t dress if her life depended on it out on date.

Nope, not on your watch.

The further you brainstormed, the more each piece of your wardrobe seemed less and less fitting to wear for such an occasion.

An idea pops into your head.

What was Hawks’s favorite color? You could base an outfit off of that instead.

Thinking about it, it was probably red. Hell, if you had pretty crimson wings like him you’d forget every other color in the rainbow.

Should you text him and ask?

After a little mental wrestling yourself, you muster up all the courage you could possibly have on a Monday afternoon.

[12:20]

you

that’s so cute :((((

thank you <3

you

also random but what’s

your favorite color?

hawks ♡♡♡

ooh we playing twenty questions? ;)

you

lol i guess we are ;)

hawks ♡♡♡

hmmm ok then

hawks ♡♡♡

my favorite colors

probablyyy red

you

i knew it

hawks ♡♡♡

oh?

hawks ♡♡♡

been thinking about me

have you, pretty girl?

you

……..maybe

hawks ♡♡♡

you’re so cute when

you get all shy

Your cheeks warm at that, and you physically have to put down your phone for a moment to cool off.

[12:34]

hawks ♡♡♡

my turn

hawks ♡♡♡

whatcha having for lunch?

you

[sent an image]

sandwich :)

hawks ♡♡♡

ooh that looks yummy

you

it is!!!!

you

it’s from the cafe across

the one where i nabbed

your coffee lol

hawks ♡♡♡

ah when fate brought

us together by my overly

sweet latte

hawks ♡♡♡

i’ll make sure to stop by

it after patrol tomorrow :)

you

yay!!! lmk what you think

i want a full review

hawks ♡♡♡

yes ma’am (︶▽︶)7

you

what are you having for lunch?

hawks ♡♡♡

[sent an image]

just chicken lol

Of course he was. It did look good. The fried edges were perfectly crispy, and it was a nice golden brown color and—

hawks ♡♡♡

but i wish it was you instead ;)

you

!!!!!?1!?)$1&1$@-

hawks ♡♡♡

aw, you embarassed right now?

you

YESOHMYHOF???

you

YOU CANR JUST

SAY THAT

hawks ♡♡♡

whyyy nottt

hawks ♡♡♡

it’s true though! :(

you

oh my god i’m going to die

you

and this sandwich is

going to be my last meal

hawks ♡♡♡

noo don’t die

you

i will

hawks ♡♡♡

id miss you :(

you

then know that it

was all YOUR fault.

hawks ♡♡♡

pffft you're so cute

hawks ♡♡♡

wish i could see your

flustered face right now

you

STOP

you

i think i'm going to

have to block you

you

this isn’t good for my heart

hawks ♡♡♡

D:

hawks ♡♡♡

noooooooo!!!!!!

come backkkk!!

You had to bite back a fond giggle, feeling warm all over. How was it fair for him to be this cute over text and in person?

hawks ♡♡♡

okok but before you block me

which i don’t think you will

hawks ♡♡♡

send me your address so

i know where to pick up the

most beautiful girl alive <3

you

oh u smooth ass mf

hawks ♡♡♡

for you? always

you

UGHHH

fine here it is

you

123-4567 fukuoka, tenjin,

chuo ward, 8-91

hawks ♡♡♡

perfect

see you soon birdie ;)

After an eventful day at work, you’re turned around, glancing at your back in the mirror.

Even though the scarlet dress that falls just below your knees hugs your figure in all the right places, you still feel a little self-conscious in it.

You honestly haven’t touched it since you bought it at the mall with a friend, who insisted that red was your color even when you had wrinkled your nose.

But as you admire the smooth, soft fabric of it now, you can’t help but be reminded of a certain someone’s beautiful wings.

You think you were really starting to warm up to the color.

A spritz of your favorite perfume and slight touch up of your makeup later, you hear a knock on the door to your balcony.

That must be him!

You excitedly unlock the sliding glass, and you’re finally greeted with the sight of Hawks’s signature grin that you missed all day.

