#he learned to drive as a child so as to drive away if kidnapped and then spent the rest of young adulthood being driven around. I think

[orangerosebush]

I just know Artemis is (lightly) hitting curbs when driving the Bentley

[acid-ixx]

i’m kinda curious on whether or not the reader would continue going to college after they go back to the wayne manor. furthermore, i also remember the resder mentioning a small group of friend they had, will they stay in contact with them? how do the family react to them being so close with others? dudhjew i love this series you write so well.

— masterlist !

a/n: phew i finally get to answer asks !! yesterday was insane, me and my family swam on around 5 different beaches so i was outside for more than 12 hours with no wifi and the power keeps turning off in the house due to the weather so that's that. i love writing so this is a bit longer than i expected hehe. oh yeah i forgot to tell yall that in the timeline, the mc may be bruce's third child but they're actually younger than tim as he was adopted later on.

now, to answer. i don't think bruce, as your ever-so loving father, would agree to get you back to college once you're back (kidnapped) in the manor. he wouldn't directly say it, but with your current state of relationship towards your family, with just how much time they have lost not spending it with you, it's a given that bruce, your dad, and your siblings who are feral for any ounce of attention from you, would insist that you take... a very long vacation with just them.

after all, desire is one of the stronger emotions they feel towards you, and they grapple at anything you offer towards them. but they still want you to be happy, no?

so at first, they'll let you go to your classes (though you'd be heavily monitored everywhere. who knows what bad influences scurry the area, right? barbara and tim take turns watching through the live feed of your college) but that's only if, and only if the uni's timetable allows for a flexible schedule with your family after. that means, if you're stubborn enough (which bruce understands, because "bruce! you allow damian to go to school so why can't i?!" and he's willing to give his baby the world after he finally hears them say his name) and still wish to continue the course you're working so hard for, one you had attained a full scholarship for, then go ahead!

though they can't help it when the hours they're supposed to get to know you better are taken away from them. for now, you'll have a taste of freedom before it's ultimately taken away from you.

but until then, you'll have to learn how to balance school life with family life. because even if there would be no more crappy apartment to go home to, even if you actually get a full meal instead of cheap, microwavable oven meals and dollar priced ramen, even if you still get to pursue your dream course— it's undeniable that the moment you leave your uni's doors, you'd be picked up by dick, tim, and even your youngest brother damian fucking wayne driving the car, to be escorted back to the manor strictly after classes. during the night, should you ever overstay for projects, it would be jason who'll greet you and allow you to ride his motorcycle; though that's only permissible if you have updated them a day before that you wouldn't be home before the curfew bruce has set up for you.

sometimes, it's your father who makes an untimely appearance with his well-known persona, brucie wayne. he'll greet all the people who pass by with a teethy smile, his big hand holding your stiff shoulders after he kisses your cheeks as a greeting. if you're out the door with your friends - friends who knew of your history of neglect, who told you they would always take your side - then he'll shake their hand, introduce himself with a charm that makes them question if what you've told them is true.

he presents himself with such an aura that's harmless, as if him and your other siblings who are spying by a bush aren't incapable of taking all friends down with just a punch to their face shall one of them speak up or dare tease you in front of them.

unfortunately for you, even some of your friends would be truly convinced that your father wasn't the same man you've told your lifelong stories about neglect. not when he makes a show of running his hand through his baby's head to comfort them whilst he talks to them, not when he cloaks your shoulders in his own work suit to make sure his child wouldn't feel the chilly weather, not when he takes all the time in his busy day to pick you up from school as he should've done all those years ago.

but who would believe you when it's obviously known by the public eye that bruce loves his child, (name) wayne?

you know it's all fake, and it's scary for you, that he simply was able to make a cover up story to the journalists that his child's lack of presence to the public is him merely wishing to shield them from the disgusting media, no?

now that you're older, he says, he would want to make a show of his undying grip over you, that his gleeming eyes that hold multiple threats towards the people in your campus is simply his overprotectiveness as your father, that if they ever harm you or dare question your family's overprotective nature towards you; they'd be gone by the very hands that sworn to protect gotham.

it's all fake, you tell yourself.

but what isn't false are his intentions to make you feel like you're part of the family now, no matter how much you kick, or fight, or scream; they'll always remind you that you're loved and always will be. it's both an apology and display of affection towards you.

it doesn't matter if your uni is on the other side of gotham, you're always coming home to them and that's final. at least you know they still have an ounce of empathy for you to continue having friends (and a boyfriend that they've no knowledge of, yet), as long as they heavily monitor you...

... what you don't know, though, is that the moment you've fallen into the hands of danger— your father wouldn't hesitate pulling you out of college and instead settling for homeschooling. you have brilliant siblings, after all, and a father who had trained all over the world.

that's why hangouts with friends are unpermitted, you soon discover that only trying to beg bruce to at least be more flexible with your friends would only lead to even lesser chance of trying to find escape in your already stuffy life.

and don't even dare throw a tantrum about preferring your friends over them. if you even go as far as calling one of your friend's parents as an even better parent than bruce could be, that your friends are people you consider actual siblings, then you've guaranteed yourself a one way ticket to being locked up in the manor, permanently; with your father and your siblings, especially damian, trying to prove themselves that, no, you didn't just fucking say that, take it back.

you're going to witness a personal breakdown from damian. because no way do you prefer those scum over him! he's supposed to be your favorite, who are they to take his place?! you love him, you love them, you wanted attention from the family, didn't you?! you wouldn't be able to comfort him because he'd already wear his robin suit, ready to eliminate any of your friends who are younger than you because they don't deserve to be seen as your younger sibling, no matter if you had just blurted that out as retaliation for an argument.

what you had just said is serious, and bruce and dick wouldn't even try to stop that kid from slashing someone in broad daylight; dick choosing to cry and refusing to let you go from his arms as he babbles on about his delusional baby bird, trying his damn best to not let his temper get to him, trying so hard to not choke the ever living shit out of any of your older friends once you confess calling anyone of them your older brother— because him, jason, and tim are supposed to be the only ones you consider your older brothers, babybird!

hell, even tim and babs are already on the monitors ready to give damian each and every one of your friend's individual locations.

bruce especially, would be heartbroken that his child called someone else their father. that's his title. you calling him father, or dad, or papa, or any language that describes him to be your parental figure is the only thing keeping him sane. he hates it when his child only calls him bruce as if to describe a mere stranger, to which he knows he is to you— but it sounds wrong and it furthers the ache in his heart— and it's even worse if you chose to call someone else a father, chose anyone else than him as your dad.

batman is even more cruel in his patrol after your argument, punching the living hell out of any male criminals, picturing your voice playing over and over again calling them your father instead of him— it only makes him perceptive of jason's moral code. because what if you have fallen into the hands of anyone but him before he had come to take you back? he knows he isn't the best, was never there for you until now, but fuck, he needs to make it up to his child, and getting angry at you only worsens your already severed bond with him.

so you may expect a punishment, but it's already punishment towards you when you're now isolated inside the manor with only the presence of your siblings to comfort you throughout the nights where it gets too lonely during patrol time. bruce would have more than an hour long talk with you in his study, forcing you to confess every single thought you have about him and your siblings. he tells you it's all unrecorded, that there's no cameras to watch over your one-on-one confrontation— he just wants his baby's opinion on everything so they could adjust to your every whim, but really, it's all just a matter of them wanting to dive deep into your very thoughts like the invasive creatures they are.

the worst part of it all, is that nobody even dare mentions the names of your friends and their respective family. they listen to anything you say, because you already barely talk, but the moment you mutter about missing them, the topic would be shunned down by something, anything else. whether that'd be damian deciding that his older sibling should paint with him, or dick inviting you to watch him perform his acrobatic stunts.

it's a distraction you know you're susceptible to, because they all wish to take your thoughts away from those scum, as damian calls them, and instead have you focus on them, your actual family. those people are nothing to you, now that they're out of the picture.

... you should've chosen to be homeschooled instead of unintentionally getting your friends killed.

[kedsandtubesocks]

In the Woods (Somewhere) - Mothman!Gojo

Ghost stories around the city whisper about a creature in the forest. They describe it as a moth like monster that only brings misfortune and death.

But what will you do as you learn these silly ghost stories are true flesh and bone… and now haunting you?

pairing: satoru gojo x f!reader

wc: 12.9k

warnings & tags: 18+ only MDNI, monster x human relationship, loose interpretation of the mothman legends and stories, death mentions, protectiveness & obsession that can be read as slight yandere like, lot of bug discussion, monster transformation with a touch of body horror, wound licking, blood & tear consumption, magical healing, car accident, allusion to f!oral receiving, kidnapping, character deaths (this ends happy I promise) feral and lovesick Gojo, if there is anything I missed please let me know!

a/n: this is my first submission to @willowser Haunted House Collab and I’m so honored to be part of this! Thank you for putting this together dear Willow! The title is from the lovely Hozier song. Also a big thanks to @skeletoncowboys for letting me scream about this monster & to @stellamancer for always being my dearest comrade in Gojo hell, enjoy and thanks for reading! Stay spooky!

Your grandfather once told you he believed butterflies were fairies and moths were angels.

It made sense to your child logic that butterflies could be fairy creatures. You even imagined fairies had butterfly wings. But, you had argued back in disgust that moths couldn’t be angels.

“Now now,” your grandpa had laughed. “Why can’t moths be angels?”

He gently explained moths were mainly seen in the evening and around light. He believed moths were the forms angels took to keep watch over everyone late in the night when no one believed they were being protected

“And,” he told you with all his sweet patience. “Something like a moth that loves the light can’t be bad.”

Scientifically you now understand moths mainly were nocturnal as a survival instinct for less predators and more opportunities for prey. Some were even active during the daytime. But your grandfather's words stay with you, etched into your heart.

He is why you are here after all.

The campus at night always holds a certain hollowness.

However, the storm that blew in yesterday continues looming with ominous clouds in the sky. It cast an early darkness against the city. The thick haze feels as if something could slink out of the shadows.

When you slip out of the research lab building there, against the light outside, one lone white moth flutters in the air.

Quickly glancing around the campus stretches out before you a vacant lot. In that moment of surveying, delicate wings rapidly flutter fast and wild against your face.

“Ack!” A surprised squawk leaves you at the moth’s sudden charge.

“I told you!” You hiss out waving the bug away. “You could’ve waited for me at home.”

The moth, outraged by your words, rushes against your face harder. Silk wings flap hard while it continues waving around your line of sight in a flurry.

“Calm down, you big baby!” You snap back annoyed and start stomping towards your car.

Now the little insect stops its fluttering attack to gently land on your face. As the bug travels across your cheek, its presence is a gentle tickling sensation. It finally stops and rests against you.

“Happy now?” You mutter low praying no one spots you with a large white moth on your face.

“I’m gonna pick up dinner. So are you getting in the car or meeting me back home?” You speak casual yet still within a low mutter.

With a delicate tickle again, the moth scurries across your cheek then across your nose making your lips twitch in a slight giggle.

Then the creature flutters away, your answer.

The pizzeria you end up at is adorably cozy. You spotted it during the drive to and from campus. Once you read the online reviews and got their blessing you decided to check it out.

Christmas lights hang from the takeout counter where you wait for your order. There’s even a quaint bar-like area. But what catches your attention is the small section of things littering the walls behind the counter.

It reminds you of a scrapbook.

Various newspaper clippings clutter one side. A few blurry photos are folded and pinned to the board. Plenty of hand drawn images scatter among the collage and they range from adorable to terrifying.

All of these things are about one single moth creature.

The board itself is even titled -

The Moth’s Nest.

Moth nests can be disastrous. They infect fast and are hard to exterminate. Plus once they create a nest, infestation is soon to follow.

“Ah, looking at our board.” A smooth voice purrs into the air and you turn towards it in slight embarrassment.

A beautiful blonde woman grins at you from behind the counter now.

“I heard the town had a moth thing but this…” from the drawings, which all included a strange humanoid like creature, this is far from the high moth population count it was known for.

The woman barks an amused laugh and it crinkles her rather lovely eyes.

“You could say that,” she grins. “You new here?”

“Sort of.” You nod. You’ve been here for almost a full semester now and you wonder if the newness will ever melt away.

“Well then, welcome to town!” The woman’s name is Yuki and for being a newcomer she pays for your pizza.

“Even though you got this for takeout, why don’t you stay? Eat here and keep me company.” She winks and you happily slide into the open seat she pulls up for you at the checkout counter.

“So what’s a lovely thing like yourself doing here?” Yuki asks smoothly and you almost choke on your first bite.

After she cackles a warm charismatic laugh, you swallow through your surprise and tell her.

“An en-tah what?” She caws confused like a bird and even her furrowed brows make you snicker.

“An entomologist,” you clarify.

In simple terms, you study bugs.

“Oh!” Yuki’s eyebrows fly fast up into her bangs as her eyes twinkle excitedly. “So you’re all about the creepy crawlers then.”

“Not all of them,” you reply back friendly.

You favored Odonatology and Lepidopterology.

The studies of dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies and in this case-

Moths.

“Well now,” Yuki grins and turns to glance at the board. “Looks like you’re in the right place to find moths.”

It was one of the reasons why you chose this program. The university boasted a plentiful and hands-on ecosystem to explore right within the town’s backyard. You just never expected an urban legend to come attached to the critter population.

Curiously you nudge your face towards the odd journalistic collection and ask about it.

Yuki’s face melts into a wistful look that casts a surprising shadow on her.

“It’s a creature that apparently lives in the woods…” she begins, low and steady.

No one knew how or when it began inhabiting the forest. Some argued it’s a simple folklore meant to scare rowdy kids from venturing into the woods.

“The stories say it’s an actual demon.” Yuki explains.

“There’s a belief that anyone who sees it either dies soon after or calamity befalls the town.”

Yuki’s words conjure up a poisonous fear. She adds how any sight of the cryptid, even in the strongest of nonbelievers, brought a sense of unease.

“But,” Yuki shrugs easily turning back to you. “Some people say that thing is a hero.”

The word hero gets tangled in your ribs

Your new friend explains there are those who have seen the beast and lived to tell a different tale.

Multiple children on different occasions have got lost in the woods. Yet, they always found their way out. Most of them claimed the moth creature helped them.

“There’s even an elderly man who went hiking and still swears up and down that thing saved him from getting attacked by a mountain lion.” Yuki comments.

“That’s a big claim.” You admire the thought of this monstrous creature possibly being a silent guardian. However, it festers something dangerous in your heart that weaves a sticky web.

The pizza on your plate grows cold. The lone drink you were nursing now is a watered down mess. You’ve lost your appetite and decide to head home.

There’s not much for your mind to process. It feels like the same sensation of walking out of a horror film and trying to understand what you saw. You try to rationalize this disorienting simply the same sensation you’d also get hearing ghost stories at sleepovers.

Yuki urges you with a warm charm that you’ll come and visit again, you promise her you will.

Walking out with leftovers in the box, the night greets you with a soupy fog. The lingering storms coat the streets in a mystic cloud.

You wonder if this clouded fog is inside your mind as well.

You’re about to take a step out into the parking lot when a horrifying animalistic shriek pierces the air.

It sounds distorted, a static shrill cry summoned from an ancient abomination.

The screech shoots straight into your bones startling you and making you jump in a pause.

In that moment a car speeding way too fast for a parking lot flies by you. It drives by with a whirling speed rattling the wind.

The noise, the shriek, stopped you from stepping out into the car’s path.

You mind buzzes, maybe too much. The gloomy air seeps into your skin and brings a heaviness over your body. You exhale shakily trying to just settle yourself as you head home.

When you return to the tiny closet of your apartment, there outside against the balcony door your white moth flutters furiously waiting for you.

Sliding the door open you’re about to greet your extra house guest until the text chime on your phone draws your attention away.

As you check your phone charging on the couch, a sudden thud lands against your apartment floors. The flapping of wings flutters into the room.

Before you can even turn around, a shadow falls over you. The presence of something large looms like a ghost, silent and steady yet radiating a chill besides you. Then a firm fuzzy face suddenly dives into the side of your neck burrowing against your skin.

“You need to be more careful.” A voice crystal and aware, yet flickering as if it speaks through the branches of the woods, clicks at you.

You think of the car that blazed by.

“It happens and I’m okay.” You reassure.

The inhuman face hiding in your neck draws back. Then a firm head soon enough gently butts against yours. The action jolts you out of your thoughts and you rapidly turn towards the heaviness leaning against you.

Crawled straight from the shadow of the woods, from the whispers of terrified stories, the creature before you still doesn’t seem real.

You think of Yuki and the moth’s nest board at the pizza shop. All the pictures depict the creature with haunting crimson eyes.

You wish you could have told Yuki the monster’s eyes aren’t red, but instead a piercing sky blue.

And instead of two eyes, the creature holds six beautiful eyes all over his face.

All six eyes of those eyes blink at you with the depth of a haunted lake shimmering within their gaze.

-.⊹˚₊⋆˙↟☾↟˙⋆₊˚⊹.-

“Why do you want to study insects?”

Discovering the cryptid could talk was honestly more surprising than discovering he was real.

Also, he had a name.

“Sa-to-ru.” He had told you, pronouncing its syllables as if your little human brain might not get it. It made you scowl. Yet the name itself sounded like something that fluttered out of the forest breeze.

Currently the moth creature, Satoru, sits happily on your apartment balcony under the dark cover of night. You have articles you need to read, lab reports to finish. But, you stay sitting on the floor beside him.

“My grandfather studied them.” You explain, giving the same answer you always do when this question is asked.

“He loved almost every type of bug there was.”

“Sounds like my type of human.” The moth amusedly chitters. “Love to meet him.”

“Honestly, he would’ve loved to meet you too.” You truthfully admit and almost grin thinking of how excited your grandpa would’ve been to see this creature.

“Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago.” You add simply.

“Oh.” The cryptid replies quietly. “I’m sorry.”

You politely thank him.

“Is he the one besides the moth?”

You’re surprised Satoru even noticed that.

The frame sits on your eclectic shelf filled with books and trinkets. There’s two pictures in that frame. One is a photo of your grandfather during his days when he moved out here to teach at the university you currently attend. The other photo is you and him both holding up big nets when you were a little weed of a thing looking so happy besides him.

Besides those photos is his favorite sketch.

“It’s a luna moth, right?” He’s right again. Though, you’re not surprise he recognized it.

“Yup, the lunar moth was his favorite.” You fondly agree.

Actias luna.

Your grandpa used it as his example of how beautiful and lovely moths could be.

“He’s a man of good taste.” The moth compliments and for some reason it tugs at your lips. You can almost hear your grandfather's voice warmly boasting in pride.

“I wanna show you something, little human.” The moth quickly changes topic and when you turn to him, you find him grinning.

Rows of dangerous sharpened fangs flash within his mouth. They are a visible warning to not trust this creature, but you do.

“After your class this week, I’ll take you somewhere.” Satoru urges.

“Are you going to eat me?” You ask a bit stunned.

Satoru laughs, a flickering chirping noise that bounces off your apartment balcony.

“Oh little human, if I did eat humans I would’ve done that already.”

You glare at him but sighing you agree to whatever he has in store for you.

On your last class of the week, there outside against the campus street light your white moth flutters excitedly.

You think about how dangerous it is that he sticks around campus, even in this form.

With a rapid flurry he flies around your face. You can’t help but snort at the tickling sensation.

“Yeah I’m here, let’s go.” You tease.

Under the twilight hazee, you follow the moth into the woods.

The setting sun casts a shadow over the stretching forest. The trees silently watch your hesitant trek as you follow the moth further into the thickness.

Eventually you’re in the heart of it. No noise greets you, not even the rustling of birds or the fleeing of other animals. It’s as if in this depth all life had stilled. No movement or sign of life encroaches into this space. You realize this might have been the most ridiculous idea, following this cryptid myth into the unknown.

Suddenly the moth stops in front of a large solid tree.

“This is what you wanted to show me?” You’re a bit confused. The insect flutters around you in a huffy flight then goes to spin around the tree.

Satoru himself now slides out from behind the tree in his humanoid form.

“It’s not just a tree.” His six eyes narrow at you annoyed. Your eyes roll exhausted with him already.

“Do you trust me?”

The question surprises you.

Hesitantly you nod, a quiet yes. Satoru then effortlessly scoops you into his arms as if you weigh nothing.

A wild squeak escapes you. His firm arms hold you in his grasp and your mind starts scrambling being this close to him. The fur of his body tickles your arms and the solid warmth of him curls around you.

Satoru’s chittering laugh bounces among the trees.

He then takes flight.

You swallow back a petrified screech threatening to escape and simply let the wind rush around you. A solid thud comes, a landing.

“Open your eyes, little human.” Satoru whispers excited.

You hadn’t realized you had closed them.

The nest before you is a cobwebbed cocoon. You had never seen one this big. The opening of it is carved out wide, a webbed open maw with secrets trying to draw you in.

“Go in, you can see more.” His wistful voice skitters out playful, so light it could get caught in the tree branches.

He’s eager to show you this.

Hesitantly you lean into the nest just to glance inside.

It’s actually rather cozy. Webs and branches twist in a delicate pattern to create a solid enclosing. Leaves scatter the inside floor that is rather large. You can even imagine his large form curled in here cat-like as he sleeps.

“So? What do you think?” He asks with an anticipated edge blooming in his voice. He’s showing you his home.

You remember when he first showed himself to you, even gave you his name.

The logical reasoning within you thought many times about studying this cryptid. There was even a fleeting moment you considered capturing him and returning him back to the lab.

Now you are here discovering his home. You find yourself wanting to unearth as much as you can of this incredibly infuriating but wonderfully interesting creature.

“It’s nice!” You earnestly admire the space. Yet, the truth whispers a harrowing fact.

The bigger the nest, the bigger the infection and danger.

So you instead turn to glance out to the forest around. You’re so high above in the canopy of the trees. Silence seems to settle thicker here among the sky and it mingles with the evening darkness.

The forest, even as tranquil as it appears, holds a sense of loneliness you can’t fully describe.

“Have you been here at this spot for long?”

He chirps a humming yes.

“The high placement keeps me safe and away from prying eyes.” Among the trees and leaves he is simply a shadow.

“Do people try to hunt you?” That grim thought arrives.

“A few try, but no one’s even come close.” A cocky pride brims in Satoru’s tone.

You understand why people would try and search for him. But to hunt him like some prized sport? So you have to ask why.

“Besides some humans believe killing me will solve and save them from all their disasters, a select few who want me for other purposes.” Satoru muses as his antennas twitch.

“What other purposes?” You glance back at the cryptid perched on the solid large branch beside you.

In the dark, all six eyes glimmer with an animalistic reflection, a haunting gleam and reminder of the creature's true nature before you.

All those months ago, these multiple eyes stared at you from the edge of the woods by your apartment and the campus like silent terrors. Now they watch you with intent safety right by your side.

“There’s an old legend…” Satoru answers. “It says my kind could bring someone back from the dead.”

The words spark a curious flame in you.

“Wait, really? Is it true?”

The moth being simply shrugs, an action so human you almost want to laugh.

“Some believe it. That’s enough to hunt my kind.”

So many questions cluster in your mind. You wonder more about his kind, about him. Yet there is no way to scoop all those questions out.

All you can do is gaze out at the scenery before you.

The trees pierce the darkness with their own spiked tendrils. The night sky blankets above you with twinkle stars, glimmering pockets of faint light so clear.

Yet, for some reason this again feels so lonely.

Even with the stretching comforting woods, you can’t shake the sensation of solitude slipping out.

“So why do you still stick around?” You suddenly ask not even understanding why yourself.

“What? Around you or here?” He asks.

“Both.”

A chirp of a sigh comes, heavy with an ancient weary.

“I’ve thought about leaving, migrating somewhere else, somewhere safer.” His voice drops gently, a small click in the wind.

“But…” His voice trails off even more delicate.

“Something just keeps…pulling me back here. Like I’m meant to be here. That I’ve been waiting for something.” You’ve never heard him this wistful and distant.

Then his response also has you curious.

“Do you have any idea what it is?” You cautiously and gently press.

“No idea.” His answer is rapidly too casual that you snort, shaking your head.

“And why am I still hanging around you? Who knows, maybe I just like to bug you.”

The pun isn’t lost especially on you and you groan annoyed even though a smile twitches at your lips.

Among the shade of stars and shadow of the forest, you sit with a creature of the darkness.

