#he might however totally fail to notice his staff doing so

[whetstonefires]

#the only one that may have trouble is the asylum owner because of his batshit unethical practices

unfortunately seward just needs to switch to different, modern unethical medical practices and he's good to go

One of my favorite things is modern adaptations that leave people with the same careers they had in the original material, because unless you’re a cop or a doctor that practically never happens.

Irene Adler’s an opera singer. We still have those! They don’t have the same subtext exactly, but nothing is going to because we aren’t the Victorians. She could continue to be an opera singer. I have never seen this happen.

Jonathan Harker can still be in real estate. That’s a job people have. A modern story that still involves Dracula contacting his firm to help him purchase property sounds amazing actually.

[truly-quirkless]

Type: Lore/History Timeline: A week after the U. S. J. Incident/The previous chapter. Location: Conference Hall.

[All Chapters]

They took in a small breath. Fin adjusted the black jacket they'd elected to wear to this live interview- internally wincing. Their fingers were nearly chunks of ice, their mind racing, their heart beating so fast they were sure they were about to collapse...but they had to do this. Thirteen and Aizawa wouldn't be able to- so they'd just have to do it. They resisted the urge to run a hand through their hair, feeling a large palm come to rest on their shoulder.

Hazel eyes flicked over to the towering figure beside them backstage. All Might, wearing a bright yellow suit once more- his smile in place, pearly whites nearly glowing even in the dark.

"Today, we've gathered the two faculty who are available to speak on the events that took place in the Unknown Simulation Joint a few days ago. Please welcome to the podiums, All Might and Finley Well!" The two began to walk- stepping out from behind the curtain, cameras flashing. Fin didn't bother to cover their face- attention snapping to the floor to see where they were supposed to walk. They walked, head held high- feeling as though their legs would give out from under them at any moment.

Act. They were an accomplished faculty member of U. A.- they were confident. They could handle this. They stepped up to their smaller podium- resisting a glance the Hero's way. Up here- even the smallest glance could cause problems.

"All Might, tell us! How were the villains able to get onto campus??"

"According to what we've uncovered, they had a warp villain with them. However, campus security has been beefed up dramatically since then, in no small part thanks to all the staff." He beamed- a smile so bright that the room's very atmosphere seemed to slowly shift- drifting. "And, of course, my fellow Heroes and I sent the villains packing- so they're sure to think twice before attempting to target U. A. again."

Murmurs filled the hall. Fin watched, silent as death. It was best to just be a smiling face beside the other- to not be noticed.

"And what measures are the school taking, in regards of security?" Well. Fuck. Fin could see the faintest twitch of a hand out of the corner of their eye. Their turn... They looked out into the sea of faces and cameras- feeling their chest squeeze. The air wasn't enough- it wasn't getting into their lungs. They nodded.

"That would fall under the jurisdiction of my team, which is under the command of Nezu, since my boss is currently recovering." Fin smiled lightly. "The school is going to be outfitted with higher-tech security- it was already a few years out of date, so this incident is a chance to upgrade to state-of-the-art, once more. On top of that, every 'emergency' system in the school area is receiving a total overhaul- including several redundancies just in case one fails. The villains that attacked had a specific signal-jamming Quirk among their ranks, so we're going to make it impossible for them to use that again."

A few cameras flashed. Fin's vision flashed in and out. They hadn't even been aware that they were speaking- they felt disconnected, drifting from their own body as another voice called above the others.

"All Might, what about the Warp villain?"

Yagi internally sighed. While he'd tried to give Fin a moment- it seemed the press was having none of it. He didn't let it show on his face- continuing to smile. The Symbol of Peace...of course they'd weigh his words more heavily than Fin's.

"The Warp villain escaped with the main target- but we've captured all of their accomplices, so I'm sure they'll be brought to justice, soon!" His voice was firm- broking no argument. At least he had the power of so many years of experience behind him- so many years of being trusted. Besides, if the blue-haired villain did try again, he'd probably be even worse off...All Might had no doubt that Nomu was the male's trump card.

Without that, what damage could he do? He'd still be careful, sure...but he doubted much would come of a young adult acting like a raging toddler.

"And even if they weren't, well- I will be there to make sure their plans are foiled!" And that declaration had the room nearly exploding. The energy had totally changed- no longer wary or concerned, instead full of beaming smiles and grins. That was better...seeing all the concern had been wearing on his heart. "On top of that, while Mx. Well here may be Quirkless,- I heard that they dropped a building onto a good chunk of those villains!"

And that turned every eye Fin's way. Hazel eyes remained steady- their vision had unfocused by now, unwilling to look at anyone directly.

"So it should come as no surprise that all the staff at U. A. are ready to take on any villain who knocks on our door- including the Quirkless Hero, here!" He gestured lightly. That should at least keep Fin from being a source of ridicule- and help up U. A.'s standing for when he wasn't around.

Fin, personally, internally screeched. That nickname- from All Might himself- would no doubt keep them from a good chunk of ridicule...but he'd also just broadcasted they were Quirkless, and tagged on the word 'Hero'. They could only imagine-

"Mx. Well! Are you really Quirkless?"

"Did you really drop a building on the attacking villains?"

"How did you do it-?"

They couldn't feel their fingers anymore. Question after question was being leveled. The air felt far too thin. They tried to steady themself, feeling like a barely-buoyant buoy amidst a storm.

All Might internally winced. He could sense the faint unease that was cloaking them- practically dripping off their frame after that announcement. But- he'd had to. Otherwise, villains might think U. A. was defenseless when he wasn't around. It might've been wiser to list out Thirteen and Aizawa, but since both of them were still recovering... He took in a small breath.

It'll be alright. He just had to hope.

"Yes, I'm Quirkless, and yes, I took out a chunk of the invading forces by dropping a building on them." Fin was pretty sure that statement alone would warrant them getting fired. They could only imagine the glare from Nezu over this... "As the leader of U. A.'s construction team, I had built a section of the Unforeseen Simulation Joint to be full of buildings that could collapse if force was applied in just the wrong area. None of the buildings were built to kill, merely to disarm and trap students who weren't smart enough to flee or stabilize the structures. The villains I dealt with are now all in police custody."

Their eyes narrowed slightly- the smile dropping off their face. They probably shouldn't have let it- but they needed to get the message across. The brunet's legs were stiff, ramrod. Their hands were barely there- voids of ice. Their heart was hammering in their chest. They wanted, in part, to run.

"I may not have a Quirk, but that won't prevent me from keeping U. A., its students, and my fellow faculty, safe. I just have to use other methods to achieve the same results." There was the faintest sound of a few pens scratching.- And then..

"All Might, are you planning to retire soon?" And it was back to him. They let out a breath. The Quirkless Hero? Just what was he trying to get at? They couldn't even shoot him an inquisitive glance- instead stuck with reforming their smile, gazing out into the endless sea of flashing lights and raised voices.

"What are your plans for Might Tower?"

"Is one of the other teachers at U. A. your secret lover?"

Fin internally twitched. WHAT.---

"Retirement may be in my mind, but it is far away! So long as the world needs me- I will be here! As for Might Tower, I plan to leave it in the capable hands of my personal assistant, though that is still a long time off!- And my only lover is JUSTICE!" Though the thought briefly crossed his mind. Could the two be considered...?-- Not quite. No, he supposed. It was a near-lie, but not totally. That was what kept it as the truth- kept him from telling some bold-faced nonsense to the public.

Like with many things, how they interpreted that was up to them. He'd flashed another winning smile- sensing the shift back to himself and away from the brunet beside him.

What was meant to be a live interview for the two about the U. S. J. Incident...was quickly devolving into another round of questions for the blond. He didn't mind too much- it took everyone's minds off of the events that had transpired quickly enough. So, he flashed his signature grin- a laugh or two rumbling through the hall as he settled into answering each and every bit of All Might trivia that the reporters were curious about.

At least everything would return to peace...

[]

Fin breathed out as they all but fell onto the faculty lounge couch. Thankfully, the reporters had ignored Fin for most of the interview- was it really an interview? It felt more like a conference...or a press release? They weren't sure what to label it as- but at some point, it had basically become 'the All Might show'. There was a quiet hiss- and then a delayed POOM as smoke exploded out from behind Fin. They didn't really have to look back to know that the other had transformed.

"On the bright side,...that should keep the media entertained for a while." While he wasn't the biggest fan of five million questions overlapping, of flashing lights and constant, invasive inquiries into his life...it was still easier on him than knowing the other had gotten panicked. Besides, that would be broadcast world-wide, he was sure..

Hopefully, 'The Quirkless Hero' would just be a title to keep Fin from harm- instead of inviting it. As for himself,...well. It was a way to get All Might into the news circulation again- not that that was hard.

"...I'm just glad it's over...how th'Hell you can handle all those fuckin' cameras,...I'll never know." They didn't even want to sit up from the couch. Just listening to the reporters all but knocking Yagi down with questions was enough to make their head spin. Years of practice undoubtedly swayed how easily he was able to brush each question he didn't want to answer off- and respond with that bright smile to those he did.

"Lots of practice, Hazelnut." He moved to sit- just barely resting on the edge of the couch, a hand sliding over to ruffle the other's hair. He noticed them shifting- pulling to one end of the couch so he could actually fully sit. "Ah- you didn't have to do that."

"...wanted to." There was a split-second splash of pink- their tongue poking out of their mouth as their eyes slid Yagi's way. He chuckled at that- shifting so he was more fully on the cushion, allowing his spine to relax- bending forward in a way that any chiropractor would probably suffer a conniption over. "Hey." They sat upright- poking Yagi's shoulder gently, causing him to glance over. Their hair was a little messed up from laying down, hazel eyes dull with exhaustion- about as much exhaustion as Yagi felt, if he was to be honest. "...y'wanna go get smoothies?....my treat."

He could feel it- the way each word was slowly dragging, getting further. He had interacted with a great number of fans over the years...and he could sense that Fin was about to shut down. Sky blues closed for a moment, his head shaking as he rested a hand on their shoulder.

"No,...I'll go get them. Any requests?" Fin smiled faintly, rolling their eyes.

"...strawberry-banana?" It was doubtful they could get him to back down- and honestly, they were tired... "...my place?" The question was tagged on, nearly like an afterthought. It'd be nicer to share there- the two wouldn't have to worry as much about any would-be interruptions, save Prism. But, that was a welcome interruption to the brunet.

"...sure." Yagi stood up- bending enough to offer a hand, sky-blues flashing for a moment as small fingers rested in his palm. He let himself grip them gently, his short soulmate sliding off the couch to stand beside him- hand falling from his grasp. Where the two had briefly touched tingled- gentle and light. He was the first to round the coffee table, watching Fin idly walk around the other side. Smoothies and hiding at their place...