“Hey, pretty girl.”

“Hi,” you say back, a bit breathlessly.

As if you were the one who flew all across the city just to see him.

He takes the moment to look you up and down, not in a hungry, lustful way like you’re used to when you’re around other men, even when you’re not exposing much skin.

Hawks admires you.

Like you’re a statue of a goddess, made of the most pristine marble. Like you’re a beautiful cherry blossom tree at peak bloom, with the wind serenading your soft pink petals.

Like you’re something so divinely beautiful and enchanting, you deserve to be revered.

“Wow.” Hawks opens his mouth, but no other sound comes out. The bouquet he’s hiding behind his back for you goes limp in his hand.

For a man who never runs out of words to say, he’s been rendered speechless.

There’s a tingle of anxiety at your neck and you’re suddenly a little nervous. “How—How do I look?”

Hawks takes a deep breath, and finally speaks.

“You look absolutely, astoundingly gorgeous.”

Hawks’s lips curve upwards softly when you visibly melt, his touch sweeter than the caramel of his eyes as a hand tips your chin up to meet his warm gaze that the summer heat had nothing on. 

“And that’s the least interesting about you.”

─────────

“This is really good.”

Is what you ultimately decide when you’re on the fourth piece of the unagi roll you ordered.

Hawks grins, you looked cute with your cheeks puffed up like that. “Isn’t it? I knew you’d like it.”

You nod while covering your mouth, chewing slowly to savor the delectable taste of the sushi. “I’m literally going to gatekeep this place so hard.”

“Good.” He reaches across the table for your hand with an amused laugh. “It can just be our little spot, then.”

You softly smile back at him.

“Our little spot.”

At that moment, the waiter comes over with Hawks’s shoyu ramen. “Enjoy!”

“Thanks!” Hawks beams at him, then turns his attention to the bowl in front of him.

Then a slight frown appears on his face.

You tilt your head. “What’s wrong?”

His worried eyes meet yours.

“You sure just sushi is enough? You can always order something else, it’s on me.”

“Oh no it’s okay!” You wave a hand. “I’m not really that hungry—“

“I don’t believe you.” A hint of a teasing smile plays on his lips. “Could hear your tummy growling a bit earlier.”

“You heard that?” You whine. How embarrassing.

“All the more reason to share my ramen with me.”

Your eyes widen. “You want me to?”

“I do.” Hawks stubbornly says, picking up his chopsticks to grab noodles with them. He holds them up to your lips, a growing smirk on his handsome face.

“Say ahhh.”

Throwing a quick glance around the restaurant, your cheeks flame. “Hawks!”

“What?” He’s still wearing that casual, shit-eating grin. “It’s just us and a few other people here, c’mon.”

You huff. “I can feed myself!”

“I know you can, birdie.” Hawks holds your gaze with piercing but warm eyes. “But I want to do it.”

You fiddle with your own chopsticks, looking at anything but his eyes.

“Please? Let me take care of you.”

Finally, you cave at his pleading expression.

“Okay.”

He feeds you, and you’re not still not sure why he’s so happy to do so, but you let him.

The owner of the sushi and ramen place laughs as he looks over at the booth you two had occupied a few hours before closing.

As always, there’s a generously heavy tip left on the table and this time a new, small note.

thank you, boss :> we’ll be back!! - h

─────────

It’s summer, again.

Keigo flies you back home in his arms after his patrol and your nine to five, and as you touch down on your balcony, the sky is starting to turn a brilliant gradient of orange, pink and purple as the sun begins to dip below the horizon.

His eyes are lidded as he pulls you closer to him by the waist on the couch.

“You like when I’m this close to you?”

In the privacy of your apartment with the only sound being the breeze from your air conditioning and the faint chirping of crickets outside, it’s like the both of you are in your own little world.

“Yeah.” You sound muffled while hiding your burning face in his chest. “You still make me nervous.”

“I make you nervous?” His low voice is lilting as he tilts his head, and pulls you even closer to him with a firm hand now on the small of your back.