-.⊹˚₊⋆˙↟☾↟˙⋆₊˚⊹.-

The moth had first appeared at your window balcony dancing around the light like an ethereal wisp of a spirit. It happily flew around you and even spun around your entire apartment. You eventually had to shoo it out.

For a while, it was simply you and this strangely persistent moth.

After that, six eyes began appearing at night at the edge of the woods. Strange clicks like howls erupted in the air, haunting lingering sounds that rattled you.

That same week the moth showed up to your apartment flying in a bit of distress. The wings of it flapped slower and you wondered if it was dehydrated or dying.

As you had opened the sliding door to the balcony, that’s when you first witnessed it.

Like butterflies, moths go through a similar life cycle of emerging from a pupa or chrysalis. The new adult insects must crawl out of its old cocoon. The process is the blend of life and destruction.

You discovered the same applied to moth creatures.

The wings fell first then the twisting and emergence of a body from the small frame transformed to life a fully formed creature.

That first time the moth creature metamorphosed on the balcony you screamed so loud your neighbor across the hall came worriedly to check on you.

You had hoped it was all just a bad dream…

Now when you return home early, that monster rests in your bed instead of lurking under it like all the scary stories whisper where monsters lie.

Curled within the sheets, burrowed deep and taking up the entire frame, the creature slumbers. You barely can spot Satoru underneath all the pillows. A few of your shirts peek out from the swirl of blankets and you try not to linger on that.

The messy twisted bed cocoon however does make you think of the grand nest you saw.

A faint snore grumbles out into the room. The muffled animalistic noise should frighten you. Instead it echoes a soothing rumble as you go to make dinner.

In the meditative process of cutting, claws scratching against the tile floor startles you. Your heart skips at the sudden noise and your face whips to the entryway.

In this form, the moth cryptid has to hunch from touching the ceiling.

Satoru’s imposing frame fills up the entire space even with his thick wings folded to his body. The intricate beautiful antennas on top of his head flicker curious. Among the monstrous features, human-like qualities are visible in his arms, his legs, and the core of his body. Yet even in that familiarity, he is covered in sleek fur.

The sigh of this unbelievable being in this tiny kitchen almost has you laughing. Months ago this would have made you scream in terror. Now, his existence has settled into your life a strange blooming metamorphosis.

Then all six of Satoru’s clustered eyes go wide in terror.

His talons rattle rapidly on the floor as he scurries to your side.

“Your hand.” He comments sharply.

Glancing down, blood trickles over your hand and drips softly onto the cutting board. The cut thankfully isn’t deep, simply sliced the top of your finger.

“Guess that means I’m ordering out.” You mutter.

However your new companion immediately snags your hand.

Satoru’s grasp is hard, a terrified clutch as if he’s worried the cut will worsen. Flickering your gaze to him now, all six eyes focus at your hand with a startling petrified seriousness.

“I’m fine.” You reassure. “Let me just grab a band aid.”

The creature’s firm hold is unrelenting, refusing to budge even as you tug to release your hand.

“Hey-” you’re about ready to chide him and urge him to let go-

Until the moth cryptid leans down and with a long thin tongue begins licking at your wound.

Air gets knocked out of your lungs.

You mind can’t process the sight but the wet tickle of his tongue swiping along your skin grounds you. Satoru’s tongue swipes frantically and fast, a panic.

A dangerous heat runs up your arm and claws at your chest. This shouldn’t feel this intimate. Yet, it does.

You can’t even exclaim in surprise because in the small dimly lit kitchen, the moth has you under his spell.

Instead of the panic, there’s now an eased almost lazy and leisurely lap at your skin. The way his tongue slides across you is as if he’s trying to savor you. It slithers with a reverence between your knuckles, across your fingers, and your mind slowly melts.

Then with one last slow deliberate lick, Satoru draws back.

A daze has fallen over your foggy mind filled with smoke until you blink and notice your cut is gone.

Blood faintly lingers around his mouth, coloring the white fur of his face and it should scare you. And it does but the fear comes from how gorgeous he looks, and knowing it’s your blood…

The thin tongue immediately darts out to lick at the bloody traces.

The sight teeters into an overwhelming sensation and you forcibly break your focus to glance back at your healed hand.

“You have healing powers?” You croak out trying to process the sight.

“No.” For a creature that lives in the woods, he understands sarcasm rather well.

You glare at the creature who now tilts his face away. He avoids your eyes as he fiddles with the edge of your shirt.

“Moths can't heal.” You comment.

“I’m not like a typical moth now am I, little human?”

That damn nickname.

Annoying as Satoru is, you still can’t believe the sight of your healed fingers.

“Thank you for healing me.” You mutter still not able to process but are grateful all the same.

The moth creature hums a proud amused thing you quietly ignore.

Moths didn’t have healing properties. Hawk Moths could recreate antioxidants in their body to replenish themselves. You wonder if that’s how Satoru operates with his abilities.

Another part of you, one that sounds warmly like your grandfather’s voice, whispers that the creatures of this world simply hold mysteries we may not ever know.

You suppose the cryptid refusing to leave your side is the solidified truth of that.

Suddenly Satoru’s head softly plops against the top of yours.

With soft gentle rumbles he rubs his face into your hair.

“You know,” you begin softly as your fingers itch to run up against his fur. “You don’t have to keep sticking around here.”

“Hm?” Satoru hums out a bit dreamily.

“You can go back to where you’re from. You don’t need to keep staying with me out of obligation for freeing you or feeling like… you have a debt you want to repay.” You breathe the words out firmer.

The nuzzling against your head stops.

“Oh?” Satoru begins with a curious chirp. “That’s not why I stay.”

His confident reply stills you.

“Like I said maybe I just like bugging you.” He grins coy. “And besides, I stay because eating the fabric of your clothes is pretty nice free food and I like scaring away any humans that might come by.”

“You bring me closer to buying an electric fly swatter!” You screech and swat him away.

“Aw, don’t be like that!” He whines and flutters his wings almost taken back.

You ignore him and his annoying clicks vying for your attention while you order dinner for the night.

“I forget…Humans are so easily annoyed. You most especially.” He says bristly and it’s the last straw.

Healing your arm or not, this creature manages to wiggle under your skin in a way that no one else has. You blame the damn moth for how on edge you feel. Yet the truth lies in the strange unfathomable heat still brewing under your skin.

As you leave you get food you stare at him hard. You sling the balcony door open, a silent demand he leaves. His multiple eyes, shimmering sapphires, search your face.

“I see...” His reply is a brisk breeze.

Turning your back to him, you head to grab your keys. You don’t even see him leave and instead stomp to head out.

You even fully close your bedroom window. It’s the crack of an entrance you’ve recently been leaving open that allows him to flutter in when he’s a smaller moth.

Now as leave you’re thankful for the momentary space from the infuriating infestation.

Against the early night sky the pizzeria glows an electric beacon against the darkness. Clamoring chatter and an upbeat song greet you when you step inside. You’re not surprised it’s packed on a night like this.

Yuki yells a bright excited welcome at you from across the restaurant and it warms you.

Now leaning at the bar your attention can't help but find its way to the bulletin board by the entryway. Even with the annoyance and conflicting desire, seeing the arranged clutter about the local moth creature draws out a strange sinking feeling within you.

“You interested in the bug?”

A deep rumble of a voice drips out smooth and breaks your focus immediately.

Turning to the side, you discover you’re not alone at the bar.

The man is thick, solidly built and strikingly handsome. He seems older than you, with an aged weathered dignified presence about him. With only black hair and a scar across the corner of his lip, he sits looking bored at the counter with a toothpick in his mouth.

“It’s interesting.” You admit truthfully.

“Think the bug is real?” The man questions with the faintest hint of curiosity.

You shrug again. “Anything is possible I guess.”

“Indeed it is.” Now his voice holds an interested purr that sticks to your skin in an uncomfortable way.

Your eyes flicker back to him and you find his attention however is on the board.

“Some say it’s a demon.” He suddenly adds.

“I’ve heard.” You agree calmly.

“Whatever it is…it’s bad luck.” The mystery man says briskly.

You heard that as well.

“Some say it’s not.” For some reason, a small protective spike rises in you and you even think about Yuki calling it a hero.

“Yeah well, everyone can read an omen wrong I guess.” His words cast a dangerous thickness into the air that slithers up your skin.

“Besides, there’s an old legend I heard once.” he continues.

“It says…if a moth flies into your home it means someone is going to die.”

Dread crashes into your body and consumes you quickly. You’ve never heard that saying before and it bubbles an awful bile in your stomach making you feel sick.

“That’s awful.” You can’t help but answer back sharply it even surprises you.

You think of your grandfather, his belief moths were angels, and how that guided you to where you are now.

And you can’t help but think of the moth in question.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to upset you.” He leans back into his seat to stare at you.

No response for him seems to come to mind. If anything, a strange chill trickles down your spine as if you’re staring down a creature surveying and waiting to strike.

Yuki calls out your name and breaks your focus.

“Wish I could stay and chat but we’re a bit busy tonight!” She winks at you and now you grin, eased at her presence.

You wish her a good night and begin gathering your order to leave.

“Be careful out there.” The stranger mutters. Your eyes flicker to him. His attention is back on the slice of pizza before him.

“Don’t know what might be out there trying to fly into your house this time of night.”

His words create a sticky cobweb of emotions in you. You simply take your food and rush out.

Driving back to the apartment you glance at your hand fully healed and still lingering with the phantom sensation of the moth’s tongue licking at your skin.

You think of how effortlessly this strange creature carved a space in your life.

Now a sense of danger prickles against your skin, like the way the air tightens electric before a storm.

When you arrive home, a silent apartment greets you. The emptiness clouds your space and the walls creep in close and cold.

A piece of you expected him to return, maybe even hoped. But trying to sort through those emotions again bubbles a strange ache in your chest.

Before you go to bed you slightly open your bedroom window and settle under the covers. Closing your eyes, you accept the silence and solitude lingering in your room and heart.

Sleep trickles in faintly. You fade in and out of being awake.

Then your bed shifts.

A heaviness immediately curls against you. The softest brush of moth wings graze your arm. Soft chirps, faint and delicate, float into the room.

Satoru’s face burrows against the top of your head, a silent apology.

This is new.

He’s never done this before. He’s never slept on your bed with you. But your heart races too fast in your chest and your mind still feels so clouded from this night that you can’t even react.

Or, you don’t want to react.

This is new, yes. But a wild desperation inside of you sinks its claws into this new proximity. You simply keep your eyes closed and shift to settle deeper into the bed, deeper into his warmth.

The smell of the brisk forest, clear and earthy, lulls you to sleep.

Waking up the next morning, you’re alone.

A part of you wonders if you dreamed his return.

Yet on your nightstand rests a sweet plucked wildflower that wasn't there before. It greets you a bright good morning.

-.⊹˚₊⋆˙↟☾↟˙⋆₊˚⊹.-

Your open apartment balcony door brings in a warm evening breeze. A favorite series of yours plays on the television as you grab another mouthful of popcorn.

“Can I have some?” Satoru whimpers.

“No.” You answer through the mouth of popcorn.

“So mean! Why are you so cruel to me, little human!?” He pouts and you simply ignore him.

Even with the moth creature crouching on the floor his body still looks frightfully full and large. His fur is fluffed out more and he almost looks adorable like this simply sitting beside you.

His presence should create a distorted sense of reality. Yet no sense of panic rises within you. If anything, only more curiosity has started gnawing in you.

What kind of moth species did he originate from? Where was he even originally from? Did he have a family?

“What’s your favorite human activity to do?” It seems you were not the only one curious.

Recently Satoru has begun pestering you with a plethora of questions from what foods did you like the most to these more strange human specific ones.

“Don’t know, I have a lot.” You answer truthfully.

You rationalize all the questions you have and that he even asks are mutual inquisitive curiosity about the other’s species, a chance to learn.

Except, for you, the source of your curiosity masquerades as a yearning you don’t want to hunt out yet.

“Humans are terrified of the oddest things.”

Satoru’s comment breaks your thoughts.

You turn towards the creature who stares at the television with all six eyes.

The series you had put on had been an old favorite of yours, supernatural and fantasy based. The main heroes in this episode were being terrorized by monsters that came alive from a children’s book of old fairy tales.

“Well this series is older so the effects and monster makeup isn’t all that impressive.”

“Not that.” The moth corrects you quickly. “I mean that creature isn’t even scary.”

You want to make a comment about how of course a creature that crawled from the woods and haunts a town would not find this terrifying.

“What are you afraid of?” Again the moth humanoid questions.

You shrug. “A lot of things.”

“You don’t need to be afraid of anything.” He chirps so matter of factly it surprises you. “Especially because I’m here now.”

You can’t help but roll your eyes at his cocky boast. Yet your heart flips at the protective claim.

“But…I do think humans may be the scariest creatures of all.” Satoru notes with a wistful distance in his voice.

You wonder if he’s trying to tease you or even be a bit poetically pessimistic.

“I agree.” You nod reaching for popcorn. “Humans can sometimes be scary.”

In all the beauty that comes with being human, you know there is a darkness that comes with the territory. The lovely prickle of rain starting to fall soothes you as the episode jumps to the next.

It’s one of your favorites. The main character gains a secret wish stone that transforms into her love interest because she desires and wishes for him most of all.

You rise to the kitchen to grab a drink.

“What do you wish for most, little human?”

His words stop you frozen. They come out so simple, a curious purr almost.

Your mind tries to reach towards something noble and grand like to wish for world peace or wish for climate change to end. You think of wishing for a better car, better apartment, to get rid of your money problems.

Yet it all cultivates into a simple easy response.

“Love, I guess.” It’s a simplified answer.

“That?” Even Satoru sounds dubious.

“Yeah…love. If you have love, then everything else sort of just falls into place.” With love at the cornerstone, everything can build from there.

A chittering like sigh dances into the room.

“Boring. At least say something interesting like an endless supply of sugar or something like that.”

You can’t help but snort at such a silly answer.

“Is that you’d wish for then?” You now ask the creature.

“Mhm…maybe. Or maybe something extra special your little human mind couldn’t comprehend.” Such a coy response only makes you roll your eyes.

But for some reason, that answer feels heavy like it needs to be unearthed. You don’t push the answer, or him.

As you clean up around the kitchen, you glance back to the living room. There Satoru rapidly consumes all your popcorn as fast as he can.

“You freaking pest!” You screech annoyed and he simply blinks his six blue marble eyes at you as if he did nothing wrong.

“I’m not a pest.” He replies innocently and it annoys you even more.

“You’re literally a moth! What is more pest-like than that?!”

Satoru’s monstrous face flickers. It faintly crumbles until his eyes hollow out a cold downcast.

“Right there? You just sounded just like every other human.” His words, low, raw and sharp, rip through you.

He doesn’t say it but you hear the undercurrent.

I thought you were better than that.

A festering ache swells in your chest as the weight of his words drag you under.

Quietly you start making two bowls of popcorn now. You grab the chocolate syrup. Satoru had a fierce sweet tooth. It took you by surprise when your gas station candy treat went missing and his sticky fur said enough.

So you drizzle plenty of chocolate over the salty snack then you quietly speak.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

A moment of silence fills the space.

“It’s alright little human... Sometimes I forget your little human brain makes so many mistakes like that. I can’t get too mad.” He chirps so bored.

You’re tempted now to throw away the chocolate popcorn.

Thankfully the air seems to lighten as you head back to the living room two popcorn bowls in hand.

There Satoru’s multitude of eyes are entirely glued to the television now. The familiar dialogue comes and you whip your attention to the screen as well.

The big realization between the main heroine and her love interest unfolds as he realizes what her wish manifested as.

The moment is heated, drenched in undeniable chemistry. The magnetic pull even has you entrapped. Then the love interest without hesitation pulls the heroine and kisses her with a fierce released love.

Now it feels so intimate, too raw to watch. You turn away under the guise of grabbing more popcorn.

“Is that how humans show affection?” Satoru’s voice is a curious twinkle of a chirp.

“Yup,” you weakly agree while you check your phone hoping to seem disinterested.

“Seems aggressive.” For some reason his disgusted comment makes you snort.

“Uh, it depends. Kissing is…” there’s much you can say on the manner but you simply shrug.

“It’s nice.” A simple but true answer.

“What’s it feel like?” The question drips with an inquisitive click but for some reason it slithers dangerously under your skin.

“Uh…again, it depends. There’s different types of kisses for different situations and the emotions can change with them.” You explain.

“Sounds complicated.” Satoru muses and you snicker relaxed with the episode ending.

“I thought you knew all about human interactions?” You now ask, curious yourself.

“Not in that way.” That’s fair.

“Or really…I’ve just never been interested in seeing humans interacting in that way.” He adds rather low.

“Until recently.” That addition he gives cuts across you as if it’s covered with sharp glass edges.

“Guess this series does that, even to moth creatures.” You lightly try diffusing whatever shift starts to swirl in the room and drag you into its current.

Satoru stays quiet, curled into himself and his wings. Very faintly his antennas droop, enough that you notice it.

Rain now steadily prattles on peacefully mixing with the episode playing. Yet in the silence your skin crawls with something unspoken you can’t evade.

You close your eyes hoping to avoid any more questions and pretend you’ve fallen asleep. Naturally, a nap overtakes you and you jolt awake when a text message brightly wakes you up.

“So what episode are we on?” You sleepily ask, noticing the cryptid hasn’t left. Evening would be arriving soon, the time Satoru normally slipped back into the woods.

“A weird one.” He mutters and now curiosity flickers in you over which episode it is.

Your eyes widen.

Of course it would be this one.

The heroine’s best friend falls in love with a monster living in a cave. It’s another one of your favorites. Now, the obvious reality sinks its fangs into your throat.

“This is the most ridiculous one by far.” Satoru scoffs. “No human would actually love a monster like this.”

His words deflate something in you. All the nerves and prickling emotions scatter.

“I don’t know.” You offer back lightly. “Maybe there’s something extra human to love a monster.”

All six eyes rapidly blink towards you. Their glassy yet sharp attention focuses so intently and it’s unnerving.

“You don’t mean that.” He snips and it distorts his voice more than normal.

You shrug.

“What do you mean by that?” He annoyingly asks, persistent.

What you mean is sometimes humanity can see through what society deems as monstrous and instead love the core of what a being is.

“I mean, it’s like what the episode says,” you nudge towards the television.

“If love is fanged even between humans, why can’t a monster find that same love?” You quote it vaguely but enough to capture the core.

The same goes for humans you explain.

“Cause like what we said earlier, humans are a bit scary from time to time right? A little bit monstrous ourselves?”

So why not settle with a love fanged and coated in the shadows.

The episode takes a shift when the heroine’s best friend greedily kisses the bat-like creature. An electric desire jolts across your spine as it dries your throat.

“I never knew humans could…desire something like this.” Satoru’s eyes now unabashedly stare at the television with a religious focus almost afraid to look away.

“Some do.” You try sounding casual, but your voice croaks.

A heavy fog clouds your mind. Before he can ask or comment anything else you brightly announce you’re going to take a shower. You scurry to the bathroom without even once glancing at the moth monster.

It’s a pathetic excuse but it’s early evening now. This decision isn’t entirely out of the blue. You just need to cool down and take yourself away from the moment.

However, under the weight of the water, under the heat of the steam, you try washing away the festering arousal seeping into your veins.

The episode flashes in your mind. Except this time you picture yourself in the arms of the towering moth creature.

This danger has been brewing well beneath the surface and now slips past its shackles.

It rips you open raw and wild, unrelenting in a way that a slick heat already pools between your legs. You should not, by all rational means, be attracted much less so attached to this monster. Yet, you are.

You remember how easily he swept you into his arms, how solid and built his frame is. He is stunning. You can’t even deny that.

You even think about how comforting a presence he was in your bed. Those thoughts melt and mutate dangerously.

Now, you imagine how warm and solid he would feel against you, between your legs. What he looks like drunk on pleasure-

Exhaling shakily, you turn the shower as cold as you can.

When you return to the living room after the shower, the sliding door is still wide open. Rain continues to twinkle its beautiful song into the living room, a living room now very vacant.

No moth creature is in sight and the bowl of chocolate drizzled popcorn remains untouched.

-.⊹˚₊⋆˙↟☾↟˙⋆₊˚⊹.-

In the research lab you grade quizzes from the class you work assisting with. This time during the week the lab is thankfully empty and it gives you time

to catch up on your articles and work.

A surprise knock however disrupts that peace.

Your advisor walks in with a warm grin. Besides her is the man from the bar.

A confused anxiousness seizes your heart and you try keeping your face composed.

You politely smile as your advisor calls your name.

“This is Toji Fushiguro. He’s an agent from the local conservation group trying to investigate where our dear little moth friend went.” Your advisor explains polite and casual.

Your heart sinks rapidly.

The unknown moth had been in a large observation box the first time you saw it.

It had been a new and recent find. Being a first year in the program, you simply were allowed to watch and observe the new species.

Bigger than a typical silk moth, the unidentified moth had beautiful intricate designs on its wings you’d never seen. The little creature was also incredibly feisty. On multiple occasions it flew into the side of the box as if trying to push its way out.

Now that glass enclosure sits empty.

“Do you think it would be alright if he asks you a few questions?”

You happily agree hoping that cooperating will divert any attention from yourself.

With a grin your advisor leaves the room to give you and Fushiguro space. Now alone with the man from the bar, he sleepy grins a coy amused thing.

“So, we meet again.” That deep voice sulks out with a lure that feels poisonous and sticky.

“We do.” You nod politely.

“Shouldn’t be surprised you’re a bug fan.” He scratches at his jaw and for some reason his casual attitude towards you twists your stomach.

You want to make a witty comeback but nothing comes to mind. Instead you stare down this mysterious man.

“What makes a cutie like you get into bugs huh?” He asks casually.

“My grandfather.” You answer truthful and curt.

“Hm, that’s nice.” Fushiguro nods understandingly.

His eyes begin scanning the lab with that same boredom he wore at the restaurant bar.

“So when did ya let the moth escape?” His relaxed question makes you choke.

“Excuse me?!” You snap. “I didn’t let the moth out.”

Except you had.

The first night you stayed late at the lab you accidentally forgot to close the windows.

In that mishap, the moth escaped. You were thankful another class used the lab after you and disrupted the possibility of anything being pinned to you.

The department of course was a bit disheartened. However, everyone warmly joked about half of the job of being an entomologist is chasing after things way too fast to catch.

That happened months ago.

“I’m going to be honest with you.” Toji Fushiguro leans against the table with a brazen ease. “I’m here looking for that thing cause it’s dangerous.”

For some reason, you don’t fully believe him.

“Remember what I told you about moths? They’re bad luck.” His stare is unwavering and cold.

“That’s arguable.” You surprisingly fire back.

Toji Fushiguro shrugs. He slides his hands into his jogger pant’s pockets.

“If that’s all you wanted to discuss, then I need to ask you to please leave. I have work to do.” You answer sharp and composed.

He simply shrugs again and pushes himself off the table he leans against.

Without another word Toji Fushiguro simply heads to the door. Before he leaves the man stops.

“That bad luck I told you about? S’gonna catch up to you soon, pretty. Just want to give you a warning.”

It sounds like a threat instead of a warning.

At his words a venomous bile pools in your mouth and you almost want to snarl at this man. He leaves with just a casual wave of his hand and not another word.

The rest of the time in the lab you can’t focus on anything. You simply float in this strange inertia.

When you leave, no moth flutters outside to greet you.

A new wave of terror wiggles through your stomach.

Your apartment is also deadly silent. Worry prickles all over your body as you slide open the balcony door. You even peer out into the woods hoping to find six gleaming eyes staring out.

Yet only the darkness, eternal and empty, stares back an ancient unforgiving warning.

So try pushing aside this rattling worried energy. You try to make dinner, even put on a favorite movie for background noise.

Your mind however can’t leave the thought of Toji Fushiguro. Mainly, you worry about the absence of your moth. Fear eats away at you as if an actual creature has crawled inside.

And maybe he has.

You miss him. You miss Satoru. You’re worried about him.

He’s become a staple in your life, a strange fixture pestering you. You can’t imagine a day without his presence now.

Then a realization trickles in a slow and sticky truth.

He is a creature of the woods, a myth of the darkness. Maybe he never meant to be yours.

Now here you are. A selfish human simply trying to keep him all to yourself.

A sudden clash of something solid rams into the balcony rail. You can’t help but shriek.