After that interview, it sounded like the perfect way to relax. Retracing their steps through U. A., the common point of it all. The fact they'd both made their way back to campus, not a word passed between them...perhaps they were both just accustomed. Whatever the case- Yagi reached into a pocket, feeling the cold steel that made a shudder traverse up his arm. He pulled the keys out- catching the split-second of Fin reaching for their carbineer.

"Don't worry, I'll drive." A glance his way- a little tilt of their head. Their mouth hadn't moved, but he could see the way their eyebrow began to rise. "Really." Their hand relaxed- falling back to their side as the two walked to faculty parking. He guided them ever-so-slightly, letting his touch rest on their shoulder. They were led to a seemingly average black car, the license plate on the front...an All Might plate. He heard a small chuckle- vision shifting, catching the momentary uptick of a smile.

"....there you go..." A click, the locks popping- Yagi moved to pull a door open on the passenger side, waiting until Fin was inside before sliding it shut. His fingers lingered on the door for a moment, before he pulled away. It was a bright day, today...still cold, the wind still biting in each pass...but it was a pleasant afternoon.

He stepped around the vehicle and hopped in on his own side. Fin was already situated a little oddly- their head resting against the seat, the seatbelt clicked in place. Their eyes were barely open. Yagi turned the keys over- hearing the churn of the engine before it caught, rumbling to life...Fin didn't even flinch. He pulled his door shut.

"...smoothies, here we come." Or rather- it looked like he'd be doing the smoothies solo, but he didn't mind. He pulled out of the lot and onto the road. The traffic flowed lazily- several cars still carrying some of the reporters from the interview. Yagi couldn't stop smiling- his lips upturned in a way that was slowly starting to feel more natural in this form. A small glance over at a stoplight,...and he knew Fin was asleep.

A silent chuckle passed between his lips. He turned the radio on- a soft song echoing from the speakers as he continued on towards the smoothie shop.

[n0bamak1s]

your type - maki zenin x reader

request: “hi! would you be able to write fluff for maki and a female reader during/after the baseball game?” - @hvnnxh

summary: when todo makes a realization about the readers type, he takes it upon himself to set her up with maki during their exchange event (genre: fluff, kinda rivals to lovers ig)

warnings: a couple swear words, maki might be slightly ooc??

word count: 1.6k

a/n: this is slightly off from the prompt but hopefully it’s alright! i left their relationship a little up in the air in the end just bc i didn’t want it to be too rushed but i hope u like it!

if there was one regret you had after becoming a jujutsu sorcerer, it wouldn’t be a failed exorcism or hours spent in the infirmary from various injuries, no. your biggest regret would be telling aoi todo your type.

though, to be fair it’s not like you’d known that the exact type of girl you had described as your type happened to go to your sister school in tokyo. it’s not like you’d known that your classmates would constantly give you sneaky glances on the drive to your exchange event. even the famously stoic noritoshi found himself rolling his eyes when you tried to act indifferent at the mention of maki zenin’s name.

they had always noticed how your eyes tended to wander in her direction when the tokyo students would come over to train with you guys. the only problem was the fact that you barely manage to speak to her, always feeling intimidated by her confidence. though, that didn’t stop your classmates from egging you on to realize your crush on the girl.

it’s not like they were wrong in assuming that you’d be into mai’s twin sister. the problem was how insistent they seemed to be on trying to get the two of you together, which seemed to always end in you being humiliated.

when you met todo when both of you were first years and he hit you with his signature “what’s your type?” question, you answered rather honestly, in fear that he may get angry if you told a lie, or worse you told a lie AND it was a boring one.

“i guess if i had to describe my dream woman, i’d say a girl who’s confident in herself, one who doesn’t take shit from others.” you started as todo sized you up while mai looked at the ground, seeming disinterested. “and not that looks are everything, but tall girls and dark hair are pretty attractive as well.”

you heard a sniffle and looked up to make eye contact with todo, who was tearing up?

“wow y/n, i was worried you’d be a boring one, but it’s clear that you’re confident in what you like. i think you and i will get along well.” he gave you a wide grin and wrapped an arm around your shoulder to pull you in for a hug while you just smiled awkwardly, just wanting to go to class.

now todo was right that the two of you got along well usually, but that didn’t really apply when he used his booming voice to announce that “that maki chick from tokyo is totally your type that you told me when we first met!” immediately following the first part of your exchange event. at the sound of her name, the green haired girl turned to see you glaring at todo while trying to hide your embarrassment as the rest of your friends stifled laughs at the scene he’d created.

after their teasing died down, you turned forward again to make eye contact with maki, hoping to apologize for how embarrassing your classmates were. but unlike the irritated expression you expected her to wear, she instead just gave you a soft smirk before turning back to her underclassmen, who instantly sent her whispers that you could only imagine were asking what the hell just happened.

but surely you wouldn’t see much of her during the second part of the event, it would probably just be a relay race or something where you barely had to interact, right?

wrong.

your next competition would be a baseball game, where you would spend over an hour around the tokyo students, which would inevitably lead to more of your classmates poking fun at you. unknown to you, however, the same thing was happening to maki with her teammates.

“why is your face all red? do you need to rest?” itadori had said as he inspected her face following todo announcing to everyone that she was your type. in response, she just knocked him on the head with her staff and kept walking ahead while nobara and itadori grinned at each other, apparently their strong willed second year had a soft spot for you.

“you know, girls totally have a thing for baseball uniforms.” todo said to you matter of factly as you tied up your cleats.

“and you’re telling me this because…?” you replied, hoping to come across as nonchalant.

he grinned at you with a mischievous look in his eyes as he rested his elbow atop your head for support. “who knows, maybe maki is one of those girls. plus, in the event that takada somehow sees this game, i think she’ll be pretty into this look!” he said confidently. you looked away and muttered some bullshit about how you didn’t care about what she thought about how you looked before you were interrupted by the locker room door swinging open to reveal miwa.

“come on guys! we start in a few minutes, and i’m sure you guys would hate to disappoint the other team.” she finished her sentence by turning to you with an almost catlike smile. you tilted your head back and groaned. her too?

the kyoto team would be batting first, giving you some time to relax in the dugout before you went up to bat. just as you were practicing your swing for batting next, your zoning out was cut off by the sound of a ball hitting todo square in the jaw. your hand flew to cover your mouth, not from concern, but to stop yourself from laughing. maki’s mock concern for todo was put on hold for a moment when you stopped trying to hide your amusement and letting your loud laugh reach the ears of your peers. she paused for a moment, not bothering to hide the smile that crept across her face at the combination of your adorable laughter, and the fact that she had been the cause of it.

“nice hit maki!” you looked up at her with a grin, while todo gave you a look of betrayal. though his glare didn’t last long when he noticed the exchange between the two of you. in his mind he was probably crediting himself for egging you on to realize your small crush on the girl, as if he was some kind of matchmaker.

the game went on pretty steadily from there, a few stolen glances between you and maki contrasted by how you cheered for momo whenever she managed to catch a ball hit by her.

the game ended with the tokyo team just managing to get by with a one point lead. you all watched them celebrate their win, before you turned back to your team, complimenting them on their hard work in hopes of lifting their spirits.

you turned back to the other team to see them loudly announcing how maki should go get them some food from the vending machine, every so often glancing to you to gage your reaction. you jumped at the feeling of todo shaking your shoulder from behind, announcing that you should get some food for the kyoto team. these guys really were the worst at being subtle, weren’t they?

instead of protesting though, you just shrugged his hand off your shoulder and made your way to the vending machines, wherever the hell those were.

after a couple minutes of making your way around seemingly every path surrounding the tokyo school, you saw maki, whose arms were hugging bags of chips close to her, and waved to her to call her over for help.

“hey, i’m kinda lost, do you think you could help me find the vending machines?” you gave a sheepish grin as you asked.

“yeah, why not?” she shrugged and smiled.

you guys walked in comfortable silence, considering your destination was pretty much just around the corner. when you realized this, you groaned from embarrassment.

“thanks for that, sorry, i should’ve known it was close by.” you chuckled awkwardly.

“no worries.” she smiled, pulling off her cap to fan her face.

god, what business did she have to look that good when covered in sweat and dirt?

“our school is pretty confusing to get around. you know if you wanted to come around again sometime, i’d be happy to show you around the place.” she leaned her head down slightly, still maintaining eye contact with you. you just nodded in response, trying to keep your composure with the close proximity between the two of you.

“you know,” she continued, “i was pretty glad to hear i was your type.” she leaned down just a little further, so your noses were practically touching.

“because you’re my type too.” she smirked.

unfortunately for the both of you, your little moment was interrupted by itadori turning the corner, it seemed like he had gone searching for the two of you.

“hey i was just looking for you-“ he cut himself off when he saw what he could only assume was the two of you seconds away from a kiss.

“sorry!” he rushed away, feeling embarrassed at the thought that he had somehow invaded your privacy.

you sighed annoyedly, knowing that you would inevitably have to deal with a million questions from your classmates about whatever it was itadori would tell them.

“aw come on, let them believe what they wanna believe.” maki smiled widely about how easily you became flustered. “they’ll leave us be as long as we bring them back some good food.” she lazily swung an arm around your shoulders as you slipped money into the machine.

maybe you’d actually have to thank todo for making you tell him your type after all.

[ticklytums]

It Begins With A Smile

(Luz runs into an unwanted visitor on a potion scavenging attempt, but things take an interesting, childish turn when a weakness is accidentally exposed and Golden Guard learns of a new way to mess with the human.

Warning: Contains fluff and the adorableness of two traumatized children getting to act like children and slowly giggle their way into friendship! Not intended to be GoldenLuz but can be if you want it to be)

“Crammity…”

Sure. It figured. Every time Luz was on her own she seemed to fall into some sort of terrible situation. And this one seemed to include warping mushrooms that she never seemed to be able to grasp before they vanished at her fingertips. Why did all these witch potions include the most unconventional, hard to get ingredients?

“Would you get over here!” Luz hissed as she clawed at one of the flighty mushrooms, before watching the thing vanish and appear once more inches from her. This wasn’t…technically legal, that the young witchling knew. Then again, being under Eda’s mentorship basically screamed ‘I do illegal things all the time!’ Warping mushrooms weren’t meant to be picked until they ripened some more, but…this potion called for ‘young shrooms.’

It’s fine. It could be worse.

“Ah, up to more mischief I see! Who knew a little human could be such trouble…”

And it just got worse.

Luz’s eyes slid shut in absolute dread. She refused to turn her head towards the source of the voice that was just radiating smug teenager energy. Nope, she wasn’t dealing with that jerk’s antics today. Forget the mushrooms. Eda could wait for her ingredients.