Keigo smirks, drinking up the sound of your little gasp. “I’m gonna take that as a yes, little dove.”

You blink dreamily, disorientated by his warmth seeping through his sleeveless turtleneck and the feeling of his firm chest against yours. He was so cozy. “Dove?”

“Yeah. ‘Cause they symbolize peace, and you’re my safe place.” Keigo’s eyes soften at the way you snuggle into him in response. He was yours too, your comfort person. “You’re perfect, you know that?”

“Mmm.” You’re resting your head on his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. “Tell me again.”

“As many times as you want.” He leans down to whisper in your ear.

“You’re perfect.”

You let out a laugh, his breath was tickling your ear. “Kei, why’s your heart beating so fast when you say that?”

“Mm.” He offers you a sly smile, hand tracing circles on the small of your back as you lay on top of him.

“Guess you just do something to me when we’re together, birdie.”

Your eyes start to feel heavy, and you hug him even tighter at that.

“I’m so glad I stole your shitty excuse of a coffee that day.”

And it’s when he laughs from deep within his chest that you know he is too.

— Courtship feeding is believed to function as ceremonial pair bonding. The male bird usually feeds their female mate, and the resulting nutritional boost contributes to more and healthier offspring.

[sleepy-gamer-mom]

Pro-hero Shoto was tired. Who knew that handling the hero agency all by himself would be so exhausting? You two took over his father's agency a couple of years ago and you decided to rather take care of the paperwork and some more of the manager's tasks than to do actual hero work. So you had fewer missions, fewer patrols. In addition you became some sort of the healer of the agency due to the healing part of your Quirk. However ever since you went on maternity leave Shoto had to take care of everything by himself.

Pro-hero Shoto was tired and wanted nothing more than to press his face into your chest and sleep. It was his favorite position but it became less comfortable ever since your stomach grew bigger due to your twin boys. Nevertheless Shoto always found a way to hug you and shove his face right in between your boobs even if a bit awkwardly. Your pregnancy made them bigger and therefore more comfortable.

Shoto developed this adorable habit way back to when you first started dating. Actually this was how your father found out about your relationship: Shoto was innocently sleeping with his face into your chest and you were scrolling on your phone when your father barged into your room. Thankfully it was the Shoto and you earned only a raised eyebrow from your father who then quietly left you two alone. If it had been someone else, well, they wouldn't have seen another day.

Back to the present day. Pro-hero Shoto was on his way out of the agency passing by the reception desk to finally go home when he heard his name.

Everybody in the former Endeavor agency knew that the new receptionist girl had a huge fat crush on Shoto. She was a fresh high school graduate and the younger sister of Burnin. Shoto owed her father a favor so was asked to hire the girl so she'd have at least some real work experience. The girl wasn't bad, she actually was polite and nice, but her obsession with Shoto could cause some trouble one day.

“I have to show this to Shoto, he should know!” The receptionist girl was showing something on her phone to her older sister.

“Show me what?” His monotone voice startled the girls.

Burnin tried to snatch her sister's phone out of her hands but the younger was faster. She shoved her phone to his face to show some photos.

“Look!”

Shoto looked. There were you in the photo sitting at the café with a clearly older man with black hair. The second photo was you leaving the café with the same man helping you to descend the stairs with one of his hands on your back and the other holding yours. The third photo was him giving you a forehead kiss while you were smiling. You were so beautiful wearing your favorite dress designed specifically for the late months of pregnancy.

Shoto looked at you and he still couldn't believe you were his. You have been together for ten years now, since your first year in UA and he still couldn't believe you chose him out of all your peers.

“... about this now! I mean, the kids may not even be yours! I'm so sorry, Shoto!”

Shoto finally turned away from the phone to look at the girl. Her sister was covering her mouth with her hands and looked both terrified and amused.

“What are you saying?”

“I'm saying, your wife is clearly cheating on you! She may be pregnant with kids that are not yours!”