Thee moth creature rapidly shoves his way into your living room. He crawls inside feral like something out of a horror movie.

“Satoru!” You cry out his name and rush towards him.

Satoru’s piercing sky eyes, all six of them, are wide and frantic. His gaze darts around the room. Then he begins sniffing around the space.

“Someone’s been in here.” Satoru’s voice drops, a waterlogged frantic gurgle.

“Wait what?” You ask terrified. “How do you know?

You start glancing around the room now and follow Satoru as he continues rapidly smelling the space. There are no signs of someone breaking in and entering. Nothing even seems out of place or stolen.

“I smell something new. It’s not either one of our scents.” Satoru’s voice drips with a sharp dread and it chokes you.

“What does that mean?” You croak trying not to get caught up in the terror and panic, but their current is so strong.

Suddenly Satoru whips around.

There in the hallway of your apartment he completely consumes the entire space with his imposing frame. The darkness of the hallway and dim lighting casts a grim shadow over him. His wide frantic eyes are animalistic, more than you’ve ever seen.

His shoulders heave with rapid breaths. In a blink Satoru suddenly crams his body against yours.

This giant of a monster curls down to crouch into you. His face begins rubbing against yours. Soft growl like purring rumbles into the air.

You can’t help but whimper his name as fear has you in its maw.

What’s going to happen? What could you do?

You try to voice these questions, these worries, but the words get tangled in your throat.

“Nothing will harm you.” Satoru snaps deadly as the edge of his tone wavers into a frayed growl.

Those strange humming clips and chirps he makes float into the air while he continues comforting you.

Clawed hands curl into your back with a noticeable pressure. There’s a hint of danger in his tight grasp. But then you realize you’re also clutching onto him with an iron hold.

Frustratedly you try blinking away tears managing to stubbornly spill down your cheeks.

Satoru, who still rubs his monstrous face against yours, immediately notices your tears.

A distressing chattering noise comes and you’re readying to reassure him you’re fine.

His tongue instead moves to lick at your tears.

The action stills you immediately. The slick appendage rapidly slithers across your face trying to quickly wipe away your tears.

You think about when he healed your hand, when his tongue wiggled across your skin to lap at your blood. Now here he is again, consuming you, trying to heal and comfort you.

His tongue however slides down across your cheeks tasting the salt of your skin. It immediately sparks to life an intoxicating heat that drowns out the panic.

A part of you wonders about the danger swirling around him and how there might be a possibility that doom is seeping into you.

This might be your doom, to adore a creature composed of myth and nightmare.

You blink and a few lingering tears rapidly run down your cheek straight to the corner of your lip.

Satoru, fast as ever, moves to lick them up. In the process his tongue slithers close to your lips, running across the edge of them.

You inhale sharply and your eyes can’t help but snap open wide. You’re breathing heavily. The way Satoru’s large shoulders begin heaving, so is he.

Suddenly he breathes out your name and it gets tangled in your heart.

“Mine.” Then his voice, animalistic and monstrous, cracks the air with a low possessive growl.

His tongue begins running across your lips without hesitation. The wet wiggling intense sensation has your eyes closing in absolute bliss. You sigh and want to open your mouth to let his tongue slip inside.

“You’re mine.” He snarls out feral and wild. Those strange clicks of his come faster and soon enough his claws draw you closer.

Suddenly Satoru inhales deeply against your skin.

Then he groans a terrible wonderful noise that makes your knees buckle.

“Oh you smell so good.” He slurs. He continues to smell every inch of your skin, trying to map and memorize your scent.

A whimper escapes you and Satoru rumbles out a comforting click.

He begins dragging his down your body with a focused intent.

“Stronger, it’s getting stronger.” He mutters against your clothes.

“Satoru-” you say his name a bit worried.

The moth creature shoves his face unabashedly against your clothed sex. He groans loud, almost debauched and all thoughts float out of you. His antennas rapidly twitch.

“Oh it’s here.” Satoru mumbles in awe, possessed, as if he’s found a deity. “You smell so good here.”

He growls frustrated as he tries burrowing his face closer and closer to your dripping arousal.

You croak out his name waterlogged.

Satoru snaps to look up at you from his knees. All six eyes are glossy and frantic.

“Please? Please, my little human, can I have more?” He begs.

That’s when you notice his mouth is wet drenched with saliva. He’s drooling at just the thought of you, drunk on your smell.

All you can do is nod, caught in the same intoxication desire.

Effortlessly he claws apart your pants at the seam and dives in. You can’t even chide him for that.

Your mind goes blank, consumed by pleasure and lost in its woods. As you cry out while his thin tongue runs up and down every inch of you, you realize Satoru is right.

You are his. And maybe he is yours.

Satoru arrived in your life and never left. He instead stayed in the safety of your light with you under the cover of his wings.

-.⊹˚₊⋆˙↟☾↟˙⋆₊˚⊹.-

“Don’t go to class today.” The moth mumbles.

Satoru has been glued to your side since the discovery of your intruder last week. He barely leaves the apartment and when he does it’s only because you need to leave. Currently he sits on the bedroom floor with wide sleep deprived eyes.

The antennas on top of his head flicker quickly. He’s tried been pushing himself to stand guard even during the day.

“I’ll be fine, it’s just a lecture.” You reassure him.

“Besides, you should take this time to sleep. You need to rest.”

“I’ll be fine.” He mirrors your words back to you.

Your monster’s six eyes hold a daze focused like he’s trying to be aware of everything all at once. Slowly and delicately you let your hand run against his soft face.

The delicate fur, now a tangible dream under your fingertips, is so sulky. The touch jolts the creature into awareness.

Satoru’s eyes all flutter you and instantly his face melts against your hand.

“Don’t go.” He whispers a static like mumble.

“I’ll be okay.” You even lean down to kiss the side of his face.

“Fine, then I’m going.” He snaps a firm unwavering decision and you can’t argue with him.

As you walk to the lecture hall building he flutters so swiftly and dizzying in his normal moth form. He even flies all around your face, another angry urging for you to not go.

You gently hold out your hand. Slowly the moth flutters to land on top of your hand.

He is gorgeous in every form including this one. Shimmering wide eyes, large intricate wings, all composed in this sweet creature furiously crawling over your hand.

“I know you’re still upset, but I’ll be fine.” You softly reassure him for the hundreth time.

He stops and stares at you. Gently you run a finger across his fuzzy little head careful to not touch his antennas.

He flies from your hand and lands immediately on the corner of your lips.

A goodbye kiss.

Your lips twitch amused and deeply fond.

“I’ll see you when class is over.” With that you head to class.

Walking into the classroom, one of your peers excitedly speaks to everyone present in the room.

“Did you guys hear?! Someone just saw the mothman thing on campus a few minutes ago?!”

Terror unfolds in you and your heart collapses among its cage. He must have transformed in the woods, or in flight.

“Really? Are you sure?” A skeptic quickly emerges and you cling to their words.

“No I swear! Everyone’s been talking about it online! So many people saw it fly into the trees by the woods!”

You haven’t been this terrified since the contained moth was missing or since you first saw six reflective eyes staring at you from the dark.

Chatter breaks out immediately with so many discussions. Some of your classmates show their disbelief while others eagerly ask for more information.

You try to keep your composure as you slide into your seat.

“Hey,” someone says your name. Your friend that sits next to you stares at you with a scrunched up face of concern.

“You okay? You look kinda sick.” She frowns.

You wearily smile and use the excuse that you have been under the weather. A cold chill even runs up your spine.

“Then head back home,” she comforts you with understanding eyes. “I’ll send you the notes from today and let you know if you miss anything.”

Grateful you wearily thank her and she nods warm, reassuring, wishing you rest. As you turn to head out you catch the last bit of conversation bubbling along with your classmates.

“Well…if someone saw the moth thing, doesn’t that mean something bad is gonna happen soon?”

“Yeah that’s what the legend says.” Someone grimly agrees.

Scrambling, you shove yourself out of the classroom before you hear anything else.

Now out of the room you shakily exhale trying to calm yourself down.

At this time in the evening the hallways are deathly silent, harrowingly so. Unlike the lab building, so open and light with its many windows and expanded hallways, the lecture hall building’s tight corridors create a haunting clustered stillness.

That stillness seems to be creeping in more and more.

As you walk towards the elevator, sudden footsteps begin stomping behind you.

They are solid and firm, staying a decent pace away from you. The anxiousness from these past few days create an unbearable itch that crawls over your skin.

So you turn around.

And the hallway is dead empty.

No one walks behind you.

Fear tastes icy and rotten as it infects your body. Instantly you whip around to rush to the elevator.

You clash straight into someone.

The collision knocks you out of your thoughts and you quickly blink into focus.

A rush of apologizes stammer out of you.

“Hey, it’s okay.” The man you ran into warmly reassures you.

You finally get a good look at him. He’s handsome with a strong jaw and a faint mustache. He looks official in his suit. The smell of cigarettes surround you.

“Actually, I was wondering if you could help point me in the direction of the main office.” The man smiles warmly.

This had to be the source of the footsteps you heard. The dread you have slowly simmers at the sight of him.

“Oh course.” You grin weakly at the man, thankful your fear is calming down. “You have to go down to the other end of this hallway-”

A sudden hand comes up from behind you.

It slaps over your mouth with a painful grip. Then something sharp pierces your neck.

The scream from your throat fades along with your focus.

The last thought flashing through your mind before you fade into darkness is that Satoru was right.

You shouldn’t have gone to class.

-.⊹˚₊⋆˙↟☾↟˙⋆₊˚⊹.-

The jostling of your body wakes you up.

Groggily you blink into focus. You first notice it’s late at night. Next, you’re laid across the back seat of a car and your hands are tied.

In the front seats sit the man you ran into at the school and Toji Fushiguro. You go to scream but a tightly wrapped cloth blocks your mouth.

“You’re awake.” Toji drawls out slowly and surprised.

You screech at him through the material.

“Yeah, I knew you were with the moth this entire time.” He grins at you through the rear window.

You continue to scream as best as you can, sounding feral and panicked as tears fill your eyes.

“Guess living with a monster makes you sound this wild.” Toji Fushiguro’s accomplice mutters without even glancing once at you.

He begins typing away on his phone.

“We got more buyers willing to pay if we bring the moth in alive.” The man comments.

Everything clicks.

They were after Satoru. And you’re the bait.

Maybe Fushiguro’s accomplice is right. Maybe living with a monster has leaked into you because the noise you make doesn’t sound human.

Your scream, still stifled, carries so many emotions. Your pain, terror, anger and frustration, all of it courses through your veins and rips out in waves.

“Hey.” Toji Fushiguro glances back at you from the rear mirror. “Keep it down. I don’t wanna get too aggressive, but I will.”

He casually pulls out a gun and waves it around.

The horrifying casual threat causes your eyes to go wide and now all the fight you had trickles out.

“Watch it!” Suddenly the man in the driver's seat screams out.

Your eyes flicker forward.

Against the darkness, illuminated by the car’s headlights, a looking figure stands in the middle of the road.

Six eyes stare out from the darkness a brilliant terrifying electric blue. Delicate wide moth wings flare out and break against the night.

Through the fabric you scream out his name, except it gets drowned out by the revving of the engine.

Toji speeds up with full intent to hit the creature.

“What are you doing?!” The other man cries out.

You even scream in panic. Your moth however flies up, missing the impact.

He’s gone from sight.

A solid clang lands on the roof.

A sharp stab pierces the top of the car with a snap. The screeching of metal being ripped away follows fast. The eyes of the monster stare into the car with a disastrous terror.

Satoru smiles wild and gleeful at the men, a predator that's captured its prey.

Then…Everything happens in a blink.

The car swerves. The speed makes you feel as if you are flying. The colliding noise of scraping metal and then a solid impact. Everything becomes distorted as if you are in a snow globe spinning and trying to focus on a dizzying fuzzy world.

An unholy monstrous scream rips into the air. It’s all you hear as you fade in and out of consciousness.

You blink and suddenly twigs from the forest floor press against your body. A sharp object pierces your side. Every inch of you screams in pain while also a numbing sensation starts creeping in.

An inhuman roar screeches out and your eyes snap open.

Off to the side along the trees you see the faint edge of Satoru within the darkness. Faintly you hear a wet ripping sound. It’s visceral, like a vulture digging into a macabre carnage.

You watch his clawed hands viscously dig into whatever he stands over. You try gathering your voice trying to say something, anything.

Then six electric eyes snap up to you from the dark forest. He is the terror of the woods, a feral monster interrupted from its hunt.

Your vision however goes blurry and it gets harder staying awake.

A wreck howl of your name breaks into the air.

Tender clawed hands scoop up from the ground. You’re cradled against him gently and tight. The fabric in your mouth gets ripped away and now the metallic taste of blood fills your mouth fast.

You wheeze out Satoru’s name. There’s so much you want to say. But you’re getting so tired.

“Stay awake!” He snarls desperately sensing your exhaustion.

Nothing feels real. Even staring up at your creature, his six eyes seem to become twelve, like clusters of galaxies carved out in the night sky.

But you’re fading. You know and he knows it.

Breathing hurts and now a cool chill runs across your body from the inside.

Your grandfather's words about moths being angels float into your mind.

You recall how terrifying angels are sometimes described. Some of them are composed of wheels of fire, with many wings.

Yours has many eyes.

You’re grateful Satoru is here with you at the end. You’re grateful this angel found you.

Water droplets plop onto your face and you wonder if it’s raining.

Satoru screams your name with absolute anguish. A darkness crawls over your eyes. Soft and peacefully, you fall into its waiting arms.

-.⊹˚₊⋆˙↟☾↟˙⋆₊˚⊹.-

A soft steady beeping pulls you out from the darkness.

Wearily you open your eyes. But the bright light of wherever you are immediately has you shutting your eyes tight.

A cold hand touches your arm.

The touch jolts you awake. In a panic your eyes immediately snap open and your body shoots up only to find yourself tangled.

Tubes run from out of your arms. One tube even rests under your nose. The beeping noise you faintly recognize is a heart monitor and realization hits that you’re in a hospital.

Then when you turn to the side, a man you don’t know sits beside you.

You have never seen a man as gorgeous as him. Striking cloud white hair, a chiseled jawline, broad shoulders and then…

The brightest blue eyes, clear as a summer sky, stare at you so frantic and hesitant.

The man says your name, his tone faintly pleading.

For some reason his voice sounds vaguely familiar. But that thought is put on hold when the door to your room opens and a nurse walks in.

“Oh thank goodness you’re awake!” She sighs genuinely warm to see you and even seems a bit surprised.

What happened? You were dying. You were sure of it.

“Do you remember anything that happened?” The nurse asks gently as she checks your vitals.

“I…” your voice wavers as the memory clips at you, terrifying and heartbreaking.

“It’s okay if you don’t.” The nurse says comfortingly. “It’s common for accident victims to have a foggy memory. Plus after the one you were in it’s understandable.”

Weakly you question about what happened, how you got here.

With soft eyes the nurse explains it all.

You were the only survivor of the car crash. A part of you vividly remembers Toji Fushiguro and the man with him. A part of you dark and hollow gleams grateful they are no longer here.

You however didn’t walk away unscathed. You have a few broken ribs, a very bad concussion and light internal bleeding being monitored.

“We even found damage near your heart that could’ve been deadly-”

Yet, you were alive.

“And….” The nurse’s eyes twinkle warm and adoring as they flicker to the man behind you.

“This man found you and brought you in. Came into the hospital with you in his arms like some kind of bloody guardian angel.”

You whip your attention back to him as well. The man’s blue eyes stay so intently focused on you.

They remind you so much of the pairs of six eyes that watched you with the same unwavering gaze.

Then the nurse’s words click.

An angel.

No. This couldn’t be…

The idea so wild and unbelievable barrels into you fast. It knocks you breathless that you can’t help but cough out.

Everyone instantly scrambles to grab you something to drink. It’s your mystery man who hands you a cold water first and you guzzle it down with a frantic speed.

“I’ll let you get some rest. Please hit the call button if you need anything.” The nurse squeezes your shoulder and you thank her with a weak cough.

Now in the quiet safety of the hospital room, your attention snaps to the man still intently staring at you with glossy blue lake eyes.

You take the jump. It might be the most far stretched idea and you can blame the concussion but -

You whisper out Satoru’s name.

The white haired man nods fast and a sob escapes you.

It’s him.

Through tear soaked questions you ask him how.

“Remember that legend I once told you? About us being able to bring someone back from the dead?”

His voice is now clear, so distinctly him even in this form you can’t miss it now.

His words are a chilling breeze.

“I died.” You whisper the cold realization.

And he brought you back.

“But you…what happened?” Your eyes so clouded with tears scan his very beautiful and human face.

The Satoru before you is so familiar yet so different. The deep inhale he gives moves his shoulders. You’ve seen it before when his wings moved with the same exhausted exhale. Instead now a weary weight, a very human one, colors his stunning features.

But a sudden eased smile tugs at his lips and the sight is stunning.

“We’re allowed to bring someone back…it’s just at a little cost.” His voice flutters out light and his words get trapped in your throat.

You can’t fight the tears. They come in waves and your shoulders shake as you cry.

“Wait,” Satoru rapidly panics as he slides closer to you. “What’s wrong?!”

He gave up everything. His form, his livelihood, his essence as a creature of the myth, he gave it all for you.

That solid truth rips so much sadness and guilt through you all you can do is angrily cry, frustrated.

“Why are you crying?” He asks concerned and a bit confused.

“Because,” you hiccup. “Because I did this to you.”

You would carry this guilt for the rest of your life.

“What? Don’t like the way I look? I thought I was pretty handsome in this form, yeah?” He lightly teases to perk you up.

You give him a look of disbelief wondering if you should call the nurse to escort this headache away from you.

“Okay okay,” he says, thankfully understanding your heartache.

Gently Satoru’s hand moves to rest against you on top of the itchy hospital blanket. Fondly he runs his hand over your leg. You watch as his eyes follow the path of his hand like he’s trying to solidify your presence beside him. A sadness shimmers within his blue pools.

“If anyone’s to blame…it’s me. I did this to you.”

Quickly, through a teary blubbering mess you reassure Satoru he did nothing wrong. His hand softly squeezes your knee.

“Do you remember when we were watching that weird show and you asked me what I’d wish for? What I wanted more than anything?”

Suddenly Satoru speaks firmer, eyes still not facing you.

“I wished I could be with you. I wanted to live a full life by your side.” His answer is low, but so beautifully clear it’s like dawn breaking over the forest.

Those endless blue eyes turn to you.

Gingerly Satoru raises his hand. He runs his fingers against your face with a tender touch, a delicate brush like that of a moth’s wing.

“Never feel guilty about what happened. I would make this decision over and over again. I don’t regret it and never will.” He says firm, absolute and devoted.

Tears return again but this time for another reason, one so beautifully overwhelming it consumes you.

Satoru gently draws you into his arms to hold you steady against his sturdy chest.

“Can't get rid of me now, little human.” He teases but the faintest edge of emotion cracks his voice.

A laugh escapes you among the tears.

“You’re a little human now too, bug boy.” You joke as the new nickname comes so easily to you.

“There’s nothing little about me, especially in this form.” He deeply purrs.

You’re about to snap at him for being crude until he shrieks.

“And bug boy?! You never even called me that before! If anyone is the bug freak it’s you!”

You laugh, truly laugh, and a warm buoyancy floats within your entire body. He joins in alongside you. His laugh is such a wild and free noise you want to keep it forever.

“This being a human thing,” he suddenly mutters against the top of your head. “Might take me a little while to get used to it.”

“It’s okay,” you whisper back, fully resting against him. “We’re all still trying to figure it out too.”

Satoru’s hand begins rubbing against your back effortlessly, so human and natural.

“You already seem to be doing a good job.” You mumble feeling sleepy again.

He hums amused. “I know. I’m just that good.”

You want to make a snide remark but then Satoru kisses the top of your head. Your heart jumps at feeling his lips.

“I get to do this all the time now.” He whispers slightly in awe, like he spoke a hidden thought out loud.

You can’t help but grin giddy.

Before, you had begun experimenting very enthusiastically about getting to learn how to kiss him in his old form. But you understand.

This felt right. It always did, even when you never wanted to admit it before.

“No more mothman.” Satoru mutters a quiet realization and you clutch his shirt.

“You’ll always be my pest.” You reassure him.

“Hey.” You can hear the mock frown in his voice and you snicker.

You think about Satoru as your cryptid emerging straight from legends.

If he was seen as a harbinger and warning of danger, it strangely has you thinking about love.

For what is love if not a warning? A ‘be careful, don’t run too fast, please be safe, please let me protect you’ warning morphed into a wish and want to keep someone safe. Horror and love sometimes walk hand in hand together after all.

In the arms of your harbinger, you wearily start falling asleep. Satoru senses it too and places another kiss on your head.

When he gently moves to rest you back on the bed your eyes glance to the window. The dark evening night stretches out deep and wide

Against the glass, you notice a fluttering movement.

Soft green delicate long wings catch the light from the hospital room.

Actias luna.

More tears brim in your eyes.

The beautiful lunar moth dances against the window, against the darkness, as if to greet you a warm hello and wish you well.

[maxislvt]

Hi, I love your work!

Could I request a fic where Dark!Wanda asks reader to marry her and reader says no?

Thank you!

warnings: kidnapping, implied smut at the end

this is defo inspired by @natsarrownecklace and @mywitchy-assassin and their princess Wanda fics in a way so if you like this stuff please go check out what they have !!

When you were growing up, your parents made it very clear to you there was a target in your back.

You were the sole heir to one of the most powerful and richest kingdoms in the world. Anyone from your lady in waiting to other royals you danced and shared meals with could've been out for you. Even as a child, there were attempts on your life and king trying to trap you in loveless marriages to their children barely half a year old. Where your mother decided to coddle and protect you from your royal duties and, your father insisted you'd only be truly safe if you learned at an early age. The hot and cold mix made you rather good at keeping yourself safe. Your mother taught you to listen to your heart and saved you from numerous empty marriages and your father taught you to sniff out the liars and criminals trying to take advantage of you.

All that training seemed to have been for nothing considering the situation you found yourself in one busy Friday morning. Your schedule was packed full and you were needed in nearly a hundred different places by nightfall. During the carriage ride to a fitting appointment, your coachman took a rather long detour. You noticed almost immediately but the doors had magically closed shut and he wouldn't respond to a word you'd said. Though you had built up enough anger to behead the man driving with the dagger in your pocket alone — you suddenly fell asleep during the ride.

You awoke hours later in what you originally mistook for your own bedroom. However, the blanket of snow clinging to the ground outside told you otherwise. The door was locked and you were much too high to jump. You spent hours searching for some sign of where you were. Thankfully, someone came to your recuse — or so you thought.

The door opened to reveal a woman you'd never seen before. Her crown was strange. What seemed to be two parts. One traditional and gold decorated with local jewels but the other made of a material you couldn't quite identify. If you weren't trapped, you would've asked what it was.

"I believe you have mistaken me for someone else, I am not supposed to be here." You tried to remain calm. There was no telling what happened while you were passed out. Maybe this woman saved you. Maybe she was your capture.

For a moment, the woman just stared at you. Her expression was soft and curious as she took in your presence. "There was no mistake. I am Wanda Django Maximoff, queen of Sokovia , and you're going to be my consort." The smile on her face was cat-like. Cute, but not easy to decipher. "I know this isn't like what you're used to back home but-"

"My father and mother handle my suitors, I am in no place to accept a proposal without their permission," You said boldy cutting her off. You had lost count of how many times you said that. It technically wasn't a lie. The agreement between your parents was that they had to vet your suitors. Then, it was your choice to continue the relationship. "I don't want to speak on his behalf, but I assure you my father will not take too kindly to you kidnapping his only child." The words left your mouth filled with venom. "Where is my coach driver? If I return home unharmed, the consequences will be fair."

Wanda's smile fell. "I'm well aware. It was your mother who insisted that I was too old for you and didn't even bother giving me a chance." She signaled for the guards behind her to leave the room. She stepped closer to you. The corners of her mouth twitched when you stepped away from her. "Sokovia is the richest and strongest of your allies, isn't it only fair you give me a chance? Even if not for love, for your people?"

Wanda's proposal fell on deaf ears. All you could think about was escaping. Sokovia wasn't that far from your home country. The land in between was under the rule of King Anthony. Though you'd never hear the end of it, he was your safest bet as far as getting home.