Picking up Eda’s staff, the witchling immediately turned around and started her path home—only to yelp as she nearly slammed face first into the Golden Guard.

“It seems you just can’t help being on the wrong end of the law, can you?” the smug prodigy sing-songed. “You know it isn’t legal to pick those mushrooms yet, right?”

“I’m NOT picking them!” Luz growled as she tried to step past the guard. “Now get out of my way.”

The older boy didn’t seem intent to do such, instead merely blocking the girl with his staff as she attempted to advance. He prodded her pointedly with his mechanical staff. “So what are you doing here then?”

As the staff made the blunt and yet gentle connection with her belly, Luz almost felt a squeak slip out. It took a moment to compose herself. “I don’t have to answer you.”

“Yeeees. You. Do!” the guard chirped and he punctuated each word with a light prod against her. Every time he did Luz seemed to suck in her breath and twitch. The prodigy blinked at the response, watching the human as she tensed from the jab of his staff, and looked like she was gritting her teeth quite a bit.

“Oh, what? Am I hurting you?” he scoffed disdainfully at the thought. Humans were pathetic, but Titan, he at least assumed the girl that stood up against Emperor Belos and took a couple good blows from both of them wasn’t so frail. He jabbed her lightly a few more times. “I know your kind is weak, but-“

He was cut off by the small giggling snort that burst from the teen before she could stop it, and she clasped a hand hurriedly over her mouth, before shoving the staff away with her other hand. “Would you knock it off!” Luz snapped, reining in control of her giggles.

The older boy tilted an eyebrow, perplexed. That wasn’t the reaction he expected to provoke… Curious, Golden Guard jabbed at her again, only this time he made the poke deliberately softer, and wiggled the end of the staff a bit. The ticklish jolt made Luz let off a laugh. And he did it again, smirking in delight when she kept trying to get away from it.

Well, that was…an interesting reaction. Living the life he had, Golden Guard hadn’t exactly been granted the luxury to engage in juvenile play, and he had little experience with tickling.

But that was about to change.

“Well, well, well…” the prodigy taunted the other indignant and increasingly nervous teenager. “What an interesting and may I say rather adorable development. You humans are just full of surprises, aren’t you?”

Luz finally snapped to attention and the guard had only a millisecond to react as balls of flames were tossed towards his face, crackling passed him. The boy effortlessly dodged them and his staff deflected a few icicles with a chuckle. His amusement was just fueling Luz’s annoyance.

“Oh now now,” the guard admonished teasingly as he simply avoided her little tantrum by holding her back with his staff. “No need to throw such a fuss, I’m just playing around!”

Luz gave a growl and shot a murderous glare as much as she could to the older kid. “And what after that? Going to cart me off to Emperor Belos, are you?”

“Hmm, well I suppose I should!” the boy said with a sigh as his maroon eyes sparkled mischievously under the golden mask. “But where would the fun be in that already, hm?” After all, he wasn’t done experimenting.

Luz growled and positioned an ice glyph on the ground, stepping upwards so she could launch up into the sky. The prodigy was impressed and barrel rolled out of target range as several fireballs singed the red grass. With a crimson flash he disappeared, and Luz let off a squeal as she felt a poke against her side.

“Would you-!” Furiously, the girl spun around—only to see the flickers of magic disappearing as he vanished again. And the moment she turned, he was back as his fingers ghosted over both sides.

A laugh tumbled out of the teenaged girl as her knees bent slightly in instinct and she furiously took a swipe—only to smack uselessly at empty air. “-fihihight me normally, you-you jerk!”

The Golden Guard appeared back in his original spot and gave an amused laugh. “Oh, I could…but it’s much more fun to mess with ya!” He watched the human sift through her pockets frantically.

“Well I’m not in the mood to be messed with!” the girl snapped. She rose Eda’s staff but before it could connect with the jerk’s head, he disappeared in a flickering streak of red light. “Huh? Wh-ah!” And then reappeared with an arm having hoisted her up off the ground.

“I’ve noticed,” Golden Guard responded smugly. “I suppose I have to enact my duty and punish someone who would dare to harm an official of the royal court.” His smirk grew when he felt the girl tense, before the frantic kicking resumed.

“Let go of me, you creep! I’ll-I’ll burn that ugly Halloween mask off your face!”

“You don’t think I’ve noticed you’ve run out of glyphs?” the older teen responded mischievously, and he laughed as the color drained from her face. “Yeeeah, I don’t think you’ll be doing much, human! Ah, except maybe laughing yourself to insanity.”

Luz’s eyes widened but before she could snap anything back she felt the gentle wiggle of fingers trace along her side. “N-no!” The witchling let off a string of Spanish curses as she struggled not to burst into laughter. That attempt failed when the boy’s fingers switched the target area to her belly and grinned when laughter began to bubble from her.

“Well your kind is just full of sensitivity! And wiggles!” he practically crooned at the poor girl, who at this point was just a laughing ball. He watched in amusement as she attempted to curl her legs up and limit the access to her tummy, but he easily maneuvered back to it.

“S-stohahap!” Luz squealed frantically as she was reduced to embarrassing snorts and hearty peals of laughter as his fingers skittered everywhere. She kicked against the ground and tried to fumble out her threats, but it was useless and tears pricked at her eyes.

This was such an unexpected and entertaining turn of events from the dreary day the guard was expecting, he’d have to thank the human later. Despite her earlier attack on him, the prodigy felt no inclination to harm her. To do so would ruin the fun! And he rather liked this little game, toying with the younger kid as a cat might with a mouse.

“Never really got to experience this growing up. What’s it like, human?”

Luz’s hiccups and wriggles had finally granted her some leeway as she managed to pry an arm free. Fine! So that’s the way he wanted to play? “Well why don’t you see for your-SELF!” And suddenly her spare hand plunged towards the older kid’s ribs.

The effect was absolutely instant.

“Wh-ahahahat!?” The teenager let off a giggling yelp as he stumbled, and it gave Luz the perfect opportunity to twist around and lunge furiously at the boy. She didn’t really think about running at the moment, too intent on delivering back what was just served to her. However, even she didn’t expect the squeaky laughter that burst from the guard as she dug into his ribs.

The older boy’s genuine laugh was so…bubbly and boyish, sounding ten years younger than he was. It was riddled with snorts already and despite herself Luz couldn’t help the way her lips tilted up a bit.

“Wow dude, your laugh is ridiculous. You sound like a pig.”

“I-I do not!” the boy attempted to snap, his laughter reaching a new octave as she drilled into his sides. “I’m totally dignified!” When her hands plunged towards his tummy he squeaked and curled up. This time Luz actually laughed.

“Oh yeah, totally dignified. So, who can’t take it now, bird face?” She switched the scribbles to softly ghosting his sides, and that seemed to drive him even more wild. The poor kid attempted a spell, and Luz watched in great amusement as the magic barely made a spark before he lost his concentration. In his struggles his mask had actually slipped off his face, giving Luz a full view for the first time of this kid.

She knew he was a ‘genius teen prodigy’ but for the first time she actually got to see the kid like her, with his boyish and slightly chubby cheeks and a face of youth just as much as it was one of trauma. Watching his face crinkle up in an almost joyful fashion made Luz nearly forget who it was she was dealing with.

“H-human unhahahand mehehe! I demand you to or you’ll saHAHAFFER THE-!” But he couldn't finish that threat as the laughter cut him off. Luz’s hands were clawing at his stomach and had found a rhythm that was driving him up the wall.

“The great teen prodigy, taken down by a little tickling! From a human!” Luz teased the boy. “Wait until I tell Eda! Oh no, better yet! Wait until I tell Lilith!”

“N-not if I have anything to say a-about it!” Golden Guard growled as he finally managed to reach out and tweak at Luz’s side.

“Ah!” Luz let off a giggling yelp as her body faltered trying to keep the older kid pinned down. She tried to jerk towards the side to avoid his grab, but it was making her wobble, and threaten to tumble off of him. “Y-you’re just a sore loser that can’t handle thahat he’s being beaten by a human!”

Both of their staffs were in easy reach and both witchlings easily could have grabbed for their actual weapons, but neither seemed inclined to do so. If anything, they seemed to have forgotten their hostility only moments prior in the wake of this bizarre game of trying to out tickle the other.

“Beaten?” the guard scoffed through his giggles as his hands suddenly locked around the girl’s wrists in an attempt to overpower her. “Y-you’re giving yourself a generous compliment, human!” He shoved against Luz, who was also pushing against his arms now.

“I am, and I’m also gonna give you a dose of THIS!” Luz smirked, her hands darting up under the older teen’s arms. Her eyes widened in shock at the explosive reaction that invoked, and she watched him desperately dig his elbows into his sides to try and protect the sensitive spot. His kicking was just wild now.

“N-NAHAHAHA! S-STAHAHAP!”

Luz couldn’t help it. Despite the fact not a finger was touching her, she laughed genuinely. “Wooow, okay I didn’t expect you to go that nuts.” Found his worst spot it seemed. “I guess it has to be pretty bad if someone as proud as yourself is actually willing to beg for mercy!” That evil grin widened, like a mischievous younger sister. “And I’m not gonna give it.”

The sixteen year old was laughing helplessly now as he twisted about to try and get away from Luz’s mischievous and playful little pokes. She was evilly prodding and jabbing anywhere she could reach, from his tummy to his sides, and back up under his arms. “Do you give up yet?”

“I’m goHONNA FEED YOU TO A DE-DEMON!”  the guard squealed, tears of mirth in his eyes. A flailing hand waved around until it found her tummy to poke, invoking a squeak from Luz.

“Ah! Ahaha, hey!” Luz grappled with the hands, and by now the two were just…a giggling mess. Both were just laughing, ticklish kids that seemed to have forgotten this was even a battle to begin with and were treating it as way more of a game now.

“You’re not gonna win this fight with me, dude! I’ve been having tickle fights with my Mami since I was little!” And had decimated everyone at the owl house at least once by now.

The teenager laughed as he kept trying to pin the younger kid. “Yeah? Well I’m the Golden Guard, so I’m stronger than you!”

“You sure about that??”

Their bizarre and adorable tickle battle went on for another good couple minutes, the two putting aside their animosity as they just let themselves indulge in being children for once, without thinking about the opposing sides they were on, or the trauma they’d been through. Both kids were breathless by the end of it. Luz barely even remembered she was supposed to be out here collecting mushrooms, or that she was essentially playing with her enemy.

“I…totally won that, human,” the boy panted out smugly, and he yelped a bit as Luz shoved him back down to the ground. He was still so caught off guard he hadn’t even seen it coming.