Shoto pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He was too tired to deal with this nonsense now but if not, this girl would spread ridiculous rumors about you and damage your reputation. Not that anyone in their right mind would believe it but still.

“Do you know how this man is?”

The girl shook her head.

“This is pro-hero Eraserhead. He was my teacher back in UA. He is her father”

“Huh???”

“This is her father and my father-in-law” Shoto repeated exasperatedly.

“But… but he is too young to be her father! He cannot be older than forty!”

Shoto signed again. This was taking too much time.

“She was adopted when she was ten. Now send me the last photo, it's cute”

The receptionist girl stood there dumbfounded.

Shoto turned to the door and said over his shoulder:

“And don't stalk my wife”

Todoroki Shoto was exhausted but he was finally on his way home, to you.

[lesmiix]

Can I ask for hyun-ju with a rich girlfriend like her girlfriend is slightly outta touch due to the insane amount of money she has

One Shot: Dirty Cash

Hyun-ju x Fem!reader.

Summary: You work at a very famous modeling agency around the world, which pays you a huge amount of money and you have a very high status. Hyun-ju still doesn't understand how you two are girlfriends.

Warnings: None

a/n: Sorry for taking so long to make this!!!😭 I've been quite busy, but hope you guys like it!!! English's not my first language so there may be some grammatical or spelling errors.

💗HYUN-JU REQUESTS ARE OPEN💗

You've been sleeping terribly these past few nights, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep. You'd spend all night awake, reading a book, waiting for sleep to come over you.

Today, you had a terrible day, you were at work and your co-worker asked you to go out for dinner; ofc, you didn't want to, besides,, you already planned with Hyun Ju that you would go to dinner together, so you told him that you were busy. He started insisting, trying to convince you to go with him.

"Damn, come on, I can take you to dinner at places a thousand times more expensive than that girlfriend of yours can!"

You started to get on your nerves, you really hated the way some people looked down on your girlfriend because of her financial status.

"Hey David, listen, my girl does everything she can for me, alright? And she treats me way better than you could ever treat a woman, so fuck off." You replied as you walked towards your office desk, picking up some folders and your laptop.

"And I'm more than happy with paying for whatever my girlfriend wants." You said while taking your bag and leaving your office.

So now you were in bed, with your girlfriend beside you, sleeping peacefully after an amazing date. You got up, trying not to wake her up. You walked towards the kitchen, mind too blurry to think about what happended at work.

You came across the mirror in the hallway and you looked at yourself for a few seconds, noticing some hickeys on your neck. A giggle left your lips, remembering what happened just a couple of hours ago. Oh, that woman drove you crazy.

When you got to the kitchen, you grabbed a glass of water and took a sip, feeling the liquid go down your throat. You noticed a bill of about 50$ on the counter, you forgot you had to give them to David, as he bought you a luminous crystal ball for Vaneltine's day. A soft sigh left your lips, remembering that you had to see your co-woerker again tomorrow.

"What was that sigh for?" You slightly choked from fright. Damn military habits. Your girlfriend chuckled a bit while wrapping her strong arms around you. She was wearing some light grey sweatpants and a black bra, which made you slighly blush.

"It's nothing, don't worry." You muttered while leaving a peak on her lips. "Go back to sleep, my love, you have to go to work tomorrow."

"Is it about David again?" She asked, knowing all the times he asked you out.

You sighed again, frustrated at remembering David's attitudes towards you.

"Yeah, he's just... annoying, I don't know what else to do to make him give up." You groaned, hoping that your answer from before has put him in his place.

"Sweetheart, don't you think you'd be better with him?" She asked, burying her face in your neck.

"What do you mean?" You asked, slowly caressing her hair.

"Is just, I think you'd be happier with him. He could give you anything you wanted, he could give you really expensive gifts and take you out for dinner to fancy restaurants. I can't give you any of that and it's not fair that you're always the one paying for all my bills and surgeries." She answered, softly pulling away from you. "I feel like I'm taking advantage of you".