"The stables are at the very back of the castle grounds. There's no way you'd reach them and even if you did my men would shoot down your horse in minutes. Then, you'd be right back here."

Your eyes widen. You'd heard gossip of the queen of Sokovia being a witch, but brushed it off as metaphorical. "For a woman that can read minds, you sure have a hard time telling when you're unwanted." You almost immediately regretted those words. Hot magical ropes wrapped around your body and forced you to the ground. A deep breath escaped through your nostrils. You weren't going to give her the satisfaction of getting under your skin.

Wanda cupped your chin and forced you to look up at her. "You have your father's sense of humor. I quite like it, but I'm sure we can find much better uses for your mouth than mocking your future wife." A sinister smirk took over her face as her thumb traced your lips. "We'll see how well you talk back with my cock shoved in you."

[merakiui]

meraaa !! consider this : 

it's late at night, and you're leaving a party; all your friends are drunk, so none can give you a ride home. you call an uber, and [insert yandere twst character] is your driver. all is going well during the drive; you're engaging in cordial conversation with him until you notice he's not following the directions on the map. you question him –

"don't worry, i'm just taking a shortcut,"

suddenly, everything feels off. his smile didn't look as kind as before, and his attempts at reviving the conversation were fruitless. whether to fill the uncomfortable silence or because he's confident he'll get away with what he'll do next, he reveals the truth. he's been stalking you for the last four months; in those four months, he's learned everything about you. innocent things like your pet peeves, favorite foods, and friend group to not-so-innocent things like the size underwear and bra you wear, how many hook-ups and partners you've had, how many times your heart beats a minute (*cough cough* rook), etc.

you sit there in mortified silence, mind racing to think of a plan to escape, call for help, hijack the car, anything. he watches you through the mirror, observing your countenance, awaiting your response. the doors have a child lock on them, your phone is dead, and you figure he probably has a weapon in the compartment next to him in case you attempt to seize control of the vehicle. even if you manage to, you’ll likely both be killed in an accident.

amidst your anxiety, the car stops. you look out the front window to see woods ahead of you. is he going to kill you here?

he turns back to face you, flashing you an eerie smile.

“don’t forget to give me a five-star rating.”

you hear the doors unlock. 

you quickly open the door and decide to make a run for it.

anddd.. the rest is up to you ! i based this on a horror short on yt. i think this concept would fit characters like rook, jade, trey, and maybe even jamil.  

also, can i be 👁️‍🗨️anon?

AAAAAA this concept is made for characters like Rook and Jade, but then I also agree that it can fit Trey and Jamil. The latter two fall into the unsuspecting types category, in which they just seem so friendly or so average and normal that they couldn't ever do something so horrible. They don't have to try very hard to catch you either. You're intoxicated and it's dark; you'll stumble and possibly injure yourself if you aren't careful, or you'll run yourself lost and they'll easily catch up to you. The night ends with you captured and packed neatly away in their car, where they'll drive you to your new home. It may be difficult at first, having to get accustomed to shackles and a mattress and a cold, eerie basement, but you'll learn to find comfort in him and your surroundings.

And the "don't forget to give a five-star rating" part... please, that's so Jade. T_T he's about to hunt you down, and yet he still wants that rating... he's so troublesome! Although it's not much of a hunt if he's just casually trailing behind you while you stumble blindly through the woods. ^^;;; depending on who kidnaps you, I think the situation will be slightly different. Trey and Jamil are definitely the better out of the four because they won't do anything rash, whereas Rook and Jade just like to walk the line of danger when they're able to. The rush is what invigorates them. But Trey and Jamil are determined to keep you captive, so they won't risk losing you just for temporary excitement.

It's all varying types of logic with the four of them. >_< but we can agree that the worst of them all are Jade and Rook. They're just a different level of crazy and dangerous. ;;;;;;

[yumeka-sxf]

Spy x Family CODE: White movie - FINAL PREDICTIONS

Now that we're just a few days away from the movie's release, I wanted to make one final revision of my predictions for what I think the plot chorology will be. I've made several posts about my movie predictions over the past month or so (you can check the "#sxf movie" tag if you want to see them all) but I wanted to make one last post putting it all together and correcting things I changed my mind about based on new information.

Again, these are just my predictions based on the official synopsis and movie trailers released so far. Please don't take any of this as fact, at least not yet!

1. Introduction to the family

The movie starts with scenes showing Twilight and Yor doing their spy/assassin work as part of an introduction to the series' plot and characters.

2. Twilight informed about Operation Strix replacement

Twilight meets with Sylvia, she informs him that this other man (and child) will be replacing him (and Anya?) for Operation Strix.

3. Anya finds out about the cooking contest at Eden

Anya and the other Eden kids are informed about the cooking contest from Henderson.

4. Yor sees Loid (supposedly) kiss another woman

Either on her lunchbreak or heading home from work, Yor sees Loid seemingly being intimate with another woman, who's actually Fiona (it's unclear if they really kiss or she just imagines that they did).

5. Forgers decide to go on a family trip

After learning about the cooking contest and how the head judge adores the melemele pastry, Loid decides that the Forgers will go on a family trip to the Frejis region, where the pastry hails from.

6. Anya finds a trunk key on the train; accidently eats the chocolate inside

While the family is on the train to Frejis, Anya and Bond sneak away. Anya finds a key and the trunk that it opens in the luggage compartment. A chocolate is inside, which she ends up accidently eating.

7. Bad guys threaten Anya but Yor gets rid of them

When Dmitri and Luca find out that Anya ate the chocolate, they attempt to capture/kill her, but Yor drives them away.

8. Forgers arrive at Frejis, spend some time together, Yor gets drunk

Upon arriving at Frejis, they spend time at the shops/booths in the market place plaza area. Loid buys Yor lipstick from one of the shops, as well as some of the ingredients for the pastry. However, perhaps because she's still upset about seeing Loid with "the mysterious woman," Yor (somehow) gets drunk. She ends up going off on her own for a bit.

9. Loid takes Anya around the plaza booths, reunites with Yor

Loid takes Anya around some of the fun/game booths at the plaza. He also buys her a toy gun. At some point, Loid goes looking for Yor only for her to inadvertently tackle him to the ground in her drunken state. Eventually they make amends and the family heads to their lodging place.

10. Forgers enjoy Frejis cuisine at the lodge/hotel

Upon arriving at the lodge/hotel they're staying at, the Forgers spend some family time together and also try Frejis cuisine.

11. Anya is kidnapped by the military, Twilight and Yor separate (at some point) to save her

The next morning/day, the military arrives and kidnap Anya. Not sure if Twilight and Yor are absent at the time or are unable to stop them for some reason, but they end up each looking for her on their own. Bond was able to chew off the military patch from one of their uniforms.

12. Sylvia informs the WISE agents about the microfilm supposedly in the chocolate

After hearing about the incident with the military and the microfilm within the chocolate, Sylvia informs the WISE agents that they have to get the microfilm.

13. Fiona arrives in Frejis to help

Fiona, in disguise, arrives in Frejis to inform Twilight about the microfilm and offer help. They each get military disguises with the intention of sneaking aboard the military's giant airship.

14. Twilight and Yor both make their way to the military's airship

Twilight flies a plane to reach the ship. Not sure how Yor reaches the ship, but she does somehow.

15. Yor fights Type-F, Twilight fights Snyder

Once all the Forgers are on the ship, fighting ensues - Loid ends up having a showdown with Snyder (the military leader) while Yor fights Type-F, their robot/cyborg secret weapon. Meanwhile Anya is tied up and gagged somewhere in the ship.

Additional notes

I've been going back and forth about whether the chocolate heist occurs before or after they arrive in Frejis. Obviously it makes the most sense that it would occur before, during their train ride to Frejis. But it looked like Yor was wearing lipstick during these scenes, which made me think it occurred after Loid buys her lipstick at one of the Frejis shops. But after reviewing the scenes a few more times, it looks like she could be wearing a different lipstick both before and after they arrive at Frejis, not necessarily the one that Loid supposedly buys. So I'm just gonna go with that and say that the chocolate incident occurs on the train ride to Frejis.

My big guess about the conclusion of the movie is that the microfilm ends up not even being in the chocolate at all and they went through all that for nothing! I could be wrong, but I'm just throwing it out there 😅

Anya won't end up getting a stella no matter how well she does in the cooking contest, since an anime-original story can't alter canon like that!

-----

And that's about it! Obviously the movie's conclusion is the most unclear since that won't be spoiled in trailers and such.

I know most of the other side characters like Franky, Yuri, and Becky do appear in the movie, but I don't believe their roles will be very important, which is why I didn't mention them. Most likely just quick cameos at the beginning and/or end of the movie.

Stay tuned for even more CODE: White info once the movie releases on Thursday~ I'm looking forward to seeing how many things I got wrong 😂

[corneliushickey]

#furiosa: a mad max saga #furiosa spoilers

ok i've spoken to a few friends about this but i wanna put my thoughts together more coherently in a single posté, so: furiosa (2024) removes any significance in furiosa's story arc in fury road (2015) by removing her complicity + culpability

in fury road, furiosa (like nux!!!) is a cog in the immortan's war machine. he calls her out by name to the crowd at the citadel. she drives the war rig, a machine so totally her own and so much a part of her that it bears her mark on the driver's side door. she enjoys a place of relative privilege and safety as an imperator, a position in which she carries out the immortan's orders and advances his cause of domination over the wasteland.

yes, she was taken from the green place as a child, separated from the vuvalini through no fault of her own. yes she was doing what she had to do to survive. but she was still culpable. her survival was still built on a pile of corpses. her survival was instrumental in the subjugation + opression of the citadel's citizens.

AND!! CRUCIALLY!!! rescuing the wives from the vault was not her idea!! it was angharad who rallied the wives together with miss giddy and begged for furiosa's help in escaping. she agreed to try the desperate mad dash for her lost homeland because angharad, dag, cheedo, toast, and capable recruited her for the job. before that, she had given up on returning home. she had lost herself in service of the war machine. this is why it also makes sense that capable would reach out to nux with sympathy and compassion, because she's already seen one war boy find redemption and rally for their cause, why not another?

that is why when furiosa learns that the lost promised land of her childhood is gone, it is meaningful that she, the wives, nux, and the remaining vuvalini can turn around and choose to change the citadel instead. because she goes from being a part of the war machine, to running from it and taking five of its victims with her, to turning around to dismantle it.

but in furiosa (2024), furiosa is kidnapped as a child and handed to one mad warlord who murders her mother, then handed to a second mad warlord who means to keep her locked in a vault until she is of a more appropriate age for him to rape. then she understandably makes a daring escape (for which she faces. zero narrative consequences. but whatever that's another post) and sort of hides out as a scrawny silent blackthumb until praetorian jack takes her under his wing and gives her the tools she needs to escape (tools she... would have already learned from the vuvalini and dementus and her life as a blackthumb but, again, whatever, that's another post)

throughout all this furiosa's only motivation is self preservation. she is a child trying to survive kidnapping after kidnapping, seeking revenge against the men who are doing this to her, and then once she proves to dementus that she is nothing like him she just sort of hangs out for a few years until she takes the impetus to bring the wives a peach as evidence of a possible return to paradise. and then she saves them.

but the whole point of fury road was that... the wives saved her. through them furiosa came back to herself. came back to her vuvalini values. came to find values of her own. decided to take a stand against the human suffering she had spent so long enabling. got the chance to build anew.

furiosa is not the protagonist of fury road if she is a blameless victim on an equal footing with the sex slaves she's rescuing. if she were totally uninvolved in the citadel, eeking out an existence as best she could until she had the opportunity to save five fellow innocents..... she would be max rockatansky. uninvolved but committed to helping those he meets in desperate need.

her story is more complex than that. it carries more weight. and unfortunately furiosa (2024) takes that away.

[starsfic]

One Pig's Mad Dash

Summary: @draw-of-the-moon's Chimera Parents AU:

Pigsy just had to suggest that the kids come along to his family's farmhouse with him and Tang. He just had to go to the store. Hopefully, Chimera will never learn that he let their kids get kidnapped. (Or, Tang opens a scroll labeling the locations of four golden weapons, only for him and Nya to get kidnapped by skeletons. Kai is recruited by a mysterious old man to learn spinjitzu, and Pigsy has child leashes for all three of them.)

“Oh, this is great! Smell that fresh air!”

It had been a long time since Pigsy had come to Gao Village. His family owned a house or two there, passed down from Zhu Bajie’s wife, Blue Orchid, but Pigsy had found more excuses over the years to stay away from it once he understood the story of his ancestor (and past life). Now, however, he couldn’t help it.

The summer house was lovely, having been well-maintained over the years. It had stayed mostly the same since it was first built in the Tang dynasty, but someone (he was willing to bet his cousin who had visited the American South once as a teenager and never got over it) had installed more modern things, like a nice big front porch that had a lovely view of the surrounding growing fields. The town was an hour or two’s drive away, leaving the Zhu family with peace and quiet.

“Grandadsy,” Kai sighed as he closed the door. “We get plenty of fresh air back home,” Nya made a noise of agreement as she followed her brother. “You don’t have to keep pretending this isn’t to get one over on Yeye Demon Bull.”

“Rude,” Pigsy scoffed as Tang took the key he offered and headed to unlock the door, leaving him to wrap his arms around the younger two and pull them close. “Rude, rude kids. Of course, I want to spend time with you.” Sure, he was a little annoyed at all the grandkid time that Red’s parents had been getting recently, but it was fine.

“Hey!” Tang called from the door before Kai or Nya could answer beyond giggles. “Come on, the car’s not gonna unpack itself, and I’m hungry!”

Pigsy sighed, releasing the siblings so they could do as commanded, marching up to his husband. “I don’t have all the ingredients for noodles, yet, Tang,” he said. Tang sighed with a pout. “I’ll need to drive to the grocery store after we finish unpacking. Think you can survive until then?”

Tang groaned, clearly fighting back a smile. “Fine,” he said, moving to help Nya and Kai. “It’s not like the house is gonna blow up the moment you turn your back.”

Ugh, he shouldn’t tempt fate like that. Before Pigsy could dwell on that, an argument drifted in the wind.

“You have a way too big backpack.”

“Well, yours is small! What do you have in there, just your lipstick?”

Pigsy sighed and headed to help Tang and the grandkids before Nya froze Kai again. He didn’t bring the icepick.

-_-

It was easy enough to unpack everything, including all the food they had brought. With that, Pigsy said farewell and headed out for the grocery store for supplementary ingredients.

The moment Pigsy's car disappeared, Tang turned to Kai and Nya with a grin. "Wanna see something cool?"

"Yeah!"

"Absolutely!"

"Great!" Tang led them to the kitchen table, where he had set the poster container down. "Now, nobody except the museums knows I have this yet. I'm gonna be studying this with the Ninjago Museum of History for an upcoming exhibit."

"Yeye, stop teasing us!" Kai groaned. "Show us the cool thing!"

"Alright, alright!" Tang fished out a pair of gloves from the container and then pulled out what looked to be an aged scroll. "In Japan, there used to be a religious order of ninja who believed that their founder created the world with four golden weapons. After a battle with evil, he supposedly hid these weapons in secret locations across the country and created a map to hide them." The scroll unrolled, revealing a map. Four weapons, drawn in gold, were set in different spots across the map. "If this is true, this will be the biggest archaeological discovery in Japan!"

Nya paused, her excitement fading to be replaced with confusion. "If this is Japanese, then why is it in China?"

"Well, considering my expertise in magical McGuffins," Tang smiled proudly as the two young adults sighed. "They wanted me to look it over and maybe talk to some of the older demons and see if they knew anything-” He paused, looking around.

“What?”

“I’m sorry, do you feel that?”

Kai looked around. “What?”

“The rumbling.”

“I don’t.” Something crashed, hard enough to shake the kitchen and its inhabitants. Kai landed on his butt, looking widely around as Nya grabbed Tang, both of them steadying themselves with each other. Now, the rumbling was audible, like when Long Xiaojiao raced against huge trucks, but close enough that Kai could feel the rumbling in his teeth. “Now I do!”

“What is-”

Nya’s shrieked question was cut off as the front of a truck dug into the house.

-_-

Welp, pickings had been scrawny at the store on the basis of snacks, but at least they had fresh vegetables and animal bones! It had been a long time since Pigsy had thought of freshly roasted marrow, but now he couldn’t help but lick his lips. Animal bones were pretty rare for human consumption in Wàn Qiān Chéng, since they were mostly reserved for carrion-eating demons, but not out here. It would be a great treat!

That was the last Pigsy thought of dinner when he turned the corner and saw the yard.

It looked like someone had taken a bulldozer, several bulldozers in fact, and had a fight with them. Dirt and grass had been churned up and spat up to make a massive mess. The front of the house looked bashed in to boot. All around the area were tracks of those bulldozers and footprints. Pigsy parked at the edge of the mess and stumbled out.

Fear gripped his throat tight. He had been terrified when Flower Fruit Mountain had been destroyed, yeah, but that didn't compare to the horror at staring at his family home destroyed in such a violent way. Even worse, he couldn't hear any of his family.

"Tang?! Kai!" Pigsy scrambled for the house, waiting for anyone to respond. "NYA!" His shout for his youngest grandchild produced nothing but horrible silence, his yell echoing off the landscape.

They were gone.

Pigsy turned away from the kitchen and looked around, biting back the urge to cry. Instead, he studied the ground. He had brushed up on his tracking and foraging skills after the run-in with Scorpion Queen, not wanting to miss something and be caught off-guard.

There were the tire tracks, yes, but also footprints. Most were unfamiliar bootprints that were like the Bull Clones’, paired with weird shuffling marks that went back and forth. However, a familiar sneaker pattern was at the very edge of the scene, decorated with little flames that matched the boots Red Son wore. It walked away, towards the road, next to a pair of what looked like slipper prints.

Someone or something had burst in and taken his husband and his grandchildren, at least Nya and Tang. Kai had walked away with someone. Pigsy felt his hands clench into fists. His first instinct was to call his son, let him know what happened, but he held firm. If he did that, if he proved to be so irresponsible-

No. He could kiss time with his grandkids goodbye.

Pigsy pulled out his phone and dialed the fourth number. “Wukong?” He said as the monkey picked it up with a yawn. “You still have the number of that construction company?”

Wukong was hesitant when Pigsy revealed what happened. He pushed against the plan as Pigsy moved around the kitchen and rustled through their bags, ears on autopilot as he raided his cooking supplies. He wanted to rush over and help Pigsy track down Kai. He wanted to tell Qi Xiaotian, Long Xiaojiao, and Red Son.

“No,” Pigsy huffed, stuffing some seasoning packets in the front pocket of Kai’s backpack. “The kids aren’t expecting us back until by the end of July. I have plenty of time to track them down.” And beat their asses. “I got this handled. Just fix the house.”

“Okay, but, you know Xiaojiao is gonna check her tra-” Before Wukong could finish, Pigsy hung up, right as his phone buzzed. Pigsy glanced back, wondering if Wukong had called him back to finish whatever he was going to say and winced when Wukong’s name wasn’t the name flashing on the screen. 

Xiaojiao, as if summoned, was calling.

He dismissed the call and shoved the bile of guilt down his throat. He had until the end of July. It would be fine. 

Pigsy picked up his wok and smiled at the pulse of energy he was greeted with. He wasn’t exactly sure how the rake worked, shifting from rake weapon to simple wok, but he wasn’t going to leave it behind in the face of whatever had taken his family.

He made one last stop at the van. In a storage container, pushed to the corner, was a bunch of emergency supplies, as well as three things that he had thought would be left in the past. Once those were wrapped up and shoved in the backpack, Pigsy took in a deep breath and let it out, slowly. This was it.

It was Pigsy’s turn to have a solo adventure.

He set off after those tracks.

-_-

Two months later…

This had somehow been the most fun and most nerve-wracking few weeks Kai had experienced.

In the wake of the skeletons’ attack on the house, taking Yeye Tang and Nya with them as well as the map to those crazy weapons, Master Wu had offered his hand. He was apparently from the religious ninja sect that his yeye had mentioned and he had been following both the map and him for a bit. He wanted to train Kai as a ninja to prevent the rise of his brother, Lord Garmadon. The same lord was bound to have Tang and Nya. 

Kai, who had been helpless in the attack beyond a few fireballs, agreed. After a quick note scrawled to Grandadsy, he had followed Wu into the forest. It had taken a few days and a boat trip, but they soon arrived at the monastery where Kai’s training began.

And then he had met his classmates.

Kai wasn’t really sure what to make of them at first. He had teamed up with Nya for so long that not having her by his side felt like a missing limb, only to be replaced by three too many. Cole was a stick in the mud, Zane was robotic that went beyond being a teacher’s pet, and Jay was way too chatty and interested in Nya the moment Kai mentioned her. Their team was shaky with the fact that Kai was the newcomer, used to being either a solo or duet act, while the other three knew each other well.

But that couldn’t last, not with determination and friendship. Over their time together, he would like to say that they had worked on their teamwork. They were still a little shaky, like fawns getting up on their legs, but Kai would say he trusted them. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be shaking his hips with Jay as Cole tapped out a rhythm on the drums he pulled from seemingly nowhere. Zane laughed along as Master Wu meditated, a scowl on his lips.

“Come on, shifu!” Kai said, holding out his hand. “Join us!” 

The answer he received was an annoyed scoff. "There is still one weapon left! We must get our sleep!"

Kai didn't even have to look to see Jay jump in, grabbing their shifu's shoulder and giving it a light shake. "Aww, Sensei. Look, you gotta admit, we're kicking their boney butts." Yeah! They had gotten three of the four weapons and the temple of fire was an hour or two’s walk. By this time tomorrow, the world would be safe. It wouldn’t be a little ridiculous to relax, right?

Kai nodded. "Get up here. Show us some moves!"

Wu looked at them and seemed to fold at their hopeful faces, his annoyed scowl disappearing into a lighter look. "I guess I could," he said, allowing Jay to help him up. "Now, this move is very special." He started to dance, seeming to prefer more martial moves than regular dance moves.

Zane spoke up before he could laugh at the silly dance. "But if done incorrectly, will it lead to disastrous consequences?"

Cheers went up around the campfire and Kai's heart had never felt so full of friendship. "Zane, is that a joke? A sense of humor... you found it!" He wrapped his arm around his white-gied friend, rubbing their cheek together, and only realized a second later, with Cole’s snort, how strange it must be. It was a little slip-up, considering he hadn't revealed his non-human form to his friends, but Zane seemed to soak up the affection with a pleased hum.

All the while, Master Wu sang and danced.

"Shake what your momma gave you. Yeah, look at this one now. Hmm... oh yeah. Spin round. Oh yeah. I put my feet-"

Kai didn't notice the circle of rope before Wu put his foot down.

"-dowAHHH!"

The yank happened too fast for Kai to realize what happened before a clang and a cry of pain came out of the darkness.

"Master Wu!" Cole jumped up and nearly ran into the darkness after their shifu, stopped only by Zane grabbing the back of his gi and pulling him close to the light of the fire. "Who's there!" Cole yelled out instead, holding up his fists. The others followed suit, glaring out. "If you come out peacefully, we won't hurt you!"

A noise that sounded faintly like a grunt of annoyance answered Cole, close to him. Kai shoved Jay towards the others, looking around. His ears tensed, listening for any noise, any movement, anything that suggested Master Wu was alright or the attacker was…well, attacking. “Come out with your hands up, and we won’t hurt you!” Kai allowed his hands to flame up.

Cole gasped behind him, but Kai glared into the darkness, waiting and ready. Bushes rustling and more grunts hit his ears before he leaned forward, hoping to catch sight of them, turning his body to follow the noises.

A faint smell hit his nose.

At first, it was just dirt, sweat, and the general smell of someone who hadn’t showered in days, like Bama or Baba when they got too deep in a groove with a project. But, underneath, was the earthy, rich smell of herbs, broth, and…noodles?

Realization struck the moment he looked across the fire and realized that the other three were huddled together with wide eyes. “It’s right behind you,” Jay squeaked, gripping on Cole’s arm so tight that it had to have been bruised.

Kai looked up.

He almost didn’t recognize the tall figure. He didn’t take this huge form often.

It was a shame that he didn’t recognize what he was holding before the demon lunged-

And the child leash clicked around him.

Realization came in slowly. At first, it was confusion. Why was Grandadsy here? Kai had left a note explaining everything! Then it was shock. His grandadsy, who complained about his back at least once a day, had knocked out a martial arts master. Then came in the indigent rage.