“You didn’t win anything. You jerk.” She rolled her eyes but after a moment offered a hand to help him up. “…Wait, what were we even trying to win?”

He seemed just as perplexed, eyes looking around slowly as if he was trying to find some explanation. A flustered look came to his face and his maroon eyes narrowed at Luz as she gave a small snort.

“Well regardless!” he went on haughtily, as if he hadn’t just been a giggling mess a moment ago. “I hope you’ve learned not to mess with a royal guard. Unfortunately it didn’t appear as if the younger teenager looked the least bit intimidated. In fact she merely smirked.

“Oh you mean the royal guard that was just giggling and squealing like a five year old girl?” Luz laughed as the teenager scowled in fury and his blush deepened. “Yeah, I definitely won’t ‘mess’ with you again,” the kid teased.

Golden Guard grunted a bit as his fingers twitched. A look of turmoil crossed his face as he kept staring at the human. It was no use. She wasn’t afraid of him anymore. Technically she hadn’t been before but he at least knew she was wary of his presence. …That wasn’t the case now.

“Well…” The prodigy hopped up onto his staff and began to rise up into the air. “This was a warning, you know.” The staff flew closer to her and the butt of it bopped her in the stomach. “Next time I won’t be so nice, human.”

“Luz.”

The boy frowned. “Huh?”

“My name, it’s Luz.” Luz crossed her arms and lifted a brow. “You could at least dignify me with my real name, you know.” She watched him blink. “So what can I call you then?”

The older teen turned away at her imploring eyes as he once again attempted to harden the proverbial walls of his armor that this stupid human had begun to chip at today. “Golden Guard,” he muttered, and didn’t miss the way Luz’s shoulders seemed to slightly sag in disappointment. After a moment of consideration, his staff lit up.

Before Luz realized it, she had a small handful of warping mushrooms and she looked to the boy.

“Consider it a small gesture of goodwill,” he told her simply and he ignored the tiny smile she was giving him. “The mushrooms are over populated this year anyway. …Don’t lean too much into this. My mercy was a one time thing.”

Luz laughed softly and gave her strange adversary a wayward smile. “Right. …Uh…thanks.”

“Try to keep yourself out of trouble for once…Luz.”

The kid stuck her tongue out at him, and it earned a small look of amusement from the other. “Yeah, whatever. See you later then, I guess.” And then he was gone. Luz’s grip on the small mushrooms tightened. “…Golden Guard.”

[bored-storyteller]

How would the the dorm leaders react to a mc having a mental breakdown from stress? Please.🙇‍♀️💕

So, for convenience I divide this request into two parts (I will do it for all requests concerning all leaders), so this is the first part with the first three leaders! 🌸

Furthermore, as far as mental breakdown is concerned, in reality reactions and symptoms can be manifold, I remained on something light (if we mean the same thing). I hope you like it anyway! ❤️

13- Twisted Wonderland- Dorm Leaders x down!s/o pt. 1

Riddle Rosehearts

· Riddle is basically used to being under stress and is used to keeping people around him under stress, so he doesn't immediately notice the problem of s/o, or at least he doesn't connect to the fact that maybe they are too stressed.

· He perhaps notes that the body of s/o becomes thinner and at the same time tense. He wonders if s/o is following a proper diet and every now and then he might even scold them for not eating properly.

·It may be disadvantageous to have relationships with him in a similar situation. Just because he loves and appreciates s/o, Riddle could expect a lot from them, and between the study, the school responsibilities and also the orders and rules of the leader, life cannot be simple at all.

· In recent times, Riddle's heart may have become a little more worried when he sees s/o's eyes more dull than usual, and with heavy dark circles under their lower eyelids. But since it is the tests period he can imagine that it is because of the night study. Still, s/o should close the books at night.

All of Riddle's rigidity, however, collapses when he glimpses the figure of s/o in the library, curled up on itself, trembling and shaken by violent sobs that apparently cannot hold back. He hasn't figured out what's going on yet, but he rushes to them with concern.

"S/o, what happens?"

The question naturally comes from his lips, immediate, perhaps too hasty to show empathy, but still, he feels as if that tears were his fault even if he doesn't know the cause.

"I can’t."

The trembling voice of s/o responds as soon as it reaches them, and Riddle suddenly hears it the world collapsing on him. Even if they replied they don't seem to really realize that he is there, they seem destroyed.

"I can't do it anymore. I can't pass the tests, I can't meet all deadlines. They will reject me, they will hate me ..."

The crying does not end, and what worries Riddle the most is that they are on the book of their favorite subject! It is certain that they could not fail the test even if they wanted to! How much did they have to endure to break where the problem isn't there?

He is ashamed of himself. Has he never noticed this situation? What kind of leader is he? He doesn't really know what to do, but he knows he has to do something.

A little hesitant, he puts a reassuring hand on their shoulder, and he is amazed at how violent their tremor is.

"You will make it. You have always been strong ... here ... it is a difficult time for everyone."

He certainly can't be convincing, Trey would be much better than he is. But he can't let himself go with s/o, he doesn't want them to be ruined. So, he try to think of the words that would have made him feel better if he had found himself so alone, as it seems to be s/o.

"I am proud of you and I am proud even if you sometimes fail."

It's probably the most beautiful and profound thing Riddle can say to someone in need.

Carefully squeezes the shoulder of s/o. Slowly their eyes land on him, moist but somehow raised.

"Sorry ..." they murmur, sitting down on the chair again.

Riddle does not get too upset, but remains there with them until they have finished studying, leaning against the back of their chair, pretending to absently read a book that does not interest him at all.

Leona Kingscholar

· Ok the relaxation with which Leona seems (seems) to take everything that happens stresses practically everyone around him. He does not show that it has really big requests despite continuous orders, but the simple fact that he is present - even if he sleeps - requires that everything goes exactly as he wants.

· Well, there are people who know how to bear it, like Ruggie, but while s/o suffer the weight of the tests on their shoulders the simple presence of the prince (however much they may love him) becomes unbearable for them. But obviously they would never dare to tell him or deny him something

·The way out of that period seems increasingly distant, almost non-existent. Also a little problem becomes giant for s/o and more and more often they lack their breath for no reason, nor are they able to sleep without having nightmares. Some nightmares concern the Savanaclaw leader. Although they have never been reprimanded by Leona, the anxiety that came from his presence has now turned into fear.

· S/o cannot please Leona, they cannot pass the tests, they cannot perform the tasks of Professor Crewel or those of Professor Trein. They don't feel the strength to do all this, nor do they feel the skills. They feel as if every second someone is looking at them and judging them. Their muscles are always tense and they can't help being alert.

· Obviously Leona doesn't notice anything. S/o have always done everything alone, he doesn't really see the problem. In short, everyone is stressed during the tests.

S/o hope that the fresh solitary air of that point in the garden and the music in the ears can erase a possible failure from their mind, while the book of ancient curses lies open on their legs.

But as sweet and relaxing the music can be, it has the effect of isolating them even more from the world, a world that now scares them too much. When something touches their shoulder it is as if everything breaks: their mind and body are shattered.

S/o screams.

No, it's not a simple scream. This is a scream of pure terror, which makes them jump on their feet and then curls them on the ground. Not even Leona can predict a similar reaction to his touch. For a moment he thought his hand had burned them.

“Calm down, herbivore!” He exclaims reflexively. He didn't even understand that he was the cause. He remains there, still staring at the curled up figure of s/o with his heart beating fast in his chest and his ears flat against his head.

"I can't do it, ok ?!" The voice of s/o is high and distressed as they hold their hair in their hands "I can't do what you ask me! I can't pass this stupid test and I can't get out of this school ever again! Don't get angry! It doesn't matter how much I try, I will never be able to do all this ... "

Leona's ears barely move. Damn, why don't people talk from the start? He barely growls as he rubs his hand on the back of his neck.

"I'm not angry, stupid herbivore."

The words are not so kind, but his voice is softer than usual. It's not that he doesn't understand that feeling at all. He met it long ago.

"Listen to me, nobody ever died from failing a test, so please get your little head in order."

With those words he bends slightly to carefully take the arms of s/o, to help them get up. It's a gentle touch to be Leona's touch.

He gently drives s/o back lean against the tree trunk and then, as if he always does, sits next to them, leaning over the study book to see the topic addressed.

"What are your problems? It seems to me that you answer the questions well ..." he doesn't wait for the sobs of s/o to subside completely, he let them explain their problems to him with a broken voice, but he remains patient, even if he can't help yawning occasionally or nodding boredly.

But on the other hand, at the end of the day he heard over thirty pages of ancient curses repeated aloud, he is not to blame. In truth, his job is to take care of the puppies, isn't it?

"You will pass it for sure, and you will pass the rest too, so stop worrying."

With one last big yawn Leona gets up, and after having playfully stroked s/o's head he goes towards the school.

It is strange, even if the tests have not passed yet, s/o feel more calm, right?

They smile, and before Leona disappears from view they turn to him with a new charge of energy: "Tomorrow I will buy you lunch for you!"

Azul Ashengrotto

· S/o spend a lot of time at the Monster Lounge during the testing period. The tension they feel about this is such a lot that they do everything to try to relieve it a little.

· The local staff don't mind; they are a polite and kind person. Even if they spend a lot of time there, it's not a problem. In addition, they never forget to bring a good income to the club, whether they are there with friends or in solitude.

· But the closer the test time approaches, the more problems in the s/o's head begin to weigh and their insecurities surface. They feel a total nullity. They will never be able to overcome everything. Never. All the commitments accumulate in a single suffocating week that will never end. They hate it, they can never do it.

· S/o don't know, but their long visits have not left Octavinelle's dorm leader indifferent. He always has an eye for them, they are loyal customers after all.

· Although he will not admit it, but Azul also has a certain eye for certain attitudes. He knows the insecurity and perceives it in the gaze of s/o and in their tired body, of those who cannot rest well at night because of a thousand thoughts.

Is the day before the test most hated by s/o. They studied a lot, but their mind refused to learn. They have faced a thousand chores in the last few days, Grim more than once had put them in trouble, and now they no longer feel the strength. And everything has yet to begin.

There is no way that they can pass tomorrow's test, nor the others, nor that they can satisfy everyone and fulfill all their duties. How can one person do everything? They are nothing but a failure.

In the Monster Lounge s/o hoped to forget this fear that lurked in their stomach, but it was useless.

Even sitting at the table in front of a glass and two empty cups their lips continue to try to repeat what they need to know, and every time the words are missing panic increases dramatically.

At the last block s/o they can no longer bear themselves, and covering their faces with their hands they collapse into a silent cry. If they could, they would like to disappear from there.