You looked at her in a slight shock. You? Be better with anyone but her? Please.

"Are you kidding? Do you really think I'd rather be with that idiot than be with you? I pay you for the surgeries because I want to, I want to see you happy, to be yourself. I don't care if you can't give me expensive gifts, I'm delighted to have you by my side, and that's enough for me, okay? I want you."

"But-"

"Haven't I already shown you a few hours ago how much I want you? Or do you need me to remind you again?" You teased, playing with the hem of her sweatpants. "Let's show David how much my girl cares about me." You said, folding the 50$ that were on the counter and putting it between her breasts.

"Idiot" She murmured as she followed you to your bedroom.

[silverynight]

Perfect team

Izuku wakes up as he feels lips against the back of his neck, pressing lightly. He grins as the kisses move down towards his shoulders, lips making sure to press all over his freckles.

"Good morning, Izuku."

He can hear the smile on Katsuki's face, even if he's not looking at him at the moment. His boyfriend seems happier now; he was content before, but his eyes started shining the brightest after he gave Izuku the hero suit.

An expensive suit that has helped him fulfill his dream. Izuku is a pro hero now, after more than eight years of graduating from the UA, after the war. And all thanks to Katsuki's efforts.

He knows he won't be able to repay him for what he had done for him.

A couple of tears escape from his green eyes, as Katsuki gently turns him around with an adoring smile on his face.

"I know what you're thinking," the blond pro hero grins, rubbing their noses together as he wipes Izuku's tears off with his thumb. "You know the only thing I want in return is your happiness. I want you to be happy and I want you to stay by my side."

That's why they started dating really; Izuku was crying a couple of days after getting the suit, insisting he needed to give him something in return, despite Katsuki saying a couple of times he didn't want anything.

And then he had confessed, saying the only thing he wanted was a chance to court Izuku, to woo him, to make him fall in love with him.

But Izuku assured him he already did, and now they live together.

"You know I'd do anything for you," Katsuki whispers then, but the devotion in his voice and eyes is loud somehow, like he can't hide it, even if wanted to.

Izuku already knows this. The things that happened during the war and the eight years after have made it clear for him. For everyone.

Bakugo Katsuki is in love with him. But even those words don't sound like they're enough to describe what he feels.

"Yes, I do know, Kacchan," he giggles as his boyfriend kisses the scar on his right cheek and the freckles on the left. "I love you too."

The blond pro hero practically purrs, triumphant smirk quirking up the corners of his lips. Katsuki looks like it's the best day of his life, and Izuku can't help but smile fondly at him in return.

"I'll make breakfast."

"You don't have to..."

"I want to."

Izuku grins before kissing Katsuki's forehead; the blond rises from the bed before heading towards the bathroom.

They have early patrol... together, so they better hurry up.

He finds Katsuki in the kitchen almost an hour later; they're both ready. They're wearing civilian clothes now because they leave their suits in the agency.

They eat pancakes that morning as they talk about their friends and work; it's easy to be himself around Katsuki ever since he apologized back in high school, and Izuku has always been grateful for it.

They know each other better than anyone, that's why their relationship feels so natural and right.

They still argue, but they always know how to fix it. Besides, those "fights" are what keep helping them learn how to communicate better.

Katsuki grins a lot now; he smiles softly around Izuku and carries that expression on his face and that sentiment in his chest way after they start their shift. His friends tease him about it, and Izuku finds it absolutely endearing.

They all can tell how much Katsuki enjoys their domestic life; he likes to cook meals for the both of them and even enjoys when they stay home, cleaning their apartment.

Izuku does it too, although he sometimes finds it hard to believe.

He's living with Katsuki now, as his partner in more ways than one, and he's absolutely happy about it.

"I'm going to marry you."

Izuku blushes to the tip of his ears, even though Katsuki says that a lot lately. He doesn't ask and he doesn't hesitate; it's like he knows how this will end, or perhaps how it will start for the both of them.

Izuku wants that too, even though he has told him they should wait a bit anyway.