“A child leash? A CHILD’S LEASH!?” Kai began to scramble, just wanting the cursed thing off. Surely, it might’ve been acceptable when he was going through that weird phase of wanting to be like Yeye Demon Bull, but not when he was fifteen! “Let me out! Let me go!” He struggled furiously, trying his best to rip it or tear it off, dirt kicking up under his wriggling feet. Annoyingly, the damn thing didn’t even strain. Neither did Pigsy, glaring at the other ninja.

Kai bit at it, yanked at it, even allowed his disguise to fall away, revealing his true height. The child’s leash wasn’t built for that! There were some shocked gasps, but he didn’t dare look. His focus was on the cursed child’s leash!

Finally, he had to yield. Despite the strain and tears, the child leash held firm. He couldn’t even try to unlock the leash, since the lock was magical. 

He collapsed onto the forest floor to pant air into his lungs, totally ignoring how he probably looked like a toddler denied a sweet that entire time. “What are you doing here, Grandadsy?” he asked instead once air was in his lungs.

“I could ask the same thing of you,” the giant boar said, stepping into the firelight. “What were you thinking, running off with some random old guy?! You didn’t even call me!”

Kai scoffed, crossing his arms. “You let Baba run off with a random old guy all the time.” The second part made him raise a brow. “You didn’t find my note? I left it…” Huh, where did he leave it? He swore he left it…

“OKAY, TIMEOUT!” All heads turned to Cole. He took in a deep breath, looking from him to his grandadsy and back again as if he were missing an important piece to his puzzle, with brows furrowed together and his mouth pressed in a thin line. “He’s your grandfather?”

Oh boy. Here came the questions. Kai nodded anyway.

Jay spoke up, raising a brow. “And you’re a demon.”

Kai nodded again. “A yaogui, technically.” He didn’t mention that, technically, he was half yao, because he had never quite understood it.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Cole asked, his tone bordering on pissed or just confused.

Kai opened his mouth. Before he could, Zane spoke up. “Considering the amount of racism that exists in Japan against yokai and yokai-bordering people, where the Chinese yaogui fall under that umbrella, and Kai’s lack of knowledge about us and our views about, might it be assumed it would be safer to keep it quiet.” He turned his gaze, which bordered on soft, to him. “Am I correct?”

Uh… “Well, no, not really, I just didn’t think about it,” Kai shrugged. “I mean, yeah, I didn’t want to waste time with questions with Nya and Yeye Tang being held hostage.”

“Speaking of questions, I have a few,” Grandadsy huffed. “But,” he yanked on a rope, yanking Master Wu back into the firelight. The old man was groaning, so he was still alive, just with a massive bruise. “First, I think you guys need food. I can see your abs.”

Cole wrapped his arms around his chest self-consciously. “And what if we don’t want to?” Jay said boldly.

Grandadsy hefted up his wok. Jay made a little noise. Grandadsy, however, just shrugged. “Then you don’t eat. Now, Kai, can you grab your backpack? I have supplies.”

“What supplies?” Kai asked, reaching up and grabbing his backpack. “We’re out in the woods.” What tumbled out of his backpack was a load of ingredients, including a bag full of noodles.

“How?”

“I’ll explain it when we eat.”

They worked in silence for a few minutes after that, with Cole tending to Master Wu's goose egg and Jay and Zane running errands as Grandadsy cooked and Kai chopped or smoked. Jay finally broke it with "...so, your sister. Does she also have horns? A pig tail?" He held up his hands. "Not a deal breaker, just curious."

"Nah, she has antlers though."

Jay seemed to pause for a second before nodding, eyes glittering in the firelight. "Alright! Okay, I can work with that!" There was a pause, long enough for Grandadsy to snort, probably realizing the question that was coming. “...So, is she like... a deer?”

“Nah, a dragon. A long specifically.”

Jay paused for a few more seconds, clearly thinking. “How does that happen?”

“My parents are in a polycule, so we have the same bull bama but she has a dragon mama while I have a baba.” Here came the questions. 

“So, it’s safe to assume that, if your bama is a bull,” Jay said, eyeing the horns that continued to gleam, even when Kai had shrunk down. “Then your baba is a-”

“Monkey.”

“-pig excuse me?”

Kai nodded to Grandadsy. “He was adopted by him.”

Zane nodded, seeming to understand already. Jay looked like he had even more questions, but a groan turned his eyes away. Master Wu sat up, rubbing his head. “What in the world-”

SMACK.

Master Wu collapsed again, the spoon whirling back to Pigsy like a boomerang. “Is he important?” he asked, gesturing to the old man. “I haven’t received an explanation for what’s going on.”

Right.

Kai took in a deep breath and prayed that Grandadsy wouldn’t be too annoyed.

-_-

Pigsy was awoken by a slap on the arm. 

“Grandadsy,” Kai whispered. He was tempted to ignore it, but there was another slap on his arm. “Pigsy.” That made him crack an eye- ever since the battle with Azure Lion, Qi Xiaotian had never referred to him as Pigsy again, preferring Dad or Dadsy. He groaned, turning his head. Kai stared at him, eyes scrunched up in concern. “Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

Kai pressed a finger to his lips in a shushing moment. Pigsy closed his mouth. They waited. And then, out of the silence of chirping crickets and the snores of the ninja…

“Kai.” They both craned their heads. In the bushes, her face hidden by shadow, was the red of Nya’s top. Now that she had gotten their attention, she turned. “I have to go.”

Okay, this is a trap.

After learning about the golden weapons, Lord Garmadon, and everything that this Master Wu had dragged his grandson into, Pigsy was on guard for traps. Garmadon sounded like a knock-off of Macaque, of course there was gonna be traps. There was no way he was going to think Kai was dead for a few hours.

“We need to go after her,” Kai whispered.

“Kid, she’s obviously a trap.” Pigsy sat up anyway. Kai had the glint in his eye that suggested that if he said no, he was going to go anyway, damn the child leash. “Why would they just let her go?”

“I don’t know, but even if she’s a trap, she could lead us to Yeye Tang and the real Nya.”

…well, that was a good point.

“I’m getting up,” Pigsy grunted, wincing at the crackling sounds from his back. “Oh, I am too old for this…” He should’ve remembered to bring a sleeping bag. “Let’s go, kid.”

Kai was already running. Pigsy followed behind, keeping a tight grip on the child leash. Through the woods they ran, the moonlight sometimes allowing a glimpse of Nya or her voice drifting through the woods, beckoning Kai to follow her.

Finally, the woods parted, revealing a massive volcano with smoke pouring out of the top, glowing magma rolling down the sides but not touching the red temple built into the side. A few worn red gates decorated the bridge forward. By the time they hit the path, Nya was throwing open the door, with one last “Kai…” over her shoulder.

Yeah, this was a trap.

Kai guided them forward, and Pigsy allowed it. Kai pushed the door open with a eerie creak. Most of the room he revealed was flooded with lava, a menacing face carved out of stone at the end of the room, a wide gaping mouth revealing a golden katana that glowed with power. Pigsy didn’t even have to guess that was the sword of fire.

But Kai’s eyes were locked on Nya, smiling at them serenely. “Nya!” he called.

“Don’t worry,” his granddaughter cooed, her gentle smile twisting into something more mocking. “I’m right here…” Nya’s form began to shift and twist, growing bigger and darker, revealing to be nothing more than shadows. “Brother.”

Kai growled. “Garmadon.” He reached back and-

Shit. They had left their weapons.

“Forgotten something?” the supposed king of shadows (Macaque would have thoughts about that title) cooed, taking clear delight in the panic encasing them.

Kai took in a deep breath. “You can’t hurt us here! You’re banished, trapped in the Underworld!” Pigsy nodded, unable to help the spark of pride at Kai’s assertive tone. Still, he had a feeling. Hopefully, this wasn't going the way he thought it was going to go.

"And that is why you are going to remove the Sword of Fire for me."

Yeah, this was going the way he thought it would.

Kai announced in the cliche hero way "I don't think so!"

"Are you sure about that?"

A door in the ceiling opened, lowering a cage to dangle above the lava. Inside, huddling close together, were Nya and Tang. Both looked a mixture of terrified and furious, with Tang glaring out as he held Nya protectively close as she fiddled with the lock.

“NYA!”

“TANG!”

“Pigsy! Kai?!” Tang pushed himself against the bars, a sweet smile of relief forming across his face. It had only been a month or two, but to Pigsy, it had felt like a lifetime. “What are you doing here?!”

“Rescuing you two!”

Garmadon stepped between the duos, glaring down at Kai with delight. Pigsy had to admit, he had them good. If Xiaotian was here, he would do it in a heartbeat. “If you don’t remove the sword, how else will you cut the chain to save your precious little sister and grandfather?”

“Don’t listen to him, Kai!” Nya called, wriggling the lock harder. “You know it’s a trap! I can free myself-” With one hard yank, the bobby pin she had been using fell into the lava. “Okay, that’s tight-”

The cage fell, making Tang and Nya scream. “Tick tock, tick tock-”

“Wait.” 

That voice had sounded weirdly familiar through this entire thing, but now his mind was picking up where he had heard it before. Pigsy squinted. It was hard to make out any real details, but he had learned from Macaque, enough to pick out a few details. 

“Misako?”

Four “Huhs?” rolled through the temple.

“I’m not crazy, right? You’re Misako Garmadon.” He had only met Tang’s rival from the Ninjago Museum of History a few times and her husband even fewer times, but it was hard to forget his face. While he was handsome, he always looked really ill.

“It’s just Garmadon,” Tang corrected. The cage had stopped a few feet above the lava, which didn’t do anything for Pigsy’s heart, but spoke about Garmadon’s bafflement. “Misako took his name.”

“Are you sure?”

His husband shrugged. “Fairly? I’m still not sure if that’s his last name or first name. And…” Tang leaned forward and adjusted his glasses. “Oh! You’re right!” He chuckled. “I kept hearing the others say Lord Garmadon, but I never put the pieces together! How have you been?”

The shadow blinked, caught off guard by the little side tangent, before those red eyes narrowed. “I do not have time for this mindless little game,” he growled. “Get the sword, Kai.” Without another word, the chain began to lower even faster.

Kai glanced back at Pigsy. Pigsy nodded. There would be words later.

He released the leash.

Kai grinned and didn’t waste time, neither the time of the cage dropping or the free time Pigsy was giving him. He launched forward, darting from rock to rock, adding a backflip for extra points. The sword pulled from the stone easily, his feet slamming into the next wall. “NINGAJO!” he called before spinning. A tornado of sparks and flames wrapped around him, heading straight to the plummeting cage.

The chain broke with a snap and the tornado caught the cage, slamming it against the wall. The fire cleared and all three sat, panting. “Kai!” Pigsy called, waving frantically. “Over here!”

“Coming!” Kai said, leaning back and grabbing Nya’s hand. “Stay close.”

"Trust me," Nya said, her voice having a tinge of fear. Tang reached forward and squeezed her free hand. "We're not going anywhere."

Pigsy looked around as his grandkids and husband inched their way towards the entrance. Garmadon had disappeared when Kai pulled out the sword. "Keep your eyes out." he called.

"Don't worry, Grandadsy," Kai said. "He can't hurt us here. He's only a shadow."

Macaque would definitely have words about that.

A dark chuckle echoed through the room. "Even shadows have their uses."

Nya saw the shadow stretch and move first. "Kai, look out!" Nya said, yanking her brother back in time to avoid a blade to the face as his shadow pulled away, glaring down at him with red eyes. Pigsy winced, feeling memories of a certain shadow play rise up. Based on Tang's look of discomfort, so did he.

"Stay back, Nya," Kai said, leaning forward in the pose that Xiaojiao must've taught him.

"Stay close, stay back. Make up your mind."

Tang pulled her into his hands. "Give your brother space, dear," he said.

Golden power encased them, and they disappeared in a flash, giving Kai more room for his duel. The moment they appeared before him and Tang started "Remind me to apologize to Xiaotian for giving him shit about forgetting his powers-" Pigsy was pulling them into his arms. He was still terrified and furious, but something in him eased. His family was here and, even if he had to strike them down, Pigsy would keep them safe.

Plus, it gave him an opening.

Tang looked down at the click and just sighed at the sight of the leash wrapped around him. Nya glanced down and, just like Kai, gaped. "A CHILD LEASH?!" she howled, piercingly enough that Kai and Garmadon both winced as Kai attempted to slash and cut the shadow versions of him. "I'M FOURTEEN!"

"Yeah, yeah, if your brother couldn't tear that off, neither can you-"

"Ahem." All turned, excluding Nya, who was focusing her rage on the child leash. Master Wu, supposedly, stared at them. "Please make room, I need to save Kai."

"Oh, uh-"

"Of course."

Master Wu nodded and marched forward. "Five yuans say that we have to save his ass," Pigsy whispered as the old man made his way to their grandson.

Tang chuckled. "You're on."

(He got five yuans, Jay mooning over Nya, and Cole glaring at Nya and Jay.)

-_-

The moment the farmhouse came into view, Pigsy felt himself melt with relief. Tang did too, even going as far as to sigh and then laugh. “We’re going to get away with this!” he chuckled, pulling out his wallet. “All we have to do is clean up and get into some normal clothes…” He slid the key into the lock. “And we can say that Kai and Nya made some new friends!”

“Uh…” Jay raised his hand. “We don’t have normal clothes.”

“Oh, we brought backups,” Pigsy said. Now that he was close to a bed, exhaustion was starting to eat at him. “It’ll be a little harder to explain the golden weapons, but we got it handled.”

“Yeah!” Tang pushed open the door. “And the kids will never-”

The lights clicked on and all of them froze.

Kai and Nya’s parents sat in the living room. The light had come from Xiaojiao, who sat in the armchair next to the light. Red sat in a rolly chair next to the doorway that led to the kitchen, and Xiaotian sat on the couch. All of them had unimpressed looks.

“The kids will never what, Tangy?” Xiaojiao cooed. Without another word, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Pigsy didn’t even have to look at it to know what was pulled up on there.

Shit, he had forgotten about the tracker.

Pigsy’s first reaction was to turn and run out of the house. He knew it was a very short-term solution, especially when Xiaojiao started running, but it was a solution. Before he even stepped foot on the porch, his arm came down with a sudden yank. He glanced over his shoulder.

Kai and Nya, both laying on the floor, smiled innocently at him.

Oh, those little-

“Pigsy~” Xiaojiao cooed, eyes glowing green. Pigsy tried to release the leashes, but in all the chaos and to prevent him from accidentally releasing one of them, he wrapped the handles so tight that his hand was turning purple. He tried to take another step, but the kids seemed to get heavier somehow. A hand grabbed his shoulder.

“You and the other adults are in so much trouble,” Xiaotian whispered. “Surrender.”

Pigsy held up his hands with a sigh.

“I know.”

[windstir]

thinking about that scene in kaze to ki no uta where gilbert is just having fun playing tag with some adults, specifically this one girl called sophia/sofia and she's like, treating him so well, and gilbert doesn't have a mother so auguste KNOWS that the poor thing (7 years old) is seeking her attention in replacement for anne marie's neglect, and so he just goes and says "okay fun is over i need you to come here now" and someone (rebec) mentions how gilbert's light "faded" at that very moment.

"that look isn't normal in a child! that's the face of resignation, he's suppressed all his instinct to fight ..."

and then gilbert (who is 7 at the time, it's been 2 years since the abuse started) walks away with auguste.

there's SO much to say starting with the fact that gilbert's attitude is nothing like the one we're shown in the actual timeline (this is from a flashback) and he's, basically, a whole different person in comparison, which fits with the way auguste raised him.

since his purpose was to make a "perfect masterpiece", he had to strip gilbert of who he was from the root, first attacking his "survival instincts", then treating him as if he was incapable of doing anything or learning anything despite the fact that gilbert taught himself to read (at like, 6-7) because he was interested in art, and so on, auguste is just taking away bits and pieces of gilbert to make him what he wants him to be, but he's never clear with what he's demanding of him so gilbert is a mess

the scene also highlights how he flinches at the sight of auguste, and looks nervous when he approaches him and sofia, but when auguste gives his final veredict (that "playtime is over") he just leaves without saying much, because he knows it's pointless, auguste will do anything to drive the people who care about gilbert away even if they will never do anything to stop the abuse. gilbert knows this subconsciously, i doubt he can explain it, but i think there's some level of acknowledgment on his part.

gilbert is not entirely lost at this point though, he's on his way out but he has some of his instincts, he knows that auguste means danger (also shown by their first meeting, gilbert just keeps repeating "danger, he's dangerous, he'll do something to me". this eventually stops as gilbert realizes auguste is the only person around him who "cares" -it stops after their encounter, the one right after bonnard kidnaps him- and instead of pushing him away, he starts to want to be around him more, the evident fear is no longer there, but auguste still haunts his decisions and the way he interacts with others -serge-)

now, remember rebec???? he knows about the abuse, he's definitely worried about the impact it has on gilbert, but he never does anything to stop it because auguste is a close friend of his. i won't go into detail but. that's realistic!!!! okay ending this point to add:

i think the way gilbert was written and described is really good, and as much as i HATE auguste he's also pretty well written too in a weird way. he has many flaws, but he's a perfect "villain" for this i think.

think of humbert humbert from lolita as a base, both of them use flowery language to make their acts sound less terrible (auguste constantly describes his acts towards gilbert as art, as "necessary for his development", as something that's right despite it not being so)

see 41:50 - 43:40

(it's not really evident in this scene i think? but you can see the way he speaks about it, he makes it sound as if it was something necessary, as if it was something that gilbert will benefit from even though it's just abuse)

gilbert IS a different person than he was years ago, and the only person to blame is auguste, that one scene i mentioned at the beginning is just a transition period between point A (rejection, fear, gilbert doesn't want to indulge in this) and point B (acceptance, he's actively seeking it even if he hates it)

gilbert has never wanted to do this, all he wanted was to be held by someone because everyone around him neglected that need, as serge said once: "he was starved (of love) and i could provide him with that"

but, eventually, he learned to suppress that need and, as the world changed his view on him (hypersexual behaviors that were previously encouraged are now seen as strange and gross, gilbert doesn't understand why the change) gilbert just had to go with it, accepting that he would always be seen as someone bad no matter what, he thinks he's broken in some way, that he will corrupt others if they dare to help him, which i think it's a key point to understand if you want to understand why he acts the way he does towards serge:

"doesn't he hate it? if he does, why is he pushing serge (the only person who ACTUALLY helps him) away?"

because he doesn't THINK he deserves it, he thinks he's going to corrupt serge if he does, everyone thinks that, everyone stays in their lane, no one has ever done anything to stop it and when they tried they were pushed away by auguste, and gilbert wanted auguste's approval! he wants him to like him! so he continues, and the cycle never ends ...

[vanya-evergreen]

THANK YOU FOR 100 NOTES ON HOW TO REMEMBER.💖💖

I am over come with joy by how much people have been enjoying it! I was working on the next part when I noticed haha!

So in celebration I give you a small look into the next chapter 🥳

*it might change a bit in the final draft!*

“Welcome the 9 pm GBC News, we are currently following batman and robin while they pursue-” Click

You were hanging upside down on your coach, clicking through the local news channels trying to find the best view of the chase. Your laptop was discarded besides you. It’s open to an article about Dick Grayson ‘soaring through’ the annual charity ball on the chandler when he first was adopted into the Wayne family. There were multiple other browsers open, all on the Wayne Family and their lucrative businesses and charities, along with their scandals too.

You said you would do your research.

Your attention was taken away from this ‘research’ as a new alert about Batman and Robin chasing some nameless villain, who had kidnapped some poor boy, on founders island came up. No new station could find a good angle, you were annoyed.

“Damn you!” you toss the remote to the other side of the coach, quickly you flip yourself around and get off of the coach. You mumble about how they do it on purpose, they were trying to make you read their shit article. You had to wait for social media to do its thing of supplying you with clips of your favorite heroes (well not absolute favorites). Your apartment was nothing to overlook, always seems to have been updated without you knowing. It always had the latest tech, or trendiest look. You have been rich for 7 years now and still can't seem under it.

You walk over to the floor to ceiling windows, looking down you see people walking home or to a club, taxis and cars driving in opposite directions. Slowly the news faded to the back of your mind.

Nights in Gotham were always busy, especially near Old Gotham. It was rich with history and culture, and also money too. When you first woke up in this world you wanted to visit every place possible. You went to museums, office buildings, the GCDP nearby, and shops you had never even heard of. You used to stand out on the corner of the street watching the luxury cars pass by, while your ‘Assistant’, Val Miller, carried bags from the toy store you frequented, or the candy stores you couldn’t help but indulge in. Yo had never really had a childhood, but looking back you weren't as grown as you thought. You looked up at the neighboring building, the neon lights danced in your eyes. There was one that always caught your eye.

You went into that office building, or what you know as Wayne tower, once. You were dressed like a typical kid or preteen, you wouldn’t stop looking at all the expansive interior. The front desk workers thought it was the funniest thing that a kid was excited to be there. They gave you a small tour of the base floor level and let you answer some calls. It was great for you. You were just a kid when you came here, and even now you are just a kid. Everything was new and shiny to you.

This place is a far cry from your home near the east end of gotham. There was a high rate of villain bases and criminal activity in your area. While it wasn’t the safest environment for you as a child, it is what you knew. It’s where you learned to survive, how to live. So you tried your best to protect your small place of peace, your shabby second floor apartment. Full of splitters waiting to happen and ready to cause a concussion at any moment, it was far from ideal, but it had running water, gas, and occasional heat. You lived with your mother, she was a brilliant flash of light in the darkest corner of Gotham, but she wasn't alway there for you. While she wasn't the perfect mother, she did what she could with what she had for the both of you.

[rivangel]

this is going to be so niche

i’m chest deep in my old fnaf phase and listening to the living tombstone and i’m just… with the levi backstory manga still on my mind… based on It’s Been So Long by the living tombstone…

AOT AU in the underground and Levi is just a kid but he’s old enough to be walking around one of the markets. even though he’s gone with her dozens of times, Kuchel has always told him to stay close. and of course Levi brings that to the next level to make her happy so he’s practically clinging to her dress most of the time

as she’s paying another vendor, she has Levi go to the stall right next to it to pick out a watermelon (his ABSOLUTE favorite)

then there’s a massive commotion. no one knows it, but it’s someone swooping in with odm gear and tipping over a massive cart in the process. no matter the danger Kuchel’s top priority is scooping up Levi and running

but he’s gone

he’s gone

the shock grips her. meanwhile, there’s no attack, not even a thief. some people get out of there but most disperse and go back to business as usual (pissed the accident drew a lot of customers off)

it’s not safe to wander around the underground even in a populated market, but Kuchel can’t seem to command her legs to walk her home. she goes to the nearest MP and does whatever she can no matter the cost, even if it costs her her body, to get them to find the monster who kidnapped her son, but in the end that doesn’t get her anywhere

the grief drives her crazy. you can imagine how hopeless and grueling of a life she’s lived in the lawless dark hell she grew up in (with her brother who eventually left her). it’s not a life. she didn’t even know what life was until Levi was born. she’s never seen the sun before, but she suddenly didn’t need to because that was Levi. not just her whole world, or her sun, or her sky. her everything. her angel.

she became resigned to living day to day barely scraping by, barely being able to get food to sustain herself in a place with men who have done nothing but hurt her in many ways. and for the first time in many many years she decides to fight

this is getting long-winded but she starts seeking revenge. she’s been forced to learn how to protect herself before, but what she goes on to do can’t compare. and every single time a lead runs cold or she doesn’t want to go on, she sees Levi’s face in her memories getting further and further away and she refuses to give up.

your sweet little eyes, your little smile is all i remember. those fuzzy memories mess with my temper

it lingers in my mind and the thought keeps on getting bigger. I’m sorry my sweet baby, I wish I’d been there

…i don’t know what happens after that

(but it’s actually Kenny who took him away that day. the king, Uri, became interested in Kenny’s family. his intentions are good. to further make up for Ackerman persecution, he asked Kenny to save Levi at least, because Kuchel had practically disowned Kenny as a brother after their massive argument the last time he saw her, him having wanted Kuchel to get an abortion to spare the child the suffering of living in a cruel world, and there’s nowhere more cruel than the Underground.

he’s confident she would’ve been way too stubborn to be convinced. and of course, Kenny would do whatever Uri asked of him.