"We're going to close." The voice of the founder of the place only worsens the situation.

Oh no, what are they up to? Raising their faces in terror, they realize that they are the only ones left in there.

They would like to apologize and rush out, but terror and tears prevent them.

The arms return to cover the face while they curl up on the table, unable to do anything else. They would like to scream, but they cannot, they are already pathetic like this.

"Oh dear, I can't let a customer react like this in my cafe." His voice is quiet, perhaps even a little amused as he sits next to the sad trembling figure.

His proximity makes s/o feel even more oppressed. Being under the eyes of others is the worst thing that could have happened at that time, yet the crying only becomes louder.

What will happen? He will propose them a kind of deal? Will he blackmail them? Or will he just laugh at them?

"Please don't say anything! Pretend I don't exist! I beg you ... I can't do it! I can't do it!"

The words from their lips come out like a prayer, but Azul smiles as if nothing had happened.

"Come on, why don't you explain to me what reduced you to such a pitiful state? I'm not bad at helping people."

He has already heard them, he knows what was whispering coming out of their lips. So even if they don't answer his question, he kindly hands them the handkerchief.

"Let's make a deal between us. I will help you study, so that at the end of this horrendous session you have passed all the written tests."

The eyes of s/o open in panic. No no no, they can't stand it. What will he ever ask? To work there? They could never! They are not capable enough.

But before s/o can open his mouth to refuse Azul laughs, simply messing up their hair. His face seems decidedly amused, even pleased.

"Don't make that scared face, you don't need it. I wouldn't mind if you just sat a little near the counter. You know, I'm sure you would bring more money than you already do."

Before s/o can even accept, the hated test subject book is already open on the table in front of them. Azul holds the sign with his finger.

"Obviously this if you pass the test, but believe me, you just need not to panic. I know you can do it."

[tobimikesan]

The Cats and The Owls Going Shopping - Haikyuu!! Light Novel Vol. 10

In which Nekoma and Fukurodani go souvenir shopping, and Tsukishima’s life somehow gets unnecessarily more difficult as a result.

Translation under the cut

“So, what are you getting?”

“... Probably manju...”

“Then how about that one with ‘I went to Spring High’ on it? If you want to go with a safe option.”

“That? A safe option?”

The goods area is lively with the participating players, cheer groups, and spectators around. There, gathering and joking around are the players from Fukurodani Academy High School who have just won their first match. The first, second, and third-year regulars are all there. However, in the midst of their lively chatter that’s just like during one of their after-practice burger runs, their ace is nowhere in sight.

“Ohh, there you are! Guys, I told you not to leave me!”

Making his way through the crowd of people in team jackets and jerseys, appears Fukurodani’s ace who is one of the nation’s top 5 players, Bokuto Koutarou.

“Why did you guys leave me?”

“Why should we wait for you to finish your business in the toilet?”

Talking back to the ace is none other than the one dubbed as the team’s ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’, Konoha Akinori, but Bokuto pays him no mind and takes a look at the goods stand instead.

“So, do they still have it?”

“... What is it this time? You always, always leave out the subject when you speak. What are you, a kid?”

Konoha continues his rant, and Bokuto turns around annoyed, “Oh, come on!”

“This is exactly why, when someone is saying something, don’t just start grumbling around! Of course I was asking about ‘The Way of The Ace’ t-shirt!”

The way Bokuto said it as if it’s obvious does irk him, but hearing his teammates’ chorus of “You already have it, right?” “I feel like you already have one,” calms him down.

“Well I do have it, but...”

Time for some explanation.

‘The Way of The Ace’ t-shirt—it is Bokuto’s favorite t-shirt which he bought during the previous Spring High.

“One, his figure shall inspire his allies” “Two, he shall break through any walls” “Three, he shall hit every ball with his utmost”

With those words of The Way of The Ace printed on it, any ace, any player aiming to be an ace, or any former ace—any of them would yearn to put it on and have those words on their back while they practice; a t-shirt that makes even national level aces’ mouths water. Small details like if it is a Spring High exclusive item or if it could be purchased somewhere else are totally unknown to mere highschoolers.

“Not just have it actually, I’m wearing it right now, but...” Beating his own chest covered by his jacket,  Bokuto continues to his questioning teammates.

“If you think about it, it’s obvious, right? As I get bigger, I won’t be able to wear it anymore. So I need another one.”

His teammates around him look at each other and start grumbling.

“Are you a mom?”

“Thinking that you’re still growing, how confident!”

“I think I want to see you wearing a t-shirt that’s already too small instead.”

“Like I’ve said, why do you guys always start grumbling every time? Whenever I say anything you always, always... Hm?”

Bokuto’s eyes light up. As if they just spotted a prey.

“Tsukki!”

What those eyes just spotted in the midst of the hustle and bustle is the face of Karasuno High School’s first-year middle blocker, Tsukishima Kei. Having won their first match earlier than Fukurodani, the members of Karasuno High School Volleyball Club are also spending brief free time right now.

“Tsukki! Heey! Don’t ignore me, heey!”

His complaints towards his teammates now forgotten, Bokuto smiles cheerfully and waves his hand. But Tsukishima, whose attempt to pretend he didn’t notice Bokuto has failed him, frowns and says, “... Hello,” politely nodding to return the greeting while his steps comes to a halt.

However, Bokuto pays no mind to the wall Tsukishima has put up and steadily closes the distance between them.

“Could it be, Tsukki is also here to buy ‘The Way of The Ace’ t-shirt?”

“No.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t be shy!”

To whoever looking at the scene, there’s no hint of any shyness in Tsukishima’s soured look. Bokuto’s teammates start saying, “He’s not being shy, right?” “Clearly he doesn’t like it,” “It’s harassment, harassment!” “Tsukishima, it’s okay to ignore him,” but Bokuto simply ignores them. Instead, he completely assumes the role of a reliable senior and calls out to to the staff manning the goods stand.

“Ah, excuse me! Can I have one ‘The Way of The Ace’ t-shirt size L... no, XL, and... Tsukki, you’re quite lanky, so L would be fine, right?”

“.........”

Met with how close Bokuto’s face is, how loud his voice is, how inconsiderate he is, and how wrapped up in himself he is, Tsukishima knits his brows and refuses, “No need.”

“Ah, could it be that you wanted to buy that one instead?”

The item Bokuto pointing at is a t-shirt hung up with the words ‘Those who laugh at grit will cry in the face of grit’ written in calligraphy-style on it.

“.........”

As if he just saw a bug he hates, Tsukishima looks away from the ‘Grit and Laughter’ t-shirt.

“I’m not buying any t-shirt, and even if I have to, I won’t be buying that one.”

“Hum... Then what about a Fukurodani keychain? As a memento.”

“Why do you think I would want that?”

“What did you come here for then, Tsukki?”

Tsukishima hesitates for a moment.

‘Why should I answer it?’ As he thinks that, it also crosses his mind that he might be able to escape Bokuto’s persistent questioning if he just answers him this one time. He weighs both choice in his head, and by a small margin, the latter wins.

“... I’m getting souvenirs for my family.”

While paying for his ‘The Way of The Ace’ t-shirt, Bokuto hums and nods nonchalantly.

“Tsukki is someone’s child too, huh...”

“What does that even mean? And could you please stop calling me Tsukki?”

“Yeah. So Tsukki, how many siblings do you have?”

“.........”

‘—What is communication again?’

Is what Tsukishima is thinking. The basic of conversation is listening to what the other party is saying, isn’t it? Listen, then respond. There are also cases where someone purposely avoids responding to what the other party is saying. However, to naturally not listen to the other party, then proceed to continue the conversation, what is that even called? While having such thoughts, Tsukishima accidentally lets out the answer to Bokuto’s trivial question.

“... One older brother.”

“Aah! I knew it! You seem like a youngest child! Tsukki does seem like a youngest child!”

Right before Bokuto, who is holding his new t-shirt in high spirits, Tsukishima is stricken with humiliation and self-loathing. ‘Why did I answer it? No, why did I even come here?’

The other Fukurodani members starts piling in on him again, “Bokuto, don’t mess with other school’s first year.” “I get it though, Tsukishima is the type you just want to mess with, right?” “True, he’s like Akaashi in some way.” “Eh?” “Kidding, kidding. Don’t mind it.” “I do mind.” The chatter continues as they enjoy this accidental occurrence as though it’s their after-match dessert. At the same time, students from other schools are starting to notice the Fukurodani’s ace. Chatters like “It’s Fukurodani,” “Bokuto is here,” are getting louder.

Tsukishima’s discomfort is at an extreme.

“.........”

‘Who cares about souvenirs, I’m heading back. I can still buy it tomorrow, and even if I don’t buy one, it’s okay too. Anyway, I’m heading back.’ Tsukishima has decided.

“Well, then,” Tsukishima says as he goes for an out, but right when he looks up from his forced smile, his eyes catch a group in red and he stops in his tracks.

Suddenly, a group of Nekoma players are nearby. A blond mohawk, a half-Russian, and a rooster head.

Tsukishima instantly covers his face and turns the gears in his head.

‘What do I do now?’

If Nekoma’s Kuroo Tetsurou joins this pesky situation as well, it will be a repeat of the summer training camp. The summer training camp where he got involved with the Tokyo team captains combo of Bokuto and Kuroo. Although he can’t deny that he learned a lot in terms of volleyball, those were the days where the psychological stress he endured drained both his mental and physical energy.

The unintentional peskiness and the definitely intentional peskiness. The peskiness of facing these two opposing types of peskiness at the same time is no ordinary peskiness. It’s not a peskiness that a body could endure after a match.

‘Are they gone?’

He steals a sidelong glance to check, expecting the group in red to be blocked by the crowd or go look at goods on the other end of the area, but it turns out they’re still nearby. Just as he clicks his tongue, he senses someone staring at him.

He quickly lifts his head and is met with the eyes of Nekoma’s setter Kozume Kenma.

“.........!”

“.........!”

Both of them tense up. And then with the smallest of nods, they establish some sort of communication in an instant.

‘Please don’t come this way.’

‘I don’t want to go over there.’

With the reaction speed of only those who have faced each other countless times separated only by the net, or perhaps the reaction speed of only those who equally find this to be extremely bothersome, due to their mutual interest they both look away as if nothing happened.

Good thing it’s Kozume who noticed him. Relieved, Tsukishima is just about to quickly take his leave from this place when just like an unexpected ambush, his ears catch a voice.

“Ah! Bokuto-san is over there! Ah, Tsukishima too, heey, heey!”

The one bouncing up and down pointing at him is a Nekoma first-year, Inuoka Sou. Bokuto who notices him goes, “Oooh!” in response, and Nekoma’s captain Kuroo asks, “What are you doing here?” drawing near with a smirk on his face. Behind him, Kozume puts on an expression that says ‘It’s not my fault...’ and averts his eyes.