Katsuki doesn't mind waiting, he has said it a couple of times already.

"You'll be my husband."

"And you'll be mine, Kacchan."

Katsuki's eyes glimmer at that, because he knows it's different now and Izuku blushes in response again.

He knows Katsuki will propose to him soon, and he can't wait for that to happen.

They wash the dishes before getting out. And Katsuki reaches out to him before they walk towards his bike; he loves to hold Izuku's hand a lot now, and Izuku is really happy to indulge him.

They're a team now.

[anim-ttrpgs]

Eureka is an absolute masterpiece of a ttrpg with so much thought and care put into it. I really can't say enough good things about it. I do want to know if you have made/plan to make any other ttrpgs? I would love to see more genres besides supernatural urban mystery from you because of how quality your work is (but it's completely understandable if you have no plans to do other things).

Thank you! It’s taken us years to refine Eureka’s rules to this level of polish, and I do think it shows! A warning to all other aspiring TTRPG designers, though, don’t make your first project something this big! Keep it short! Not “one page rules” type of short, but don’t be like us and make your first real project a full-on trad TTRPG with this many different moving parts.

If you have aspirations to make something as crunchy and fleshed-out as Eureka, maybe try to execute the concept in a more simpler “OSR” style, and then after you’ve gotten more experience under your belt, maybe made some money and/or gotten a team together, then maybe try that concept again with more crunch. Call it “Advanced [Your Earlier Game Title]”

As for the future of A.N.I.M., we are planning to continually release adventure modules for Eureka, and probably also add-ons like extra Traits, Monster Traits, etc. I would love to include some playable monsters from cultures outside “the west” too, but I wouldn’t want to half-ass them, I’d want to give them as much research, attention detail and themes, etc. that I’ve given to all the other monsters. That’s just a lot harder when the best sources aren’t always in English.

Speaking of shorter games, I already wrote a little tiny game on the side called Edge Hedge Arena.

This is a game where you google “[Your Name] the Hedgehog”, choose one of the many Sonic OCs that are likely to come up, then give them stats and battle them against those of other players using the rules provided.

Since I basically have no more rules to write for Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy and I’m mostly just waiting for other members of the team to finish working on their parts, I’ve partially moved on to working on A.N.I.M.’s next big game, too!

We’ve learned our lesson, it’s not going to be anywhere near the page count or crunch level of Eureka, even though you know I love crunchy games. Well, actually, it’s probably only slightly less crunchy than Eureka, but it’s about much more specific scenarios, so it’ll still overall have less mechanics. The scope is much smaller.

This is a dark comedy/satire game that kind of takes the Forgotten Realms “evil sexy matriarchal bdsm slavery society ruled by warriors who fight in lingerie” dark elf concept and asks the question of “What kind of society and circumstances would actually produce this?” (Though it doesn’t actually take place in Forgotten Realms or any other D&D setting)

And then makes the comparison to 20th and 21st century American capitalism. “No, these aren’t slaves, they aren’t chained up and are allowed to leave any time they want. But they only get food so long as they keep working, and if they disobey then can get beaten.” It started out as a joke, but we are probably going to add "media literacy" to the list of requirements alongside dice and stuff hahaha, like, the ability to understand that the world of this game is not supposed to represent the author's idea of a perfect society. We might add that to Eureka too.

Silk&Dagger is about class, gender roles, different ways that forced labor can manifest in a society, and most importantly surviving all of those things.

Going forward to understand what I’m saying you have to know that in this setting, “Drow” is a title, referring to the ruling warrior caste. Most Drow are dark elves, but not all dark elves are Drow. This society is structured a bit like ancient Sparta, with a very small ruling caste of warriors, and a very large servant caste. Social mobility between these castes is possible, but rather than getting into it in detail and making this post super long, let’s just say that many servants consider themselves temporarily embarrassed Drow.

A typical “party” in Silk&Dagger is will consist of one Drow PC and any number of servant PCs working for her. There are regular chores that need to be done around the palace, which provide challenges, but scenarios will also throw major issues into the mix.