…i don’t know what happens after that either, except i imagine it’s a matter of Levi being “gently imprisoned” because no matter if there’s sunlight or food or a clean bed or anything - he doesn’t know what happened to his mom and he just refuses to do anything but isolate himself and rebel against Uri’s kindness until he sees her again.)

[tytarax]

Also here’s the headcannons I used for my oneshot (and ones I have in general);

TW: forced bonding (all platonic), implied kidnapping, stalking, delusions, forced positions, forced immortality, insanity, mentioned murder

………………

-Zamasu is very much delusional. His ideals of wanting to kill off all mortals interferes with his love and affection to reader, which causes Zamasu to panic. He believes that all mortals are evil, so reader messes up these beliefs, which causes Zamasu to panic. There are many ways that this could end, but my favorite one to write about is Zamasu tricking himself into believing reader isn’t actually a mortal being- or rather a god trapped in a mortal body and life.

-Zamasu stops at nothing to get what he wants. And if reader can’t understand, then he will ‘assist’ with that. He most likely believes reader is the broken and delusional one, their mind shattered by the sins of mortal life they were forced to live with for many years.

-He uses anything to justify his delusions. Reader is introverted or shy? Clearly their mind is trying to reject the ways of humanity and he needs to help them! Reader has a physical disability or gets sick often? Their body is trying to reject its cursed mortality, Zamasu can fix that for them!

-If reader tries to go on a hunger strike, or any similar form of retaliation, Zamasu will shut it down immediately. He isn’t against spoon feeding reader if he needs to. In fact, he’d probably enjoy it because it justifies his delusion that reader needs him.

-If any of reader’s old family happens to be alive still, Zamasu will kill them. He can’t risk those foolish mortals trying to take his child away from him! It is most likely this overprotectiveness that drives him to kill Trunks off rather swiftly before he can time travel.

-He will become more overbearing if reader even shows hints of going against him. Zamasu will lock them in the cabin if he feels like he needs to- which he most likely will- and spend lots of time trying to convince reader that he’s in the right.

-Tricks reader into becoming his student. It ties them to him, plus then he has an excuse to dress them in his style outfits and colors. If reader tries to go against this or reject his offer, he will keep forcing it on them. Hopefully reader will accept Zamasu’s offer before he decides to force them into it anyways.

-Absolutely adores reader and believes that they only fight against him because they were raised by mortals. If he can get reader to understand his ways, then they will stop fighting back surely! He will force reader to bond with him in however he can, whether that be by reading with them or forcing them into hugs.

-stalked reader before he went ahead and kidnapped them. Even if reader was with the resistance, he would find a way to follow them everywhere. He will leave little gifts (namely food and books) for reader to find so they stay alive. He will hasten his plans if he realizes reader is sharing their gifts with others.

-Even unfused Zamasu and Goku Black act very similar to this if they follow this shared delusion, but their personalities differ a bit. Zamasu would spend lots of time trying to ‘get through to reader’ with small tea conversations and parallel bonding, while Black would be way more forceful and would be more likely to lock reader up if they keep fighting back.

-Goku Black would force reader to train with him to make them stronger, but he would never allow them to surpass him or become his equal and would always hold back. Zamasu would try and make reader act more like himself, teaching them the same manners he learned (which only reinforces his delusions).

-All versions of Zamasu fear hurting reader, and this fear and their delusions would drive them to use the dragon to wish for reader’s immortality.

-if Infinite Zamasu from the manga ever came into fruition… then poor reader.

Wow, I mean, like, wow.

These hcs are really good and I love your creativity!

You really put a lot of thought into Zamasu's character and motivations. I love how you've explored his delusions and how he would justify his actions. This sounds intense and captivating!

Keep up the amazing work!

[absurdthirst]

Driven By Power {Mando x F!Reader}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 6.9k

Warnings: Haunted!Din, removing helmet, fingering, breast play, mentions of oral, NON-CON, DUB-CON, alcohol consumption, tipsy reader, deceit, manipulation, unprotected sex, vaginal sex, rough sex, pregnancy, angst, kidnapping, imprisonment

Comments: After learning that the Mandalorians that remain won't follow Din unless he can prove that he has the best of their people's interest at heart, he is persuaded by the voices in his head to do the unthinkable. Trick you into marriage and carrying his child.

🚨🚨 DEAD DOVE: DO NOT EAT - This story contains elements of manipulation/lies and forced pregnancy/kidnapping. If these things upset you, do not engage🚨🚨

Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers

**Follow @absurdthirst-writes and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all new fics.

|| MasterList || The Mandalorian MasterList ||

GIF Credit: @pedropcl

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

Din stares at Bo Katan as she tells him that in order to get the rest of the Mandalorians to follow him, he will need a riduur and children. It’s shocking but he isn’t surprised. Mandalorians are followers and to be a leader, he has to be an example. He knows that family is deep rooted in his culture and he needs to show that he can lead Mandalore into the future. “They will not follow you, even with the saber.” He doesn’t want to be a leader but what choice does he have? He cannot die and allow another to have the saber. With a sigh, he exits the castle and finds you waiting for him with Grogu.

“How did it go?” You ask, curious and so damn beautiful. Din hates how gorgeous you are and so out of his reach despite sitting behind him in the star fighter.

Din doesn’t answer right away, something that drives you crazy and you huff, turning towards the kid and rolling your eyes and making a face so he coos happily. “At least we got to make a pit stop.” You grumble. “My ass is going numb and I miss the vac tube in the Razor Crest.” There hadn’t been a lot of privacy in the ship but it was better than the no privacy or space in the starfighter. “Where to now?” You ask, watching as he checks the panels on the ship.

Din doesn’t answer again and you huff, crossing your arms. You’re used to him giving you the silent treatment but even this is too much. He lifts up from the landing pad, punching in a destination, and the ship whirls as it ascends into the atmosphere before launching into space. “Guess it’s a surprise, huh kid?” You look at Grogu who coos in response and you lean back, accepting that you’ll find out when you get there. 

Din’s mind is whirling, torn with what he has to do and what is right. There’s been a voice inside of his head lately, since he won the saber, that urges him to give in to what he wants, regardless of what is right. He tries to ignore it but right now, the voice is making a good case for why he should do what he’s considering. “It’s for the benefit of every Mandalorian in the galaxy.” it says and how can he argue with that?

“Naboo.” Mando answers you after he has set the ship’s coordinates and you gasp. Naboo. A planet that he might have to be on for a few days. One that you could rent a room and sleep in a real bed. “Did Bo tell you about a sect on Naboo?” You ask curiously, wanting to meet more of Din’s people. You always think of him as Din since learning his name but call him Mando out loud. Not understanding the rules of Mandalorians, although you find yourself drawn to him. He’s silent, not exactly forthcoming with information about his religion but you figure that’s because you aren’t Mandalorian. When you are asleep sometimes, you hear him talk to Grogu, explaining things about the ship, or his religion and it makes you think of what this man would be like as a father of children. Surprisingly patient, it’s been the fantasy of a few self pleasuring sessions in the showers at rest stops along the galaxy when he wants to clean up.

“No.” Mando replies curtly, “we will need somewhere to stop. Rest for a few days. We need to find a safe space before we continue our journey.” He answers and leans back in his seat, looking down to see Grogu climbing into his lap. “Get some sleep, we will be a while.” Din orders, closing his eyes behind his helmet to silence the constant noise in his head from the voice telling him to do what he needs to do.

Naboo is gorgeous and you look through the tiny port excitedly as the fighter breaks atmo. Resting for a few days - that sounds like a vacation. Not that you’ve ever known Din to stop and take one, but you are eager to see what he views as rest. “Ohhh it’s so beautiful.” You gasp, seeing the stunning waterfalls and lush greenery that makes up the majority of the planet. “This is heaven. Are we staying in a remote spot or in the spaceport?” You ask.

“Spaceport. Figured it would be nice to be able to have a day or two in a proper bed and a ‘fresher.” He says as he navigates to the space port and comms in for a parking spot. They guide him in and he lowers the ship to the port. “Come on kid, let’s get something to eat.” He says, knowing Grogu must be hungry, he always is.

No camping. A real bed. You scramble out of the back of the fighter and hurry to keep up with him and the child. “Maker, the things I would do to sleep in a bed.” You groan happily. “I’m going to spend at least an hour in the ‘fresher.” You have to guess that he wants some time out of his armor. “I might not get dressed again.” You giggle at the thought of not wearing shoes for the next few days.

Din’s cock twitches at the thought and he grunts, opening the hatch before he gets out of the fighter. He carries Grogu and pays for the parking to the attendant. “Come on, mesh’la. Let’s go.” He orders and you follow him into the spaceport and through to the accommodations.

You follow behind him, aware of the awe and eyes following Din. You noticed it, even if he did not. The wary looks or curiosity as people turn their heads to follow the confident gait of the gleaming Mandalorian as he walks through the port. The building he stops at looks luxurious and you bite your lip as he steps through the doors to walk up to the desk where a purple Twi’lek is working.

“Hello, how can I help you?” She asks and Din hands Grogu over to you so he can pull out his pouch of credits. 

“I’d like two rooms. Connecting rooms.” He says and she nods, eyeing the imposing Mandalorian. She tells him the cost and he hands over the money, taking the key cards. “Come on kid, I’m sure you’re tired.” He takes Grogu again and guides you down the hallways to the rooms he had booked. His heart pounds in his chest with anticipation but he’s ready to do what he needs to do.

“Oh Maker.” You moan softly. “I cannot wait to lay down in a bed.” You huff, “I think I’ll order food and eat it in bed.” You smile dreamily at the idea of just lounging and not being cramped in that little jump seat. It had been made for a droid, not a human. “Are you going to remove your armor for a while, Mando?”

He nods, “yes mesh’la. I- I need to relax.” He admits and opens the door for you, walking in to open the connecting door. Grogu is set down and he coos, immediately trying to find something to get into. “Mesh’la, do you want to use the fresher first?”

“I’m going to take my time,” you caution but Din just tilts his head like that doesn’t matter. “Okay, I’ll go first. You can eat and get the kid down so you can have some helmetless time.” You always wondered what he looks like. “Will you order me some food too?”

Din nods, "of course, cyar'ika." He reaches for the datapad to order food for all of you, knowing he will need to eat in private before he showers and he watches you walk off to the 'fresher. He sighs softly and Grogu coos, reaching for the silver ball Din keeps on him to occupy the kid. "I know. Food is coming." He promises, handing him the ball.’

In the ‘fresher, you groan at the luxury. Real water, not a sonic shower. “I’m going to take a bath!” You call out, stripping out of your clothes. “Order me some spotchka too!”

Din bites his lip, that dark voice in his head telling him that this is his chance. He calls back that he's ordered the spotchka and he waits for you to come out of the 'fresher. When the food arrives, you're still in there and he feeds Grogu, the little guy soon falling asleep so Din carries him into the room next door and shuts the door, ensuring that the kid doesn't hear what is going to happen next. "Food is here." Din calls out, stripped down to his flight suit.

When you finally emerge, your skin is steaming and pruny from how long you soaked. Wrapped in a towel, your clothes are in the small washer and you know that Din wants to clean up. “Thank you.” You smile at home gratefully and motion towards the ‘fresher. “Hot water is unlimited.”

His eyes trail over the drops of water still clinging to your skin and he swallows harshly. “That’s good. Mesh’la. I- I need you to repeat what I say. I can’t tell you why just yet but I need you to trust me, do you trust me?” He asks and you nod, “of course.” 

He reaches for your hands, gloves caressing your damp skin and he inhales deeply. "Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde" He says and you repeat each word after he says it, unknowingly marrying the Mandalorian in front of you. 

“Good girl.” He murmurs, rubbing your hand with his thumb and he lets go. “I’m going to clean up. Your food is getting cold, you should eat and drink.” He gestures to the spotchka, his stomach twisting with guilt but the voice reminds him that this is necessary. He steps into the fresher, stripping down and removing his helmet. He wants to be clean for you so he takes his time shaving, washing himself off and soon he has just a towel wrapped around his waist as he takes a deep breath and steps back into the room.

While Din had been in the ‘fresher, you had eaten, enjoying the food that wasn’t rations packs and drank most of your spotchka. Pleasantly tipsy as you wonder what language Din had you repeat. Was it Mando’a? Was he trying to impart some wisdom or perhaps make you a part of his clan? The idea makes you giggle and you open your mouth to ask him about it when the door opens. Squealing when you see brown hair, you slap your hand over your eyes. “Your helmet! I didn’t see your face! I swear!” You know Din had removed his helmet to save Grogu but you don’t know why he’s taken it off again when he’s trying to redeem himself.

He sighs, knowing you won’t understand until he tells you everything later, but he walks over to you, taking your hands in his to lower them from your face. “It’s okay, riduur. You can see my face. It’s allowed.” He promises, squeezing your hands to assure you that you can open your eyes.

“It’s allowed?” You peek one eye open and peer up at him cautiously, as if you are afraid you might get scolded. Then opening the other in surprise because Din Djarin is fucking attractive. Your mouth drops open and you huff. “That’s fucking unfair. You’re even hotter without the helmet.” You have no filter when you’ve been drinking, one reason why you haven’t drank about the mandalorian before. “Wait-“ your eyes widen. “Am I mandalorian now? Is that why it’s okay to see your face? Is that what those words meant?”

“Something like that.” Din chuckles and caresses your cheek, inhaling sharply at the feel of your skin under his bare hand. “Mesh’la. It means…it means beautiful in Mando’a. I think you’re beautiful.” He murmurs, brown eyes meeting yours when they widen in surprise.

“You do?” You blink owlishly at him and then repeat it back to him. “Mesh-la.” You hum and grin. “Mesh’la. You are very mesh’la too.” You promise him.

Din smiles, blushing softly at the compliment since you’re the first person he’s willing revealed his face to other than Grogu. “I- I want you. I want to touch you.” He says and slides his hand down to caress your neck.

“You mean……” you bite your lip. “Sex?” You have dreamed about Din, imagining his voice and his hands. You can’t even imagine how he would actually fuck, but your eyes slide down his torso and you honestly think you start drooling. “Yes! Fuck yes, but- I’m not - I don’t have an implant.”

“It’s okay.” He promises and bites his lip, staring at you for a moment to take in the way you are appraising him like he’s a five course meal. “I - I have an implant.” The voice in his head urges him to move forward and he licks his lips, “can I kiss you?” He asks, preparing for his first kiss.

Maker, this is really happening. You bobble your head up and down, giggling slightly when you feel dizzy. “Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have drank so much.” You pout, “but yes, I want you to kiss me mesh’la. I’ve imagined you touching me so many times when I’ve been in the ‘fresher touching myself.”

He wants to stop but the voice in his head urges him on, telling him it’s what he has to do. Din likes that you’ve thought of him. He likes that you want him. He leans in to kiss you, awkwardly knocking his nose against yours. He sighs and shifts to press his lips to yours, heart pounding in his chest as he cups your cheeks and shifts closer, his cock twitching under the towel at the intimacy he’s denied himself for so many years.

He’s a bad kisser. It makes you giggle again and you reach up, hesitating for a second before you touch his face. Only to pull back when he groans. “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have touched you, should I? I don’t know the rules.” You fret, not wanting to misstep.

Din grabs your hand and brings it back to his face. “You can touch me, riduur.” He promises and presses his lips back to yours, reaching for you to drag you out of the chair so he can press his body against yours. “Tell me what you want.” He orders, kissing along your jaw and he can’t seem to get enough of you. That voice in his head is cheering in victory and he feels almost high, high off of touch and intimacy. What he’s been lacking for so many years.

“I want-“ you pant at the feeling of his lips on you and it makes your head swim. “I want you to do whatever you want to me.” You know that this is something that Din has never done before. Not fucking, you know he has needs, he’s gone to a brothel before. The intimacy though, that is new to him. You want him to do everything he’s ever imagined to you,

Din pulls back to look at you, his riduur, and he swallows harshly at the way you so willingly give yourself to him. It’s intoxicating. He doesn’t say a word but he reaches out to grip the hem of your shirt, slowly pulling it over your head and he’s relieved to find you without a breast band. “Fuck.” He murmurs, eyes fixed on your tits, and he reaches out to cup them, loving the feel in his hands under he’s surging forward to wrap his lips around your nipple like he’s seen in porn holovids.

You gasp, never taking Din for a breast man, closing your eyes and moaning as he sucks on your nipple. “For- for always having your mouth covered, it’s pretty fucking good.” You praise, reaching out and sinking your fingers into his hair without second guessing yourself. “Mand- can- can I call you Din?” You ask shyly, wondering if he would prefer being called by Mando. Maybe he has a power kink.

He pulls back to lick your skin, loving the taste of the standard issue body wash combined with what’s purely you. “You can call me Din.” He assures you, his hands caressing your back and he switches over to your other breast. “Fuck, mesh’la.” His hand slips down to work on your pants, wanting you bare before him.

“Din.” You whimper, reaching out with your other hand and stroking his back. Wondering how it feels for him. You’ve never seen him without even a single globe and now every inch of skin is bare, beyond what is behind his towel. “Oh fuck, I get to see mandalorian cock.”

Din chuckles against your flesh, pushing your pants down and he shoves your panties down too, pulling back so he can see your naked body when you kick them aside. “Maker…you’re gorgeous, riduur.” He groans and reaches for the towel around his waist, knowing it’s about to fall anyway with how hard he is getting just looking at you.

“Maker.” Your eyes widen and you understand now why his flight suit is just black and slightly baggy. He had to hide the monster he keeps in his pants. “Fuck, Din. You’re going to be in my throat.” Your hands have a mind of their own, reaching out and starting to touch him, pressing softly against scars and ridges of muscle. He’s not completely ripped like you had expected but why would he be when he’s covered head to toe? He’s strong though, you know that metal on his body everyday has made him incredibly strong.

Din shudders at the way you caress his skin, his hands finding your waist to pull you against him. “I need you.” He murmurs, the voice in his head growing stronger, and he slides his hands down to squeeze your ass. “Mesh’la.” He murmurs, kissing along your neck, sucking on the skin below your ear.

“There is a bed right here.” You feel dizzy from his attention now; wanting more. Din starts to guide you towards the bed and you whimper when you feel his teeth scrape along your pulse. “I hope you fuck me hard.”

He chuckles against your skin, “if that is what you wish, riduur.” Your knees hit the bed and he pushes you down, straddling you as he follows you down to the mattress. “I’ll fuck you however you want.” He promises and slides his hand along your thigh, his knee pushing them apart so he can slide his fingers through your folds.

“Fuck!” You moan, rocking your hips up to meet his hand. “I want you to fuck me how you want. Just I want you to want it rough.” You chuckle, grinning up at him. “You- it’s so strange, seeing you without your helmet. Your voice is so clear.”

Din snorts, “I can’t hide my expressions. Beskar has done it for me.” He confesses, rubbing your clit, and he loves feeling your hot flesh directly against his skin. You’re already so wet and he groans when your hand finds his hard cock. “Cyar'ika.” He warns with a low groan, his cock twitching in your hand and he knows you will struggle to take his length so he pushes two thick digits inside of your pussy, his thumb pressed against your clit.

“Oh fuck.” Your mouth drops open and you let out a low moan as his fingers fill you up. Closing your eyes for a moment before you have to see him, want to see him. Watching his eyes darken as he stares at where his fingers are buried in your cunt. Your hand squeezes his cock and you pull it away to spit in your palm and wrap your fingers around him again to jerk him while he fingers you.

“Dank Ferik.” Din curses, groaning when you squeeze his cock and start to pump it in your soft hand. He curls his fingers inside of you, making you cry out, and he leans down to take your nipple into his mouth, knowing that this is his new fixation.

Part of you wonders if this is because of what Din and Bo Katan talked about. If so, you need to know what that woman said because this is everything you never knew you wanted. “Oh maker, you like being able to use your mouth, don’t you?” You gasp out. “Fuck, if we do this again, you can- oh fuck, you can use it other places too.”

Din groans, releasing your nipple with a pop. “Fuck yes. I want to taste you.” He murmurs, wanting you to cum on his fingers right now. He will taste you later, after he’s cum inside of you. “Later. I promise.” He sighs and switches to your other breast, taking your nipple in his mouth to suck and bite down on.

The idea that this might be more than once and his teeth applying the most exquisite pressure against your nipple is too much. Crying out, your walls clamp down around his fingers and you pour an embarrassing amount of cum over his digits. It’s been so long since someone else has touched you and the fact that it’s Mando adds to the pleasure

“Maker.” He groans when you soak his fingers and he works you through it, the wet noise is music to his ears as he tries to work you open for his cock. When you whine, he withdraws his fingers and wraps them around his length, “I need you, riduur.” He murmurs, shifting to kneel between your thighs, working his cock while his eyes devour your heaving chest.

Nodding, you look up at him, wanting to ask what ‘riduur’ means, but you don’t want him to take another moment before he’s inside you. “Please, Din.” You beg quietly, stroking his arm and rubbing your thumb over a scar on his forearm.

He nods, shifting closer so he can rub the head of his cock against your clit, and he groans at how wet you are. He meets your eyes as he pushes inside of you, shifting onto his elbows as he pushes deeper until he’s pushing against your cervix. “You okay?” He asks, wanting to make sure you’re comfortable.

You can’t make a sound except for the groan as all the air is forced from your body and ever cell lights up in pleasure. Your blunt nails dig into his skin and you swear that you’re going to pass out before you can finally suck air into your lungs with a gasp that sounds as if you are drowning. “F-fuck!” You squeal when you can finally vocalize how you are feeling. “Oh fuck, shit-“ you pant. “You’re so- so fucking big.”

He can’t deny that he’s proud about how much you like his cock. That he’s stretching you out. “Mesh’la. Fuck. You - you’re so - it’s so good.” He chokes, feeling your bare cunt grip him and you’re so wet. He is clenching his jaw to control himself. It’s been a long time since he was in a pussy this good and to have you beneath him, his skin against yours, it’s almost too much.

He stays still until you start to squirm, needing him to move. “Please.” You beg, eager to see what he can do when he moves that big cock inside you. “Fuck me, oh fuck me so hard I see stars.” The baby is in the other room and it’s been so long since you’ve been fucked properly.

Din growls in response to your plea and he nods, taking a moment before he decides to fuck you hard. He pulls out until only the tip remains before he thrusts deep inside of you, piercing deep inside of you with no mercy, he starts to fuck you with earnest.

All you can do is scream. Pain and pleasure melding together in perfect unity to have your entire body bow up. Taking every powerful swing of his hips with a piercing ache that brings tears to your eyes and makes you dig your nails into his flesh. Not caring how much you are going to ache in the morning, you want more.

He hisses at the way your nails dig into his arms and he grabs your thighs, pushing them back towards your stomach so he can sink deeper inside of you. “Fuck mesh’la. You’re - you - fuck. So good.” He pants, that dark voice in his head roaring with victory and egging him on.

“Yes, yes, fuck Mando.” Your eyes roll back in your head and you’re breathless. Panting and moaning every time he hits deep. “Please, please baby, I’m so close.” You reach up and caress his face, loving his wrecked expression.

He groans, feeling you get slicker, tighter, and he pushes deep inside of you, lowering his hips so his pelvis grinds against your clit. “Cum for me, mesh’la. Cum for me.” He commands, kissing along your jaw until his lips press against yours.

It’s like he flips a switch for you. Brilliant lights burst behind your eyes as the coarse hair above his cock grinds into your clit and rubs you just right, making you cry out again. “Din, Din, Din!” You scream his name when he pushes deep again and tension in your belly snaps, making you shake underneath him,

He growls in delight when you cum, clamping down on his cock, and you soak him with your juices. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuckkkk.” He growls, the voice in his head urging him to do what he has to do. Making him groan as he buries his cock deep and starts to cum with a moan of your name, his cock twitching as he pulses inside of you.

You whine at the sensation of his warm seed filling you. Thankful that he has an implant. Your own had malfunctioned awhile back and you had it removed by a med droid on Navarro but lacked a replacement, so you had just done without. It wasn’t like you were having a lot of sex. No sex before tonight. “Oh maker, you cum a lot.” You moan, feeling it start to push out of you even as he’s still pumping it into your cunt.

Hearing you say that combined with him filling you up has him burying his face in your neck, breathing you in and the voice in his head cheers with victory. Pleased at his actions. “Mesh’la.” He murmurs, slowing his pace until he stills inside of you, cum pushed deep and he rolls over so you are on his chest.