---

Surrounded by the Tokyo reps in red and white jackets, Tsukishima has completely lost his timing to escape. Towards the weary Tsukishima, Nekoma’s captain Kuroo calls out in teasing voice.

“So what were you going to buy before you get caught, country bumpkin crow?”

On the receiving end of the mysterious pressure from the smirking Kuroo, Tsukishima could only mutters, “Nothing, really...” and looks away, trying to find any chance to escape this place. And right then, without knowing, Bokuto cuts in and says loudly, “Eh? Tsukki, you’re getting souvenirs for your big bro, right?”

Tsukishima’s face clouds over.

‘Why only my brother? I said I’m getting souvenirs for my family, though,’ he thinks irritatedly, but since they won’t get it even if he said it, he stays silent.

“.........”

But because he stays silent, now it’s Kuroo who hums and poke his head into this matter.

“I knew it, Tsukki is a youngest child, I was correct”

Tsukishima’s face gets even more clouded over.

‘What do you mean by knew it? What do you mean by correct? Please don’t just spout random things,’ he thinks irritatedly, but even if he said it, he would end up having to explain more, so he stays silent.

“.........”

But even if Tsukishima doesn’t say anything, or probably because Tsukishima doesn’t say anything, the Tokyo captains who already know his personality end up getting excited and saying whatever they want.

“By ‘knew it’, could it be that you already knew Tsukki is a youngest child?”

“That’s just my observing eyes.”

“Awesome, you could make a living out of it, no?”

“Huh? What kind of job would that be?”

“What would that be.... Ah, I know, you could become something like game show king, right?”

At that very moment, Nekoma’s second-year wing spiker Fukunaga Shouhei who has been quietly listening to their conversation from the corner suddenly bursts into laughter.

“Eh, what? Was there anything funny? Did I say something funny? Eh?”

The sharp-eyed Bokuto spots Fukunaga and approaches him. Nearby, 3 people of different schools and school years let out a sigh at the same time.

“I have no words.”

“Isn’t that something?”

“No words...”

In sequence, the those were the words of Akaashi Keiji, Tsukishima, and half-covered under Haiba Lev’s shadow, Kozume who has been working hard at his mobile game.

“Th, the three of you, the three of you... Together like that....”

On the receiving end of the judgmental cold stares from players of 3 different schools including his own, Bokuto exaggeratedly buries his head in his hands and looks down in shame.

Noticing Bokuto’s back which is starting to tremble, Fukurodani members are starting to get nervous. “Ah, this is bad.”

They don’t want things to get any more bothersome than this. While the end of their match today was a blessing in disguise, it doesn’t change the fact that dealing with Bokuto’s ups and downs is bothersome.

The Fukurodani members exchange glances on the spot, but as they were about to leave things to Akaashi, the subject of the matter suddenly looks up to the ceiling as if he just had a revelation.

“So! That means! Unless you three are together, you can’t bring me down, right!!”

As if drawn by that voice, the surrounding falls silent. “I’m the strongest!” Bokuto’s roar resounds.

“.........”

The Fukurodani members look at each other. “We’re tired anyway, should we just leave Bokuto and go back?” “Yeah, let’s go,” “Good job today,” “Heading back,” The mood is just starting to turn that way when someone in red jacket approaches Bokuto all on his own.

“Bokuto-san, you’re so cool!”

It was Inuoka.

“Ooh, so you get it! So-and-so-kun!”

“It’s Inuoka!”

“You have a bright future ahead!”

“Is, is that so!?”

Inuoka’s eyes light up brightly.

---

Not being particularly concerned that their important first-year is getting excited with Bokuto and leaving them on their own, the rest of Nekoma take their time to look at the goods.

“It’s not like I want anything that badly, but while looking at these you just know you’d end up buying something, right?” “Yeah, totally.” Started by their libero Yaku Morisuke, the Nekoma members joke around. Behind them, walking along leisurely is Lev, who then points at the manju box.

“As a souvenir, isn’t this one with ‘I went to Spring High’ on it good? It’s a safe choice.”

“Safe choice? But saying ‘went to’ doesn’t really give the vibe that you won, right?”

Hearing Yaku’s reply, the vice captain Kai Nobuyuki nods.

“True, it gives the vibe of the memories of when you played at Spring High, right?”

“Well, if  you put it that way...”

“The fact that it’s gone once you eat it will also remind you of the impermanence of worldly things.”

Ignoring Kai and Lev who are looking intently at the manju box and admiring it, Yaku quickly decides, “I’ll go with the t-shirt after all!” and heads towards the booth staff.

However, not long after Yaku comes back dragging his steps without any t-shirt in his hands.

“What happened? You look upset.”

“Sold out,” Yaku curtly answers Kai. From above him a booming voice can be heard.

“Spring High t-shirts are a battle after all, right!”

It’s Bokuto.

“A battle?” asked Yaku reflexively. “Yeah!” Bokuto nods.

“Another battle out of the court.”

Watching Yaku avoiding Bokuto’s thrust index finger, Fukurodani’s member are stunned.

“He’s saying something weird again.”

“He got carried away just because he managed to buy one...”

“Bokuto, don’t go bothering others!”

In the midst of Fukurodani and even Nekoma members’ wry smiles, Inuoka shouts excitedly.

“I managed to buy a t-shirt too!”

“Ooh, so you’re a winner!”

“Yes!”

Casting a sidelong glance at the weird master and pupil relationship between those two, Kozume asks Yaku.

“Which one did you want?”

“Hm?”

Yaku points at one of the t-shirts hung at the stand.

“Over there, that one. The one with ‘Those who laugh at grit will cry in the face of grit’”

“... Grit...”

Behind Kozume who’s furrowing his brows, Inuoka turns around.

“Eh? That’s the one I just bought. It’s this one, right?” Inuoka takes out a t-shirt from the plastic bag and shows it. It’s the same ‘Those who laugh at grit will cry in the face of grit’ t-shirt.

“If you want, I don’t mind handing it over at the list price.”

Yaku refuses Inuoka’s offer, “Nah, it’s fine.” But Inuoka insists.

“No need to hold back!”

“It’s fine.”

“But!”

“Like I said, it’s fine!”

Just as Yaku raises his voice, Lev suddenly stretches out his hand and takes the t-shirt from the stunned Inuoka. Then, after looking back and forth, he says, “I knew it.”

“Eh, what?”

Ignoring the confused Inuoka, Lev looks at Yaku.

“XL size won’t fit you, right, Yaku-san?”

The Nekoma members who are watching shut their mouth tight and look away.

Lev has the nerve to say unnecessary things, towards Yaku, towards Yaku-san, regarding heights in such a direct way. No, to begin with, Inuoka, no rather than that, Bokuto— the thoughts swirl in their heads, and the atmosphere grows tense. The one to break the tense atmosphere —that makes even the crowd of onlookers from other schools nearby to also falls silent— is none other than Yaku himself.

“Shut up!!” At the same time, in one decisive move Lev shouts.

“Ouch!! Wha! Why did I get kicked?”

“Winner, what winner? I’m not losing!”

“But I didn’t say anything about winning or losing!”

“Shut up!”

A battle is starting to unfold between the senior and junior in red jackets. But a guy calmly walks right into the center of it.

“Hey now, Yaku-kun!”

It’s yet again Bokuto.

“Nothing will come out of resenting the winner!!”

Seeing their captain confidently saying that, the Fukurodani members go, “You just shut up!” “You only say unnecessary things!” and drag Bokuto back.

---

As for Tsukishima, he’s only a worn out bystander watching the whole commotion.

“What are these people doing...”

‘No one is minding about me anymore, or more like they’ve forgotten about me. If I want to head back, this is the time. No need to say bye or anything. Seems like it’s not the time anyway.’

‘I’m getting out.’

Just as he turns his heel, bright and pleasing voices can be heard nearby.

“It’s so cute!”

“I’m so glad we bought it!

At those voices that warm their bodies that have grown cold just like the winter sun, the Nekoma members, Fukurodani members, and also Tsukishima who is just about to escape, spontaneously look up.

The voices belong to two girls.

Lev, who is being chased by Yaku, and Yamamoto Taketora, who is trying to save Lev, look at them and shout.

“Ah, Nee-chan!”

“Akane?”

“Lyovochka!?”

“Onii-chan!”

The girls are part of the Nekoma cheering group, Lev’s big sister Alisa and Yamamoto’s little sister Akane.

“Look, look, Onii-chan!”

Akane runs up and hands the plushie of the official mascot.

“I bought this. The one in light blue is this year’s limited edition. I’m matching with Alisa-chan, right!”

“Yup!”

“Ah, that’s right! Alisa-chan, let’s take a picture together!”

“Oh, how nice!”

Hanging the plushies by their sides, they make silly faces and take selfies. First is a smiling one, and in the next shot they burst into laughter. It’s as if bright sparkles can be seen around these two innocent girls.

It might be the effect of the sparkles, but the tense atmosphere is starting to lighten slowly. The embroiled minds of the volleyball club members are also soothed, and they lose their intent to fight.

‘Don’t we all get along?’ ‘That’s right.’ ‘I’m also tired.’ ‘Yeah.’

Such atmosphere is spreading.

And then Kuroo shows up right before the two girls and bows.

“If anyone is a winner here, it’s the two of you.”

“Eh, what is this about?”

“... Ah, do you want to join in on the picture?”

In front of the two puzzled girls who have no idea what’s going on, Yaku and Inuoka exchange a firm handshake.

“My bad, Inuoka. You were offering it with good intention.”

“No, I also didn’t consider the size, I’m the one who should apologize!”

After rain comes fair weather. Watching the two’s strengthened bond, Bokuto, as if a case has been settled, says, “Out of the court, there’s no such thing as winning or losing!!”

---

“I’m so tired somehow,” “Yeah, I wonder why,” the Fukurodani members start. After exchanging glances, Akaashi speaks up as if he’s been waiting for this exact moment.

“Then shall we head back soon?”

“Yeah.”

“If we leave Bokuto, he’ll make a scene again.”

“Let’s go back, Bokuto!”

The captain, called by his teammates, replies “Okay!” and run towards them. He says, “See you tomorrow!” towards his rivals and heads back.

“We’ll come again tomorrow!”

“Do your best!”

After the two cheering girls headed home, Nekoma members too, say, “Should we go as well?” and start walking away.

Among the drove of the leaving members, Lev mutters.

“Yaku-san, are you not going to say sorry to me?”

“As if.”

“So mean!”

Completely forgotten by the two teams, Tsukishima is just about to walk back when suddenly someone calls his name.