A Drow’s Reputation is everything, if the Drow PC’s Reputation stat reaches 0, that is the failure state for the entire party, because it basically means no more food. (Even the servants, for lore reasons that I also won’t get into)

So a typical scenario will be like “Somebody very important is coming to visit, but the lower floor of the palace is starting to flood for an unknown reason.” We’re going to have multi-part tables where you can randomly generate these, but we will also have more in-depth adventure modules for it in the future.

We ran a playtest the other day basically based on this scenario. The intended comedy of the game really came out as we kept switching perspectives, with the Drow upstairs having to constantly come up with new ways to impress her guests and explain away that splashing sound while the servant worked down below trying to find and plug the leak.

So, the PCs will have to deal with all that while also making sure that all the chores get done, and the kicker is, they can’t easily communicate with each other. The massive gulf between the two castes is the real enemy here, along with the behavioral expectations placed on each.

They could’ve gotten a head start on dealing with the flooding if the servant had had permission to speak earlier and could’ve told the Drow that the lower floor is flooding, but

There’s a big list of behaviors that a servant has to fulfill when interacting with a Drow, which are basically designed to be impossible to follow and just get them in trouble, and a Drow who doesn’t strictly enforce this etiquette risks losing Reputation for it.

On the other side, Drow also have to constantly embody a list of six features, which basically means acting as evil as possible, their Reputation depends on it.

One other unique feature of Silk&Dagger is that it is a two-GM game. One GM does most of the normal GM stuff, while the other GM represents the ever-present societal expectations weighing on all the characters, subtracting Reputation points and important things every time the PCs do something that makes them look bad in the eyes of this society.

There may come times where PCs will just have to take the hit to get things done, or find clever ways to make it look like they’re upholding the status quo while secretly treating each other like equals when nobody’s looking.

You can expect, like, an alpha or beta version of this game to come to the patreon in probably January or February, and maybe even itchio if it is far along enough by then. It was actually supposed to be out on the patreon in December, but some personal issues and illnesses really held it up. I am really going to try and make it less than 200 pages.

I'll end the post with one of my favorite little bits from the setting/lore. One of the reasons that Drow dress like that is because it helps them identify each other by thermal vision in the pitch black tunnels. Unique patterns of covered and uncovered skin serve as a sort of personal heraldry.

Elegantly designed and thoroughly playtested, Eureka represents the culmination of three years of near-daily work from our team, as well as a lot of our own money. If you’re just now reading this and learning about Eureka for the first time, you missed the crowdfunding window unfortunately, but you can still check out the public beta on itch.io to learn more about what Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy actually is, as that is where we have all the fancy art assets, the animated trailer, links to video reviews by podcasts and youtubers, etc.!

You can also follow updates on our Kickstarter page where we post regular updates on the status of our progress finishing the game and getting it ready for final release.

Beta Copies through the Patreon

If you want more, you can download regularly updated playable beta versions of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy earlier, plus extra content such as adventure modules by subscribing to our Patreon at the $5 tier or higher. Subscribing to our patreon also grants you access to our patreon discord server where you can talk to us directly and offer valuable feedback on our progress and projects.

The A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club

If you would like to meet the A.N.I.M. team and even have a chance to play Eureka with us, you can join the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club discord server. It’s also just a great place to talk and discuss TTRPGs, so there is no schedule obligation, but the main purpose of it is to nominate, vote on, then read, discuss, and play different indie TTRPGs. We put playgroups together based on scheduling compatibility, so it’s all extremely flexible. This is a free discord server, separate from our patreon exclusive one. https://discord.gg/7jdP8FBPes

Other Stuff

We also have a ko-fi and merchandise if you just wanna give us more money for any reason.

We hope to see you there, and that you will help our dreams come true and launch our careers as indie TTRPG developers with a bang by getting us to our base goal and blowing those stretch goals out of the water, and fight back against WotC's monopoly on the entire hobby. Wish us luck.