“Wow.” You giggle, still cock drunk as you sprawl out on top of him. “That was…amazing.” You can’t help but lean in and kiss his neck. His cock is softening but hasn’t fallen out of you yet and you’re content to layer in his arms. “What now? Do I have to wear a helmet? Is that how this works?”

Din chuckles, “no. No helmet. Nothing changes. Just that you can see me without my helmet, without my armor.” He doesn’t tell you why, the voice telling him to not say anything just yet and while the guilt gnaws at him, he can’t lose you. The voice has done him well so far. He has to continue listening to it. 

**** 

“Fuck. Oh fuck!” You cry when Din pushes into you from behind, the new angle makes him feel impossibly bigger. He can’t stop fucking you. He’s lost track of how many times he’s cum inside of you over the past few days when the kid is asleep.

“More Din.” You beg, leaning down and pressing your cheek against the mussed sheets. You are exhausted but craving more from him, aware that once you leave these rooms that he won’t touch you like this for some time. Unsure why he is so amorous, but you aren’t questioning it. “Maker riduur,” Din told you that ‘riduur’ is something like ‘lover’ in Mando’a so you have taken to calling him that as well. He really gets off on it, going harder when you call him that. “Fill me up, please.”

He groans when you beg him to fill you up, that voice once again roaring with victory and he hisses when you clamp down on him, squeezing him like a vice. “Cum first.” He orders, sliding his hand down to wrap it around your neck, dragging you back against his chest so he can find your clit with his other hand. “Cum for me.” He demands, groaning when you whine his name.

You have lost count of how many orgasms you’ve had over the past few days. Too many. All of them leave you stumbling around like a newborn foal and he’s proving just how good he is with his hands as he works your clit. “Din!” Your hoarse cry fills the room again as you come apart on his cock.

He groans, pushing you towards your climax and he’s desperate to see you cum again. He hisses when you clamp down on his cock and he thrusts up into you, gripping your hip once you’ve whined that you are overstimulated and he grunts as he buries his cock deep and spills his seed to paint your walls for the umpteenth time.

Closing your eyes, you hum softly, panting as he presses himself against your back. Since the first night, he’s shared more of himself, grown comfortable around you, even eating with you between rounds. Maybe it’s just because he needs to keep his strength up, but it makes you feel good. It’s inevitable, falling in love with him. You know it. Now, you turn your head and kiss his lips. “Now I want to sleep for the rest of the night.” You tease, reminding him how he’s not exactly rested during this stay.

Din sighs, shifting to lay down, staying inside of your body. He groans and kisses along your neck, enjoying staying inside of you. He murmurs your name, curling around you. “Sleep, mesh’la. Tomorrow we leave.” He reminds you softly, knowing the kid will be waking up soon.

“Hmmm, ‘night.” You murmur sleepily, worn out by Din’s constant need for you. For a man who oftentimes seemed to only care about his quests, he is surprisingly indulgent with you. Quickly you fall asleep, knowing that you will need it.

After leaving Naboo the next day, Din continues his quest to Mandalore, deciding to stop off on Tatooine to see Peli after you’ve been to a few planets to seek more Mandalorians. With no Mandos in sight, Din decides to visit Peli and see what Tatooine has to offer for his ship. That’s when you get nauseous. Immediately seeking the ‘fresher when he lands in the port at Peli’s place and Din smirks under his helmet, knowing exactly why you haven’t been able to stand smelling the kid’s snacks. “Maker Mando! What have you been feeding that girl?” Peli asks him, picking up Grogu.

Din tilts his head causally. “Bantha jerky.” He jokes, knowing that you hate the meat and you groan and clutch your stomach. The mere thought of it makes you almost sick and you hate the queasiness over something so mundane. “Maybe I’m getting sick.” You think. “I need to see a med droid. I can get another implant placed too.”

Din swallows harshly under his helmet and he nods, “perhaps that’s best. I’ll get the kid sorted and then we can go find the med center.” Peli finds Grogu some food and you gag, moving away from it, and Din gets the kid into bed to take a nap. “Come on, riduur. Let’s go find the med droid.” He wants it confirmed, what he suspects is going on.

You go along with him, happy that while he’s not as physical with you since leaving the planet you had vacationed on two months ago, he still calls you riduur. He also presses a little closer while you are in villages or cities on the planets you visit, seemingly a shadow. 

When you arrive in the med center, all eyes are on the Mandalorian and he wants to take your hand in his gloved one but he can’t show connections. That creates a visual weakness to anyone who would dare attack him. When you’re in the private room, the med droid comes in and scans you. “It’s probably a bug.” You sigh, watching the droid work and Din sits there in silence, not wanting to say a word.

It doesn’t take long for the scan to finish and the droid's lights flash along with a few beeps. “Diagnosis - pregnancy.” The robotic voice proclaims, making your heart drop and your eyes widen dramatically. “The fetus is eight weeks developed - prenatal vitamins will be dispensed. The recommendation is for rest and water. The nurse droid will be in shortly.” The droid spins around on its wheels and leaves you reeling from the news. 

“I- oh maker.” You breath out, unable to look at Mando for fear of bursting into tears. “I- I didn’t- your implant - it must have - dank ferik. I- I’m so sorry, Mando.” You exclaim shakily. “I- I’ll have the nurse droid- we don’t have to- I can just-” You know he doesn’t want a child and how would you fit another in the damn starfighter? It’s cramped enough as it is, you can’t sit in that mech droid seat with a rapidly swelling stomach. 

Din is glad he’s wearing his helmet so you can’t see the victorious grin on his face. “Mesh’la. I have to tell you something.” He reaches for your hands, bring your gaze to his, your eyes watery with unshed tears. “Those words you spoke…before we - it wasn’t - it was Mandalorian marriage vows. Riduur means spouse or partner. We are married.” He reveals, glad you can’t see his face. He does feel guilty but he’s done what he needs to do.

Blinking in shock, you shake your head, sure that you had misheard him. “W-what?” You are horrified, in disbelief. “No- you’re joking and it’s not funny.” You hiss, pulling your hand out from his. “Don’t lie to me to try to distract me. This is- oh Maker, what am I going to do? I have to- I have to terminate it. You don’t need another kid.”

Din shakes his head, squeezing your hands a little tighter when he retakes them in his, the voice in his head growing angry. “You cannot terminate it. I won’t allow it. I- l lied to you.” He admits, knowing you might hate him after this. “I don’t have an implant. I wanted to get you pregnant, mesh’la. As the leader, I must set an example to my people, to unite them. I must have a riduur and younglings. I wanted you to be the woman who provided those things to me.”

“I-” You try to pull your hands free again, but he won’t let you, holding on while you struggle against him. “You- you lied? You asshole!” You shout, tears starting to fall as you realize he’s not lying. He married you without you knowing and impregnated you. Mando doesn’t joke about things like this and there is a slightly proud edge to his voice. “How could you do this? Why- why me? Did you- oh fuck-” Your stomach rolls and you immediately start to throw up, jumping back so you can bend down between you.

“I did what I had to do for my people. As their leader, it’s my duty. You will not terminate the child. We will continue to be married. You shall be by my side as I take my rightful place on the throne. We leave for Mandalore today.” His tone is final, leaving no room for argument.

Your retching has barely stopped when he gives you his edict and you don’t know what is worse, the fact that he lied to you or the fact that you are realizing that he must have just touched you for this quest of his. He didn’t care for you at all. He doesn’t resist when you pull your hands away this time and wipe your mouth. “Fuck you.” You hiss. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Mando.” 

Din shakes his head, “I’m sorry, mesh’la. You don’t have a choice. By Mandalorian law, you’re bound to me. I am responsible for you and our child. You will be leaving with me.” He dictates, “you will be by my side.”

“Don’t ‘mesh’la’ me.” You snort. “You know you tricked me. I didn’t know I was marrying you. No one would call that valid.” You know that if he wants you to leave with him, no one would stop him from taking you. He’s a Mandalorian. “This isn’t right. You- you can’t do this to me.” Your tears start again. “I- I don’t want to have your baby. Not like- you tricked me. You told me you had an implant.” 

“Does it matter now? You’re pregnant. With my child. You cannot leave me. You will have the child. We will remain together. I- I’m sorry about how I had to do this but it was required. Bo Katan told me that I’d need to lead by example and I- mesh’la. Please, I’m sorry.” He murmurs, knowing that getting forceful won’t get him what he wants.

“Don’t touch me.” You jerk away when he reaches for you. “Never touch me again.” You sniffle and the nurse droid comes back into the room. Mando reaches for his gun, obviously ready to shoot the droid if you mentioned wanting to terminate the pregnancy. Reality setting in as the droid hands you a bottle of pills and a chip for your data pad to read about what to expect. You can’t do anything but cry as you are left alone with Mando once more, your hand sliding down to your stomach and the life he has planted there. 

Din watches you, seeing how distraught you are at the news that he tricked you but he can't bring himself to feel bad. He had to do this, the voice in the back of his head telling him he was right. "Riduur, we must go. We need to continue our journey to Mandalore before you can no longer travel."

“I am not your ‘riduur’.” You hiss, angry that he had told you it meant lover and you feel sick when you think of every time you had called him that while he was inside you, begging him to fill you up. You had played into his plans perfectly and you feel so dumb. You clutch the bottle and shake your head. “I am not going with you. I want nothing to do with you, or Mandalore, or Mandalorians.”

Din sighs, reaching for his cuff to grab something he rarely has to use. “I’m sorry, riduur. This is for your own good.” He says and grabs the vial, breaking it and shoving it under your nose. He knows it’s safe but he desperately needs you to stay with him. When your eyes roll into the back of your head, he catches you and carries you to his ship, securing you before he grabs Grogu and makes his way to Mandalore.

****

Groaning, your eyes slowly open, your head pounding and for a moment, you don’t remember what’s going on. Blinking as your vision starts to clear and you see that you’re in some kind of ruin. “Wha-“ Even with the pounding in your head, you jerk upright remembering the med clinic. Din - marrying you - impregnating you without your agreement. “Din!” You scream before you spot him standing against a crumbling wall.

He pushes off of the wall, "riduur. You're awake." He has kept you drugged during the entire journey, rushing to get to Mandalore before you would wake up. The voice in his mind telling him this is the best place for you. "You will remain here until you have our child."

“What- no!” You shake your head, wincing in pain and you feel the weight of something around your wrist while you lift your hand. “You-“ the weight is a manacle, chained to the wall of the room you are in. “You- you’re going to chain me up?” You screech, immediately starting to tug on the chain. “Din, no, no, you can’t do this! Why? Why are you doing this?” You demand, starting to sob again.

“I’m sorry, cyar’ika. I have to.” He can’t explain it, it just feels right. “I’ll bring you some food in a bit. Stay here, relax.” He says like you have any choice but to remain in that spot. He doesn’t allow you to argue as he turns on his heel to the door, opening it with a creak. “I’ll be back.” He promises, knowing that this is what has to be done to save Mandalore. 

“Din! No! Come back! Please! Please!” You scream, sobs escaping you as you sink back to the cold floor after the door closes. Din takes the dark saber off of his belt, feeling its power, and the voice in his head tells him he’s doing the right thing. This is to save Mandalorians everywhere…no matter the cost.

[maccreadysbaby]

A Hundred Ways to Become a Wayne

batfamily + oc insert

tw: angst

wanna read more? here’s the table of contents!

want to read the first fic in the hundred days series so you understand what’s going on here? here it is!

bentley and dick have been through it™︎ thanks to the secret keeper and all they came out with on the other end was a sad little nickname that runs so much deeper in their shared trauma than anybody realizes. even each other.

AKA BENTLEY AND DICK ARE HAVING ROUGH TIMES OKAY

(also i’m kinda sad babybird isn’t a canonical nickname the batfam uses, but it also makes me kinda happy because im stealing it.)

part eleven

❝ BABYBIRD ❞

FRIDAY — AUGUST 7 — 3:20PM

BENTLEY LEARNED, THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES ON THE RIDE BACK TO THE MANOR, THAT SUSPENDED MEANT TEMPORARILY KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL. And that Asten had pulled all the stops (even tears) when talking to the principal to make sure he didn’t get it.

Bruce hadn't wasted a second rushing into the school’s office all worried-like to pick Bentley up, and he was starting to think something was wrong with him for feeling so… numb. Weird. Different. He didn’t know.

The drive was quiet. Bentley took to staring out the window and hoped it gave the impression that he didn’t really want to talk about anything. He didn’t want to get Damian in trouble, he didn’t want to imagine The Secret Keeper, and he didn’t want to think about Dick still not being awake, either. His attempt at attending school to fill his mind with something different had failed, and here he was, just as miserable as he was before. Actually, since his father had been added to the myriad of things floating around in his brain, he could probably say he was more miserable than before.

They pulled into the Manor and parked in the garage, and Bruce cut the car off with a sigh. Neither of them got out.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Bruce questioned softly, and Bentley felt his gaze settle on the side of his head. He finally peeled his eyes away from the window and looked back over at him. He had the same small, reassuring smile as always.

Bentley didn’t know what he wanted to do. What he needed to do. If he were being completely honest, this was probably the worst he’d felt since Christmas Eve. Dick, arguably the easiest one for Bentley to confide in, had been unconscious and unresponsive for days with no clear handle on what was wrong or what would happen to him. Damian, the first other child Bentley ever met and the one Wayne he spent most of his time with, decided he didn’t like him nor want him in the house anymore. He hadn’t slept more than about eight hours in the past three days, and was constantly checking over his shoulder for a supervillain that was kidnapping people. And to round it all out, like a cherry on top of his cake of despair, he couldn’t stop thinking about his dad.

He was exhausted, he was scared, he was sad and he was anxious, and he didn’t freaking know what to do about it.

“No,” He finally sighed, looking down at his pants. “I’m just… tired.”

Bruce nodded lightly, though his eyes held something different that Bentley couldn’t quite place. “Let’s get you inside, then.”

Bentley nodded, and they got out of the car and went into the Manor. It was really quiet inside, given that Damian and Duke were still at school. Tim was probably at work, if Bentley had to guess, and Dick was still in the cave. He wasn’t sure about everyone else, but the house seemed really big and really empty, and it reminded him of Whittaker Estate.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to come get me, okay?” Bruce asked softly, running a hand over Bentley’s head.

“Okay,” He replied. 

He went up to his room after that, dropping his backpack by his dresser and curling up on his mattress. And that’s where he laid for the next hour and a half, unable to sleep despite being absolutely exhausted, trying to fight away negative thoughts with about as much mental strength as a blade of grass. Bruce popped his head in once, so he pretended to be asleep. He heard his phone going off in his backpack periodically, where he’d left it when he got out of the car, but he never got up to get it out.

When the clock struck three-forty-five, he pulled himself off of his mattress and forced himself back down the stairs. He either needed a well-deserved breakdown or a distraction, and he opted for the less embarrassing option.

He walked into the library to find a book, thinking maybe if he could slip away for a while he’d be fine, but he found a Jason instead.

He was reading quietly on one end of the long couch, in sweats that Bentley was halfway sure he’d seen Dick wearing before, and the white streak at the front of his black hair was on full display, nearly glowing in the radiant light from the fireplace. He glanced up when Bentley walked in, then looked back down.

“Hey, kid,” He greeted casually, and Bentley was sort of glad he was looking at the book and not him. He made his way to the opposite end of the couch and sat down on it, pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around them.

He breathed in and out deeply. “Hey.”

He saw Jason steal another quick glance at him in his peripheral. “You okay?”

“Mhm,” Was as much of a response as he trusted himself to make without doing something embarrassing, like crying. Instead, he just sat there and stared down at his socks. He was sure Jason had heard about what happened at school, so he was kind of glad it was him and not anyone else. Jason wasn’t one to ask questions, and Bentley didn’t want to answer any.

He wasn’t allowed to feel this bad. Not when his life had taken a complete turn from his father’s house to the Manor. Not when he’d gotten so lucky, so fortunate. There were kids much, much worse off than him that were happy — so he just needed to suck it up and deal with it. He was fine. He had to be.

A long moment of silence passed, and Bentley debated grabbing a book or something, but he didn’t really want to move. 

“…Jason?”

Bentley didn’t look over as he spoke, but he saw Jason turn toward him in the corner of his eye.

“Yeah?”

He sucked in a breath, resting his chin on his knees. “Will you… read to me?”

Another quiet moment passed, and he could feel Jason’s eyes on him the same way he felt Bruce’s in the car. “What do you want to hear?”

Bentley shrugged lightly. “Whatever you have is fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,”

“Okay…” Jason replied, shifting a little and looking back down at his book. “‘I am by no means of opinion, I assure you,’ said he, ‘that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency.”

Bentley tried his best to focus.

“‘And I am so far from objecting to dancing myself that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening, and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially, — a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her.’”

Bentley blinked back the stubborn burn that surfaced behind his eyes. Not because of what Jason was saying — he was hardly able to comprehend that — but because of how bad he felt for feeling bad. He should be fine.

“Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being engaged by Wickham for those very dances: — and to have Mr. Collins instead! — her liveliness had been never worse timed. There was no help for it however.”

He turned his head completely away when his eyes started brimming, internally begging for it to go away. What was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he just be fine like he was supposed to?

“Kid?”

Bentley squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force everything to just stop, but it seemed to only make it all worse. 

“Bentley?”

He sniffled, and didn’t look over at him. “Can you just keep reading? Please?”

Jason was quiet for a few moments, during which Bentley hoped and prayed he wasn’t about to ask anything, but instead he continued: “…Wickham's happiness and her own was per force delayed a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could.”

Bentley tried to force all the bad feelings away, shove them down and bottle them up, but he was struggling to, and he didn’t know why.

“She was not the better pleased with his gallantry, from the idea it suggested of something more. — It now first struck her, that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being the mistress of  Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors.”

Bentley sniffer quietly (he didn’t mean to.) and as soon as he realized he did, he brought a hand up to his mouth. He shouldn’t have come downstairs at all.

“Hey, kid?”

Bentley said nothing. Didn’t look at him. Didn’t breathe. Maybe if he ignored him long enough he’d forget about it.

“C’mere,”

He did turn to look at him that time. And Jason was looking back at him, gesturing with a hand for Bentley to move toward him on the couch.

So Bentley did. He stood up, walked over there, and sat back down next to Jason, bringing his knees up into the same position he had been in before. 

���I’m not great at this kind of thing, but… if you want to talk about it, I’ll listen,” He explained simply, blue eyes flicking to several places. Bentley shook his head, staring down at his feet.

“I don’t,” 

That was enough for Jason. Bentley was glad he didn’t pry. Even though he was always trying to help, Dick pried a lot, and sometimes Bentley didn’t really want to talk. Jason seemed to understand.

He kept reading to him instead of asking anything more. Bentley ended up just sucking it all up, forcing himself to stop because he was fine. Jason just kept narrating whatever posh rich people book he was reading, and after a while, even draped an arm over the back of the couch where Bentley was. (Not touching him — Jason had always been careful about that kind of thing since they learned about his father, and Bentley wondered if he was doing it because he knew how complicated touch could be in stressful situations. He still hadn’t forgotten that abuse was noted several times in Jason’s file, and he assumed it wasn’t a coincidence that he was the most touch-conscious one when it came to another abuse survivor.) 

Bentley was pretty sure he heard Damian and Duke get home from school, but he didn’t move. He just hung off of every word Jason said, focusing on his inflection, on the slightly faded Crime Alley drawl he had that Bentley recognized from Asten’s voice, the way they said certain words the same. And eventually, his mind quieted, the delayed wave of after-anxiety-attack exhaustion hit him, and he faded away thinking about a strange mixture of Crime Alley and whatever fancy ball the rich people were at in Jason’s book.

—

“-Hey, kid,”

Bentley shifted slightly with a soft hum of acknowledgement, not wasting the energy to force his eyes open. Wherever he was, he was warm and comfortable.

“It’s eight-thirty,” He heard Jason say. “And Bruce just told me Dick’s awake, and he’s asking for you.”

Bentley sat up quickly, rubbing at his eyes and blinking them open. There was a blanket around him, and his head had been resting on Jason’s right shoulder. The library was dark now, only illuminated by the fireplace and a few lamps. (He tried not to think about how long Jason had been sitting in there with him.) 

“Dick’s awake?” He asked quietly, stifling a yawn to the best of his ability. He really hoped this wasn’t some sort of sick dream. Dick waking up wouldn’t solve all of his problems, no, but it would definitely get rid of a big one.

“Yeah,” Jason replied, putting his book down on the nightstand beside the couch. The little bookmark he kept in it had moved from the beginning to nearly the end. “You wanna go down there?”

Bentley stood up, pulling the blanket tighter around him with a quick: “Yeah.”

Jason rose from the couch, too, with a stretch and yawn of his own. “You really know how to put people to sleep, kid. Ten more minutes and I’d have signed off for the night.”

Bentley snickered emptily, then counted his fingers and read some of the book spines as he walked out of the library, just to make sure he was actually awake. He seemed awake, and he had ten fingers and could make out the words on the books, so he proceeded down to the cave.

As soon as he and Jason exited the elevator and began descending the stairs, he could hear voices. Mostly Bruce and Alfred’s, but sometimes Dick’s and maybe Tim’s a few times, too. It helped to fend away the cold that had been settling in his chest and made him feel… better. A little.

Bentley turned into the cave, spotting Tim at the Batcomputer typing away, and he could see a crowd of people in the Medbay. More specifically, Alfred hovering around doing his caretaker duties, Bruce and Damian on opposite sides of the bed, and Dick, sitting up on the mattress, awake and alert and okay.

Well, scratch the okay part. He didn’t look hurt or sick, but he was on the edge of the bed, his upper-body being cradled by Bruce and he was very obviously crying. But he was awake, and he was alive, and that was enough for Bentley.

He drifted to the door of the medbay, settling quietly in the doorframe. Everybody noticed his presence but Dick. Bentley wasn’t sure what had happened when he was unconscious, or what he’d seen, but it seemed to have taken a toll on him. He looked different, somehow, not necessarily physically, but… different. Kind of like he felt how Bentley felt. Like his typical Dick Grayson charm and gleeful demeanor had been stripped away.

Bentley stood there for a few moments before Bruce rubbed Dick’s back lightly. “Bentley’s here, chum.”

He sat up and turned, scouring the room before his ocean blue eyes came to rest where Bentley was standing, fiddling with his fingers in the doorway. Apparently, something about him being there was cause for concern, because Dick started crying harder when he saw him, and it made Bentley’s heart clench.

Did Dick not want him here, either?

“You can come in, bud,” Bruce said softly. “He’s okay. He just missed you.”

Bentley took a few hesitant steps into the room, watching them closely — the way Damian was looking at him so calculatively, and how Bruce’s fond and reassuring gaze contrasted it wildly. When he got close to the hospital bed, Dick reached for him. After Bentley glanced between Bruce and Alfred and only got soft smiles and nods of encouragement, he pushed himself up on the edge of the hospital bed.

“Hey…”

As soon as he was within reach, Dick grabbed him and reeled him in like some kind of professional fisherman, and Bentley just let him.

“I could hear you,” He whispered quietly, occasional sniffles and hiccups pushing Bentley closer to wishing everything short of death on the Secret Keeper. “I could hear you talking to me, I saw… oh my God…”

Bentley stayed quiet, but gently brought his arms up and around Dick’s torso in return. He was all but in his lap, and Dick was holding onto him like he was some sort of fleeting memory that would fade away the very second he let go. 

Dick sniffed, hiding his face in Bentley’s hair. “I love you, babybird. I love you so much.”

And that was it. Every semblance of willpower dissipated with just a few words, every shred of dignity and feigned composure, every haphazardly pinned-up false pretense that Bentley was fine fluttered away in the wind, and he wept.

—

dedicated to @sassenashsworld 💚

—

tag list! (If you want me to remove or add you, ask in comments!)

@fleur-alise @sarcopterygiian @cademygod

[bananadrinkxxx]

THE BLOOD CROWN

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x OC female!