“Tsukishima!”

Waving his hand and running towards him is Hinata.

The drained Tsukishima feels relieved seeing that face.

‘If it’s only Hinata on his own, everything is under control...’

Thinking that, without even waving back or responding, he silently walks with Hinata.

“Hey, Tsukishima, did you buy anything? I bought a t-shirt! This, ‘The Wisdom of The Ace’...”

Hinata is about to take the t-shirt out from the plastic bag when Tsukishima gives him a glare and says as he walks past, “... Don’t ever speak of that again in front of me.”

“Eh?”

Surprised, Hinata stops in his tracks, but Tsukishima quickly moves ahead. Hurriedly chasing Tsukishima, Hinata shouts, “What is it! I haven’t even said anything yet! Hey! Tsukishima! Wait, hey!!”

---

Moving this PSA to the end of the post because the project has ended (I think? Waiting for Viz’s response now) but someone might still be interested. Or you know, you can spam Viz directly here lol.

PSA:

I encourage whoever reading my translation to please support the official release by buying the light novel if you can. The illustrations and bonuses like the reversible covers are delightful! AND if the novel gets more sales it will be more likely for us to get more release. But, I get that it might be difficult for some to spend money for a novel that you can’t actually read because it’s in Japanese.

And so I happened to saw this Twitter account @HQlntranslate the other day. They are trying to get VIZ to do an official English release for Haikyuu Light Novel. How great that’d be! We could get every single chapter translated by professional translators who know what they’re doing unlike this amateur translator wannabe lol.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, go visit the Twitter account and fill in the form so that we can get the light novel released in English and support the series!

PS. I swear this is not a sponsored post lol.

[z-007]

A Journey of Sadism (mental and physical)

I was born in the 21st of April 1992, in Jableh-Latakia. But, since my father was an employee for Total French company in Syria, I grew up in Damascus. At the age of 4, I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 1. It was very hard for me at the beginning when I was a child, and my mother suffered a lot, giving me insulin injections, which I found painful at that time, and analyzing my blood sugar to inspect what did I eat if the result was soaring sky high. I hated her at the beginning, simply because as a child, I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. At 8 years old I went to a school that is Sunni Islamic Pre-Historic School in Dummar called -Young Scientists- something that I discovered later on to be ironic. In Syria, If you weren’t good at school, you were cursed, you became like a Boxing Heavybag. They also used Falakas, the art of whipping feet. It didn’t stop at that, simply because parents became part of this process too, using any tool at their disposal in beating their child, chair, water hose, hammer, clothes hanger, electric cables, let alone being slapped on the face in a way that I started feeling my bones were shaking, and my eyes will throw fire, or kicked in your head and started bleeding. All of this, was because my marks in Arabic, mathematics, history and geography were not good except in English. It was the best language to understand for me, and the subject in which I saw myself to be a good student. As a consequence of that, I started losing control and cause trouble to my so-called teachers at that time. Luckily in 2001, I found my sanctuary that took to a completely different world. It was the first time I saw James Bond in GoldenEye. I was so thrilled by the action sequence, the theme of betrayal and everything about it was cool. This was a turning point in my life to become a Bond fan. I also learnt how to sing rap songs like Faint for Linkin Park, and Bleed It Out. And all of my father’s friends who were French, British and Americans were impressed. It was something that I remember with a loving memory to those people. Later I watched the rest of the Bond films and the happiest moment in my life was when I found the complete DVD set in Tartus. Simply because no DVD store in Damascus had the complete set except one who was also our neighbor. The curse of buying films in Syria was that they were badly used CDs at the bloody beginning. It was very rare to have a CD converted from an original DVD. This greatest franchise in the whole world has sealed my internal wounds for not being a good student. Ironically, the mental case of mine came back to me when I was at High School, especially it was a time that determined who I am, luckily it passed with no harm to me, because a single mark changed future to some students .I forgot to mention, that the school principle when I was at the ninth grade, didn’t stop calling my parents and telling them not to spend a single penny on me, because he thought I will never be successful. But I brought a mark that was better than his children’s. In 2010, I became a student of English Literature in Damascus University, I remembered that I was not a bad student at that time with an average of 80 percent. But the Syrian Crisis began in 2011, the press was already screaming for blood and the political unrest escalated to the extent that we had to change residence. This was the bane of my existence to open my eyes and find myself in Latakia. I was simply cursed and hostile, because I didn’t speak like Alawaits, their accent felt like starving dogs, in other words, they bark. They are trivial, shallow minded wankers who had nothing inside their heads except clothes, mobile phones and narrating a fairytale about themselves having sex with girls and a horny 40-year-old women they come across and imagining penetrating their vaginas and sucking their nipples. I registered in Tishreen University at third year, I managed to transfer my documents to that platonic place. The professors didn’t like me, simply for participating in their lectures, and the fact that I spoke French, Spanish and a little bit Russian. As a consequence, I kept failing at University over and over. Moreover, I had different ideas, and University Professors are bigots and snobbish. Their opinion was the only one that matters. The impact of the mentioned earlier, had made my pain started with breakdowns, screaming my head off and security gathering around me like” what happened to you?”. Added to that, emotionally speaking, I had a horse sex drive in that Mohammadian society. Girls dressed in a way that said to male students, “come to me.”. The majority of women at that city showed their breasts, waist, legs, and what attracts me most their feet, especially, high heels, that gave them a very elegant look. For my good fortune, all I had in front of me was Pornographic DVDs and websites, so I kept masturbating from 11:30 pm until 10:00 am from night to daylight. Still wondering, how men attracted them, I didn’t have any idea, and the question kept circulating. I also hated the idea of marriage, especially that I always loved to live my life the way I fathomed. I didn’t like the idea of getting buried alive by being a bloody father and spend the rest of my life with only one Angry Factory, aka, one woman. The psychological problem kept increasing and started with depression; taking anti-depressants for a while and go back to my normal life when soothed down. I kept taking them every now and then. Students were not allowed to know about their mistakes at any cost, this was a University rule. Self-doubt has caused me to go to a neurologist who started doing me brain scans, simply, I just wanted to know why am I that stupid, for failing continuously and still I didn’t get an answer. I was always deprived of sleep, studying my arse off and my professors didn’t care seeing their students DIE and SUFFER in front of them. Everybody panicked from me, always avoided seeing me, treated as unusual man. At that time, due to the fact that I kept taking anti-depressants, they became ineffective and stopped giving me relief. Part of what killed me thousands of time when I’m still alive was realizing that I cannot become an MI6 agent at any cost. I simply wanted to do 1 % of what James Bond did, take notice, that I was not pursuing women, I was looking for action and suspense. I wanted to be stationed in the heart of ISIS or Spectre and operate in the shadows to protect Queen and Country. I didn’t like Hasan Nasrullah, Vladimir Putin who looked like a Bond villain or Ayatollah bloody Khomeini, even Ali Bin Abi Talib himself, and that’s why I was also crucified for being a James Bond fan. Family and friends made a laughing stock out of me. I started dinking excessively, and suicidal thoughts kept recurring to me. They didn’t stop driving me to bring a razor and wound myself to death, it wasn’t the MI6 job that destroyed me the most. It was self-doubt. Doubting my brain efficiency and abilities, and especially that I saw students whom I thought less capable to express themselves in English than I am. My family tried to see the professors in Tishreen University-Latakia, unsuccessfully. I simply couldn’t have any idea what is the main reason I kept failing over and over. How could I develop myself without knowing my mistakes?!!, I later told some people that I wanted to be an MI6 operative, I thought that might sooth my tension, however, it got things worse. I started attacking the professors while giving their lectures orally and physically. I also broke the classroom washbasin, and the entire classroom windows, then security staff gathered around me after 3 minutes, they were about to send me to an unknown destiny, later, everything stopped after the head of the English department told them not to take any action. The last problem I did was with World Literature professor, whose name is Noor AL Araby, she was a real bitch, I remembered studying her syllabus for a month, she told us that Virginia is not required for the exam, and she brought it. As a result of that, I wrote her three pornographic stories on the exam paper. Stories people see in Brazzers and Naughty America (Porn films companies). Everybody got pissed off, the story was about to be dragged from my house to a security branch for torture. Luckily, my uncle who was a Colonel in the Republican Guard he had connection to the President of the University, told the professor to drop out the case, but she was persistent to have my balls for Christmas decoration. She spread what I wrote her on the internet and about to send them to newspapers. My parents begged her not to and we had medical reports that proved that I had neurological and mental case. Then I was suspended from the University for years, from 2016, till now. She did all she could to destroy me to the utmost level. I was happy when I realized she got very agitated. Especially, there were students confirming that exam questions were paradoxical to the things she lectures about.

Suspension Time

At the time I was suspended it was a slow killer for me. Literary, I realized that I was the worst student in the history of the planet. I decided to follow Boxing, I remembered that I was fit enough for the game. I found out that I did well at round bouts on the ring. I could do sparring sessions, shadowboxing…etc. I was able to run at least 10kms per day, 300 sit-ups, 80 press ups and 20 pull-ups. I tried to be a champion but every time I kept persevering, in addition to that my left palm was broken and my right eye was wounded. I got cold and sick, and I realized that I had to spend at least 2 months with vaporizers, fertilizers and strong meds. I kept striving in Boxing with no success. I lost confidence in myself and felt humiliated. I said to myself, why didn’t I choose to work for the Syrian Secret Service, I went to the branches, and when they saw that I was discharged from the military because of diabetes type 1, they asked me to get lost. I was surprised when I found out that my dentist was an officer in the Ariel Intelligence in Syria, I told him the story, he said “this is not your fight, you might think that you can do well in the field, but your enemies are smarter than you, they know how they can take you down and destroy you once and for all. Second, we had people who kill targets, who can do silent killings, detonate and sabotage, whether male, or female, but they have nothing to lose, their parents are killed and very poor, working to make money, and you are a discharged, rich bastard and you want to join us. I’m surprised when you told me that. I was a James Bond fan like you, but believe me my friend, that the real intelligence work will never come up to your expectations. Once the film you watch finishes and the novel ends, go back to reality, what you look for does not exist. I realized that I couldn’t become an asset for MI6, or any spy agency in this world, I felt that I was under surveillance by my country. I knew that they could look at my messages, trace my location any time they wanted. That was not the real problem, suicidal thoughts and self-punishment ideas didn’t leave me. So, I talked to my uncle to send me to the Special Forces, or any Military Barracks to become a martyr, to take the bullets to my chest. I remembered when I drank wine bottle on my own, I told my parents that I wanted to wear a C4 charge belt and blow myself up inside ISIS. They were horrified, then I was unconscious and within minutes, I found myself inside the clinic, after I told my problem to the psychiatrist, about MI6 dream and the doubt that I’m under surveillance. He told my mother that I’m a Psychotic. I was injected with needles and medications that made me feel like cutting my head off. He also sent me to Damascus for electro-therapy (to take electricity directly to my brain). I also became a field of therapy by my Doctor, he was testing medications on me like Invega that made me shake while standing up. Hence, he decided to give me Zeldox 60 mg, second generation anti-psychotic. My only comfort was when I slept. Waking up to life while taking those meds was a curse. I lost my sexual drive (libido), I remember feeling dizzy all the time, I remember calling the doctor every time when I tell him about the side-effects concerning dizziness and loss of sexual drive, he kept telling me that what you say is incorrect and that it didn’t have any symptoms. By miracle, my father brought me lower dosage medication, life changed for me. I knew cat-houses in my city, every money woman I went to for an intercourse, they took a lot of money. They were abusing me. The sluts didn’t make me enjoy the intercourse the way I wanted. They were controlling me as well, and this is why I left them. After I told my psychiatrist that I reduced the dosage, he said that my condition will deteriorate. He confirmed to me that Chemistry in my brain was not right, then I told him to screw himself. Reducing the dosage had an effect as well. I remembered at a certain time that painkillers were like a bag of peanuts for me. And when night came I felt incredible fever in my head. I felt like being boiled alive. And I kept seeing nightmare afterwards, voices telling me that I will pay the price of reducing the medication dosage. Complete terror and horror kept chasing me for a very long time. After recovery, I logged into the James Bond groups on Facebook, they made me trivia to answer, did me a test about the James Bond 24 films from Dr.No 1962 to Spectre 2015. After I answered them all correctly, they called me Agent 00Zein. Made me an admin, and I had many friends from all around the world. In the 5th of October the global James Bond day , I celebrated with millions of the franchise fans. My great father, brought me a modern computer and IPhone X to follow up with these groups.