Enemies to Lovers

Lovers to Enemies

PART 11

Princess Aemma Velaryon, named after Queen Aemma Targaryen. The name had always haunted Alicent, and when Rhaenyra had brought it back to life, she had seen it in Visery's eyes. Her husband had never loved her. He had liked her, no question, respected her, given her warmth, but she had not been the woman he had wanted at his side. But it had come as it had come and neither he nor Alicent had had a choice. Of course he had chosen her, but Alicent was aware that no woman could have filled the void left by Queen Aemma. At the beginning of their marriage, Alicent had tried to imitate the late queen. She had tried to dress like her, talk like her, walk, eat, and even smile. But she had quickly understood that all efforts were in vain. She was Alicent and she was Aemma. Alicent had imagined her life differently, she had not thought for a second about becoming the wife of Viserys, until her father had urged her to do so. Alicent did not regret this marriage, she had loved him, even if it had not been the romantic love she had hoped for, but she had loved Viserys. Just as she had loved Rhaenyra. Probably she had never loved anyone more than her once beloved friend. Seeing Rhaenyra had always filled her with joy, but then anger had taken hold of her heart, fear, distrust and finally hatred. Nevertheless, she could never drive the love for Rhaenyra out of her heart. She had chosen her children, her family, but she had not done so because she wanted to steal something. Aegon was the rightful heir and yet she would have accepted Rhaenyra as queen. Because it was the king's wish, but when Viserys had revealed to her on the evening of his death that Aegon was to be the next king, she had done what was her duty. She had feared that Rhaenyra would not believe her, but she had taken that risk.

Alicent had almost begged Lucerys to write this letter to Rhaenyra. She had to do everything in her power to prevent a war from breaking out. But Lucerys refused, and Alicent realized that the plan she and her father had conceived, the one they were pursuing, was in danger of failing. She feared war, feared Rhaenyra's anger. Her father had told her of her reaction to Dragonstone, had raised hopes that Rhaenyra would bend the knee, but now she was sure that would not happen. A mother's rage was boundless. They had Lucerys, a stupid decision Aemond had made that could bring war. Rhaenyra had already lost Aemma. If she lost Lucerys as well, the princess would rip their hearts out alive.

The kidnapping had been a stupid decision that Alicent would regret for the rest of her life. Aemma Velaryon's smile, her sweet, innocent, pure smile always appeared in her mind's eye and ever since Lucerys was trapped here, it haunted her dreams. That guilt would eventually haunt her, turn on her, and take revenge on her. She had an innocent child on her conscience and the feeling that Lucerys would be next would not let her go.

T̶H̶E̶ ̶B̶L̶O̶O̶D̶ ̶C̶R̶O̶W̶N̶

Aemond had to pull himself together not to turn back on Vhagar and give Daemon Targaryen the death that son of a bitch deserved. His uncle had lived too long and Aemond was no fool. He would never bend the knee. Even if Rhaenyra did, Daemon would rather die. The illusion his mother and Otto were under was beautiful, but in the end it was still what it was. An illusion.

Aemond was not a coward, he did not shy away from battle, he even longed for it, he wanted to show what he had learned, that he was not a weakling, that he rode the biggest and most powerful dragon in the world, but he was not a selfish man. The innocent creature before him that he had promised to protect trusted him and he was not a man to break his word. He felt her trembling, he saw her hands clutching at the saddle, and how fast she was breathing. He put an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, pressing into her soft back and breathing in the pleasant scent of her hair.

He said nothing, but he didn't need to. He felt Rose surrender to his embrace, relax a bit and find strength. She had been involuntarily drawn into a fight she had nothing to do with. Daemon had seen her, and he knew his uncle would not forget her. She was in danger as of now.

Aemond pondered what to say to her, searching for soothing words he didn't have, for an affectionate gesture he didn't know. He had been brought up cold. His father had had no interest in him, his mother had tried, but she loved him, Aemond knew that, but she rarely showed what she felt and even more rarely said it. As a child he had sought her closeness, almost begged her for it, but with age and the loss of his eye, he had outgrown that phase.

"Thank you for not fighting, my prince," Rose said, and Aemond raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You didn't have to take me into consideration, and yet you did. I appreciate that."

"This fight does not concern you."

"Forgive me, but I must disagree. This battle will affect all the citizens of the Seven Kingdoms when the time comes."

"When the time comes?"

"Do you still believe in peace?"

Aemond knew that the common people were not well educated. Most of them did not even have the ability to read, let alone write. They were uneducated and he had never been interested in conversing with them, but Rose was different. She had lived among nobles, and as a maid to highborns, they were expected to be intelligent enough to understand what they were ordered to do. And even if he didn't think Rose was educated, she had proven that she was not a stupid naive girl. She understood what was going on around her.

No, he did not believe in peace. In part, he even had to admit that he wished for war. The desire for battle and triumph hungered within him, even longed for a war, even though he knew it could destroy everything he loved. But he had not wasted years of his life training only to be able to prove his skills in tournaments afterwards.

"Does the prospect of war frighten you?"

She was silent for a moment before shaking her head. "Not fear, but respect. I just think if dragons go to war, there won't be much left to fight for."

Aemond knew she was right. Even if he had Vhagar, and his brother Sunfrye, he wasn't idiotic. The Blacks had more dragons, and in Daemon Targaryen, a man who had fought many battles. Ser Criston was on their side, but even though Aemond despised his uncle, he could not deny respect for him. He had the strategic genius of a Gernal and the madness of a Targaryen.

He preferred to make no further reply and remain silent for the rest of the flight.

At King's Landing he was met by his mother, who looked at him with irritation as he helped Rose off Vhagar. Rose bowed to his mother and gave him one last look before asking her permission to leave.

Aemond wanted to deny her, to force her to stay here, with him, but he was still of sound mind to know that this request was childish and not befitting his station.

"You took her with you," his mother asked irritably when Rose was gone. "A servant?"

"I greet you as well, Mother," Aemond replied wryly.

"Don't play games, Aemond. This mission was extremely important and you interrupted it because you took a girl with you? I wouldn't have pegged you that way."

"I didn't interrupt it because of a girl, I interrupted it because of your brother-in-law."

Alicent winced. "What?"

"Daemon Targaryen greeted us, with rage and fire and if it hadn't been for Rose, then you would now know if your son was dead or successful."

As if Alicent did not perceive his words, she sprinted out and surveyed him. She looked for injuries. "I am unharmed, mother. There was no fight."

Alicent looked at him in surprise. She looked upset, irritated, and Aemond had seen the fear in her eyes. She played with her fingers again. He grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Tell me everything, my boy."

T̶H̶E̶ ̶B̶L̶O̶O̶D̶ ̶C̶R̶O̶W̶N̶

"Little Luke," Aegon mocked as he refilled his wine cup. He looked to his mother and grandfather. "Since when do we allow prisoners to eat with us?"

"Prince Lucerys is still our guest," Otto replied. "We want him to realize that we do not wish or desire any animosity within the family."

Aegon rolled his eyes. "Of course, Grandfather," Aegon said, his voice full of irony. "After all, no one would want that. After all, we are known as a happy family, aren't we, nephew?"

"If you say so, Aegon," Lucerys replied with a touch of arrogance, fully aware that he was addressing his uncle by his name. Disrespectful. But Lucerys had no respect for traitors.

He refused to see his uncle as anything other than what he was. A usurper.

"Prince Lucerys, watch your tongue," Otto admonished him. Lucerys did not look at him. "This is the king you're talking to."

"No, no," Aegon said with a laugh, clapping his hands as if it were a funny spectacle which had just been presented to him. Perhaps it was, in fact. He turned to Helaena, who was looking stubbornly at her plate. Aegon frowned, snidely, and turned back to Lucerys. He winked. "It's my nephew. He can speak as he pleases. I allow it. I am the king and we are family, after all. He is our guest isn't he?"

Otto frowned. "Your Grace, he is a guest, but one in a precarious situation."

"Yes, yes, a situation my dear brother has put him in," Aegon replied. "But I am happy to have my nephew with me. We used to have so much fun when we were kids." His voice defied full of irony but no one could deny the last sentence. Despite the enmities, they had been friends as children. Until the time Aemond had lost his eye.

"And speaking of him," Aegon suddenly shouted, raising his cup. Everyone present turned to look at Aemond, who had just entered. Next to him was his mother, who looked displeased. "Bürderchen, how nice."

"Aegon," Aemond replied.

"You're back early. Why?"

Aemond glanced briefly at Lucerys, then at his grandfather. "Why is he here?" He ignored Aegon.

"Lucerys is our guest, Aemond," Aegon replied with a grin instead, leaning forward. "Now tell me why you return so early. We weren't expecting you."

"Perhaps we should-," Alicent began, but Aemond ignored her.

"Daemon Targaryen has declared war on us."

Suddenly there was an icy silence in the hall. You could have heard a pin drop. No one dared to say anything, most did not even dare to breathe.

"What did you say?" asked Aegon, his voice suddenly serious. His eyes bulged slightly and Lucerys saw him turn pale. But Aegon was not the only one who reacted like that. He too felt his heart begin to race. His hands became sweaty and it felt as if the air to breathe was taken away from him. Anger spread through him.

But before Aemond could answer, Lucerys jumped up.

"What did you tell him?" growled Lucerys. All eyes turned to him.

"You think I said something, bastard?," Aemond replied, hissing, and though he had only one eye, what Lucerys had left, his gaze was piercing. The insult no longer had any effect on him. It no longer pained him to be called a bastard. He was used to it.

"You must have said something!," Lucerys yelled and lunged at Aemond, ready to take his other eye as well. Aemond was a dragon killer, he had taken Arax from him and now he was going to take his family from him as well. His mother, his perfect, pure mother. He would not let that happen.

"Aemond," Alicent called out in panic, but her son reacted quickly. He grabbed Lucerys by the wrist, the other around his neck.

"You lie," Lucerys cried. "You lie, you honorless-"

"Careful, nephew. Don't think you have any relevance now," Aemond retorted harshly.

"Prince Lucerys, you will control yourself," Otto cried admonishingly. "Aemond, let him go. Guards!"

Aemond raised his hand, the guards looked irritated at Otto, who again had his focus on Aemond.

"I know you're lying," Lucerys hissed. "He wouldn't start a war."

"But he did, nephew."

"You have no proof!"

"Yes we have," Alicent suddenly shouted. Lucerys' gaze locked on her, as did her son's, who looked at her in irritation.

"Rose, come here."

Rose flinched in fright when the queen dowager called out to her. She saw Dyana's surprised look and the other servants also gave her perplexed looks. Alicent's gaze locked on her and she knew she had no choice. She looked to Aemond, who had a hard look on his face. He didn't seem too thrilled that his mother had called for her. She swallowed and gathered all her courage. She felt the gazes of everyone present on her and bowed to Queen Alicent, who looked at her seriously.

"Can you confirm what Prince Aemond said?" she asked, her voice cool and commanding. Rose felt cornered, defenseless and completely at her mercy. Her eyes met Lucerys', and guilt welled up in her. The boy didn't deserve all this. This was wrong. He looked at her pleadingly, hoping she would contradict Aemond.

"Speak, girl," Otto called to her commandingly, and Rose flinched. Her hands clawed at her dress and her gaze crossed Aemond's. What did he think? Should she talk? He did not contradict his grandfather.

"Prince Daemon has ordered his dragon to attack us," she confirmed, and she felt like she was signing Lucerys' death warrant. The boy looked at her stunned and suddenly everything happened so fast.

Lucerys broke free from Aemond's grip and before anyone saw it coming, he punched the one-eyed prince in the face.

Rose flinched screaming and saw Aemond react quickly and grab Lucerys.

"You forced her to lie," Lucerys screamed, and he struck at Aemond again. This time the prince quickly dodged and struck back in the same breath. His blow was hard, much harder than Lucerys' and the younger fell to the ground groaning. But not enough for Aemond, as he lunged at the boy, who fought back with his hands and feet.

"Hold still, bastard!," Aemond screamed, drawing his dagger. Rose's eyes widened in horror.

"Don't, stop it, don't hurt him!," Rose screamed as Aemond grabbed the boy to press his dagger to his throat. It was like that time, only this time they were not alone. She felt the eyes of the others on her. Surrounded by nobles, king and queens.

Before she knew what she was doing, she lunged forward, threw herself protectively in front of the son of Rhaenyra's Targaryen, and looked into the eye of the man she had kissed with passion that morning.

Aemond looked at her, stunned. "Get out, now!" he hissed and Rose shook her head. She looked to the dagger. "He don't deserve this."

Anger reddened on Aemond's face.

"What do you know, what he did or didn't deserve," he hissed angrily. Suddenly he seemed like the Aemond she had come to know again. "Get out of here now."

She shook her head. Her hair had come loose from her braid and was bouncing back and forth with her hasty movement. She could feel Lucery's gaze on her, but she only had eyes for Aemond.

She couldn't let anything happen to Lucerys. Even though she had only spoken to him once, she had been attracted to him. But it wasn't that attraction that Aemond had with her. It was something else, a different attachment that she couldn't explain.

"Please," she breathed, and even more quietly she added, "Aemond, please." No one but the prince heard her.

She saw the inner struggle in Aemond. She saw him thinking about what to do, saw the emotions sliding over his face before he took a step back. His gaze was on him the whole time. Then she breathed a sigh of relief when he put the dagger away.

Before Rose could move a step, Aemond stepped forward and grabbed her by the arm. His grip was rough. He pulled her along without a word and shoved her out of the hall.

She felt his anger and fear spread through her.

Only now did she realize the effect of what she had done. She had turned against Aemond and protected Lucerys Velaryon, his enemy. This bordered on treason, and perhaps it was. She felt Aemond tremble. Rose wondered what he would do to her. Even though she had come to know his gentle side, she had not forgotten his rough, hateful side.

He pushed her into his chambers and slammed the door behind him. Silence reigned for a moment before Aemond fished a vase from his table and smashed it against the wall over the fireplace. Rose flinched fearfully. She snapped her eyes open as Aemond's gaze locked on her.

"I'm sorry," she said in fear.

"You will never do that again, do you hear me?" shouted Aemond, approaching her. "Who do you think you are?"

Her heart was beating wildly against her chest.

"He didn't deserve this," Rose defended herself. "He's innocent."

"Innocent?" repeated Aemond, stunned. Then he reached for his blindfold and Rose's eyes widened. A violet eye peered out at her. Well, at least what served as a replacement for his eye. The cavity where his eye would otherwise be was adorned by a purple gemstone. The stone sparkled and despite its beauty, it looked scary.

"He took my eye and got away with it, no punishment no consequences," he stepped closer to her. "He got everything he wanted all his life, could do whatever he wanted and now suddenly he's supposed to be innocent," his voice grew colder with each word. Hate. So much hate in his voice. He wasn't screaming anymore, but he didn't need to. Rose had never been so afraid of him. She was trembling all over. He would kill her.

"Lucerys Velaryon is a bastard, and has always gotten what is due me. And now you come and presume to lecture me?"

He is a bastard... She was one too.

"I wasn't going to-"

Suddenly Aemond stood close to her, grabbed her by the chin, and pulled her toward him. The gentleness had gone out of him, leaving behind someone Rose had learned to fear. She trembled and her hand clawed at his arm.

"You're lucky I like you, Rose. If you do that again...," he stopped before the words left his mouth, but he didn't have to say them. She knew what he was about to say. She knew the consequences of betrayal. The only thing that saved her at the moment was the intimacy that bound them both together. Aemond was watching her face, and she didn't know what he was seeing, but obviously it seemed to be enough for him and he let go of her. Without another word, he turned and left his chambers. He left her behind like a worthless piece of clothing that he no longer needed.

Rose was trembling all over. The tears would not stop flowing and she bit her lip to keep from making a sound. Her legs were shaking so much that they gave way and before she even registered it, she landed on the floor. She didn't feel the impact, too preoccupied with the pain in her heart. Her fingernails clawed at her palms to steady herself, but her tears wouldn't stop. She had only wanted to help. Far be it from Rose to humiliate Aemond. She had only wanted to protect him from becoming a Kinslayer. She didn't want him to incur that curse, and Lucerys wasn't a bad person. He was right, she didn't know what Lucerys was like then, but she knew him now. He was a good boy.

Rose pulled her legs to her body and threw her arms around them. She pressed her upper body against them and curled up into a ball. She buried her head in the cave.

All she wanted to do was help. And now Aemond hated her. Everything they had until now was destroyed because she had interfered.

Rose flinched as something suddenly touched her. She straightened up fearfully and saw Aemond kneeling in front of her. He had put his blindfold back on and his hateful look had faded. Instead, she found pity in his eye, and regret?

Before she could even react, he grabbed her by the shoulder and pressed her against him. His other hand was on the back of her head as he pressed her head against his shoulder and rested his chin on top of her head. Rose's eyes widened in surprise. What was the meaning of this?

"Forgive me," he breathed. "I didn't mean to frighten you." His voice was soft, and contrite. "This situation, this condition, it's making a person out of me that I don't know. You're making a person out of me that I don't know."

She was making a person out of him that he didn't know? What did he mean by that?

He gently pushed her away from him and gently stroked the tears from her cheeks. His hands were cold, but he interpreted her wince as fear. She saw his apologetic look. Suddenly he seemed so young, so vulnerable, and Rose thought for the first time that Aemond was still a boy. He had the body of a man, but he was barely older than she was.

"Do you forgive me, Rose?" he asked, almost pleading. She forced a smile to her lips and nodded.

"Do you forgive me?"

Aemond looked at her in surprise. Then he smiled gently. "There is nothing to forgive."

And suddenly it was there again. That familiarity between them. That warmth her body craved. This was the Aemond she craved. The one her body needed. And despite this feeling, this one thought did not let her go. Maybe it was stupid and naive, but she couldn't stop it. She reached for Aemond's hand and clenched in her small hand.

"Let me talk to Lucerys. Maybe I can convince him to write his mother after all."

As expected, Aemond's gaze hardened again. "Rose-"

"I know what you're going to say, my prince. I know I'm just a servant, a bastard, but I think I can help."

"I didn't mean it that way."

"But that's what I am, a bastard. I think I can talk to Lucerys and he'll listen to me. And if I'm unsuccessful, then I'll keep quiet forever."

"No."

"Please Aemond. Let me try. A war would be the downfall of this empire. You know that. I beg you."

She could see Aemond's inner conflict on his face. He frowned, and seemed to want to contradict again, but something stopped him. He surveyed her face, contemplating it for a few moments, before suddenly, unexpectedly, nodding. Rose looked at him in surprise. He said yes? He trusted her and a feeling of happiness ran through her. She clasped his hand with both hands. Aemond would let her talk to Lucerys and she would try everything in her power to get the boy to write to his mother.

She could not fail.

T̶H̶E̶ ̶B̶L̶O̶O̶D̶ ̶C̶R̶O̶W̶N̶

Rhaneyra watched her son Aegon as he knelt down to Viserys and offered him his toy. She smiled and leaned back. Both children laughed and for a moment Rhaenyra forgot all her worries. All the duties and all the burdens that the office of heiress to the throne had imposed on her. All the pains that this position had cost her. She had asked herself not once if she should give up this title, just give her will to the Hightowers and live happily with her family on Dragonstone. But pride and the will to protect this land had opposed that decision every time.

Now she sat here, as Black Queen, about to release the start of a war. A war that she wanted to prevent for all the world, still wants to prevent.

Rhaenyra watched her midwife pull Aegon away from the fire as he approached dangerously close. A dragon was always drawn to fire. Just like Aemma, a thought flashed through Rhaenyra's mind. Aegon was very similar to Aemma in character, and that they were the same age, the age when Aemma was taken from her, made everything a little more painful. Aemma had also always been drawn to the fire. She had told Rhaenyra that it had a magical effect on her. An attraction. Rhaenyra hadn't given it much meaning, but as a Targaryen, that wasn't surprising.

But Aemma had seen something in the fire then. Rhaenyra had dismissed it as a gimmick, a childish imagination, but she had kept talking about this paper dragon and the sea. Now Rhaenyra knew that her daughter had a gift that had presented her with the future. Her own future.

"My Queen," Ser Erryn said suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts. He bowed. "A letter from the Red Keep."

Rhaenyra suddenly felt a stab in her heart and she had to pull herself together not to snatch the letter from the knight's hand. She opened the letter and each written word filled her heart more and more with horror.

They would execute Lucerys if she did not lay down her rebellion, as they called the Greens, by the next moon and bow the knee to Aegon.

Rhaenyra had to force herself to breathe. Her whole body felt numb. She felt sick. Her bowels contracted.

They threatened to kill Lucerys. They would execute her little baby if she didn't give up what was hers. What they had stolen from her. Rhaenyra felt a tear roll down her cheek. She quickly wiped at her face. Her lips trembled and she felt her throat tighten.

Alicent had written that letter. She had not written the letter provocatively, but it was what it was. Lucerys would die if she did not bend the knee.

Traitor. Fucking Traitor.

A noise caught her attention.

Daemon entered the hall in a rage and Rhaenyra looked at her husband, startled.

She saw the smoke marks on Daemon's face. 

"What happened, Daemon?"

_____________________

What do you think? Will Rose be able to convince Lucerys or will we witness Lucerys execution?

[blu3cl0v3rs]

I Can't Explain Ninjago

Season 3: Rebooting Rebooted

So, apparently the world goes on after possessed Satan becomes a DILF, and "The Ninja" apparently went to college or are teaching without a license. But not Trauma Child, he's busy being paraded around Ninjago! Anyways, Spiky, Freezy, Coal, Bluejay, and Meow all become teachers.

Meanwhile, newly named New Ninjago City becomes super duper techy and all of the vehicles fly. The teachers go on a field trip to the tower of the guy who invented all of the new technology: Anxious Tony Stark, who will be called Cyborg. Cyborg has a robot daughter named Pixie Dust, who gets Freezy's heart, metaphorically. Cyborg summons "the Ninja" (obv not including Trauma Child, he's busy fucking around with god's gold powers that he got by sort of taking the other "Ninja's" elemental power last season) and gives them a statue of himself.

These assholes break the statue, but it's okay because it was built to break. It has some funky Hacker Sticks and ninja outfits inside. Now, they're being chased by evil robots because, surprise, the Evil Liquid Cat didn't actually die; he's now a computer virus! So, he's trying to kill them again 👍 The fuckwads run away and put on the outfits that somehow fit them. Also Meow takes a buzzfeed quiz which tells her that she should date Coal, and Gandalf gets kidnapped by Evil Liquid Cat.

The six scamper off to Sensei DILF's house, and Trauma Child gets his ass whooped by running into a pole. They then get jumped by the Evil Roombas, and Freezy makes Pixie Dust turn Normal TM. Trauma Child and Sensei DILF steal a car from the Big Fighter Mech base, and they drive off into the sunset while actively being hunted down. The others go shut down the power, and then Pixie Dust now literally gets Freezy's heart. Or, well, half of it. So, she lives.

Trauma Child wants to use the god's gold powers to travel, but Sensei DILF tells him to shut up and stop, because Evil Liquid Cat can slurp up the remnants to become solid. Trauma Child also kidnaps a baby bird, and the bird's dad almost kills Sensei DILF. But, everything works out. Y'know, until Sensei DILF's chucked into the ocean and Trauma Child is kidnapped.

Meanwhile, Bluejay is mad at Coal because Bluejay wasn't the result of Meow's buzzfeed quiz and they fight, the others got their asses whooped by evil Gandalf because Evil Liquid Cat corrupted him, they learned that the evil robots are now being powered by electric eels, and they figure out that the Evil Liquid Cat was stolen by porple snek, who kidnapped Trauma Child.

"The Ninja" then decide to play the VR game that Evil Liquid Cat is trapped in, and [insert freddy fnaf at five bears reference here]. Anygays they holy grailed the motherfucker out of the game, but surprise surprise! After slurping almost all of Trauma Child's gold power from god, he gains a mostly corporeal form!!!! yayyyyyy 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 so the parkour pisschickens go to space and almost die. again. wooooo.

Oh hey also the Evil Liquid Cat finds the Big Gold-Stick Thing + god's gold weapons from the past and makes it into a portable lava lamp stand for himself. "The Ninja" fight him again, and porple snek shrinks and gets eaten by a robot bird.

They're fighting, it's really intense, all has failed and Ssomething needs to happen Now, and Freezy hopscotches his way over to the Evil Lava Lamp Cat, andddddddd.......

Freezy explodes.

Yep, he sploded 😔

Sorry, he's (supposedly) dead.

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sorry this took so long, school's been dragging me to my living room (aka hell) and i've been fighting through a writing slump-

Tournament of Smellements will come..... eventually? i'll try my best idk 😭