Nowadays, I’m not looking for immigration, nor women or anything else in this world. I have chosen to help my parents when they grow old, and help them. This is the best way I can pay them back. I decided to watch films about espionage world, read books, imagining the events and enjoy it fully and get my arse back to reality.

This is the only way; I cannot be punished.

I can imagine myself a soldier of 30 Assault Unit in Ian Fleming’s room 39 in WW2, or talking with Sir Alex Younger about my mission in VX or Whitehall. If not Sir Alex Younger, it could be Admiral Miles Messervy, Admiral Hargreaves, Madame Olivia Mansfield, or Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Mallory. And realize that” It was a matter of pride that the 00 Section has been chosen for this test. This painful experience kept coming back sometimes, notwithstanding, I have chosen to take with a pinch of salt, lol.

[hadesisqueer]

What do you think about Ironwood? I admit, he dinged my 'hot-o-meter' but he's also kinda complicated

I always laugh when people talk about him being hot because yeah, he is (it's totally the beard) but I'm too busy simping for Winter to notice.

Yeah, Ironwood is very complicated, and one of the best characters in the show, whether I or others like or dislike him; you gotta give the guy that. The thing about Ironwood is that I think he genuinely wanted to help, and that he's right about some things but so wrong about others. He's brave, and smart, but paranoid and really arrogant. I'll never get tired of saying how arrogant Atlesians tend to be, how they always think they're the best and the smartest, and somehow they always get outsmarted or defeated and proven wrong by the people they underestimate (watch: the RWBY vs Ace Ops fight. They underestimate them for being kids and they're supposed to be the best of Atlas and what happens? The “kids” who are actually nearly twenty -seriously stop calling people nearly twenty kids when you're barely two years older than them, Marrow, dear boy- turn out to be smarter than them and kick their asses). He didn't listen to Ozpin in volume 2 and 3 and that only made things even easier to Cinder. He's also hypocritical. He talks about how everyone has to make sacrifices, yet he's not the one starving in Mantle or having to deal with the Grimm down there. None of the Atlesians are; they're living their luxurious lives up there undisturbed, while people in Mantle suffer. And when it comes to sacrificing people, he chooses Mantle- the poor lives over the rich ones-. Now, it makes sense that he's choosing to save Atlas because it's easier, you know, with the whole flying city thing and Mantle being in the ground; it's the obvious option. But he literally chose to let millions die to save Atlas when his plan wouldn't even work. It would only work for a while because if Salem can create a flying Grimm Whale, I'm pretty sure she can figure out a way to create Grimms that can go to space, and then what? What will you do when you run out of resources, when you run out of defenses? I don't know exactly how the Staff of Creation works and if it can create metal so you can build more robots and stuff, but if it can't, they're fucked. Unless the relic is absolutely formidable and can be used as a weapon against the Grimm, they're fucked.

Therefore, I think his plan is useless. He's sacrificing millions for nothing because Atlas would fall anyway, and now he's not even able to call for help to the other kingdoms because he abandoned the Amity Tower project. And I don't think Vacuo, Vale and Mistral would be able to do something, anyway, if they're in space, or would even want to, considering Atlas abandoned them and let half of their own kingdom die. That's why I think team RWBY is right: they might fail, but at least they're giving a chance to everyone.

As I said, Ironwood is a really complicated (and a really good) character, because I think he really wants to do what's right but he's losing himself in his own fear and paranoia. He thinks he's being a hero but what he's doing is becoming what he fears the most.

Now I don't think he will make an alliance with Salem to save his ass; he has many flaws, but being a coward like Lionheart isn't one of them. He will most likely pretend to be her ally, however, so he can buy some time before she fucks up the kingdom. There's no sacrifice that he won't make, and that includes himself, so I can totally see him kind of redeeming himself by giving his life trying to save Atlas and Mantle.

Damn, I took too long again.

[immortalcoelacanth]

HLVRAI Oneshot: Degrade

Once again based on the Abscond AU by @godros​ and this one does require a small bit of context so I’d totally recommend checking it out if you haven’t already! Quick note that this one is Tommy centric but there is bits of shipping here and there so keep an eye out for it ;)

Word count: 1475

Summary:  Gordon wasn’t the only one breaking down.

After interacting with Tommy, most assumed that he… was not the sharpest tool in the shed. He was often perceived as being very naïve, lacking awareness of what was going on in the world around him. Others felt that he wanted to act like a foolish child and insulted him behind his back. 

These people usually did not last long in Black Mesa, not showing up for work the next day after muttering their insults. None of the staff questioned it or knew better than to question it. 

Overall, few held Tommy’s intelligence in high regard, and as such it was also thought that his observations skills were just as bad if not worse. 

Something which was far from the truth. 

Tommy typically allowed his emotions to take center stage in controlling his reactions, instinctively responding to things rather than thinking it out first. It was why he was always so emotional, easily saddened by negative events or cheered up when a good thing happened. 

Like getting a Beyblade or drinking soda!

Being able to talk to his friends also made him very happy, so when Benrey had approached the Science Team and told them all that Gordon was back, Tommy was ecstatic!

Mr. Freeman was back after having been gone for so long! It had been depressing waiting to see what their friend would do, when he would free them from this place. Tommy had noticed how much quieter Dr. Coomer was, and how Bubby’s angered shouting was a shadow of what it used to be, and then there was Benrey… 

Sad, lonely Benrey who seemed to count every second Gordon was gone for. Tommy had noticed the tallies that Benrey kept on the wall, occasionally adding one more, and tried to ask what they were. 

He had gotten no answer. 

It had been heartbreaking to watch the hope slowly dwindle in the group, Tommy himself had been relying on Sunkist to keep him upbeat, but now everything was better! The Science Team was whole again! Everyone was happy! They could have fun and explore!

Except… after some time passed Tommy noticed that things were not okay. 

It started with small things, tiny details that no one really paid attention to other than him. Noticing that Gordon grew frustrated with his hair, how the tie never seemed to work and hold it up properly. Benrey seemed to enjoy this development, taking the opportunity to occasionally mess with Gordon’s hair and annoy him, while Dr. Coomer suggested several tips to keep his hair neat and orderly. 

Only Tommy wondered why the hair tie no longer worked despite appearing to be perfectly fine. 

From there things only grew worse, watching Gordon stumble and bump into obstacles that he should have been able to easily avoid, seeing how often the man rubbed his eyes and blinked, like they were blurry. It was only after he tripped over some rubble, a fair-sized chunk of concrete and fell to the ground, that Tommy decided to voice his concerns. 

“Uh, M-Mr. Freeman?” He began, watching as Dr. Coomer quickly looked Gordon over to make sure he was not hurt. “Are… are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” Was the oddly cheerful reply, Gordon messing with his glasses before smiling up at Tommy. Dr. Coomer helped him get to his feet while Bubby and Benrey watched from off to the side. 

“You’re more of a deadweight than I remembered!” Bubby snarked as Benrey let out a sigh and lazily smiled. 

“damn bro your middle name must be… uh, two-left-feet or somethin’.”

“Benrey, don’t you dare-”

“gaydon two-left feetman.”

“Benrey sometimes I want to strangle you.”

With Gordon back on his… feet, Dr. Coomer rejoined Bubby just in time to hear the other scientist sigh. “Damn, this ship is gonna hit more icebergs than the Titanic!” 

Fortunately, Benrey and Gordon failed to hear that remark while Tommy silently wondered what such a thing was supposed to mean. After failing to answer his own questions, he decided to ask once more if their friend was alright. 

“Mr. Freeman are… are you sure you’re okay? You looked kinda…” Tommy paused as he tried to figure out how to word the next part. “Distracted?” 

“I was just thinking about things and didn’t notice that rubble, it’s okay Tommy.” Gordon said while offering him a reassuring smile. 

“thinkin’ about finally sending me a friend request?”

“No Benrey! I don’t even have a Playstation!”

“laaaaaaame.”

While the typical banter was certainly reassuring and helped Tommy calm down, there was no shaking the quiet voice in the back of his mind that continued to insist that something was not right, that something bad was going to happen to Gordon. It put him on edge kept him that way as they explored the desolate map, chatting and joking about things. 

If only Tommy had listened to that voice and voiced his concerns, perhaps things would have turned out differently. 

Gordon’s condition grew worse, eyesight deteriorating to the point of where Dr. Coomer and even Bubby were trying to convince him to take a break, sit down and relax as they figured out how to help. Benrey seemed to be in denial, still joking and occasional talking about random topics. Tommy had practically glued himself to Gordon’s side at this point, hovering over the man and trying to see if he could help in any way. 

“M-Mr. Freeman c-can I get you a… a soda?” His words were starting to fracture a bit due to the stress, but Tommy did his best to keep himself together for his friend. “There-there might be a m-machine somewhere. I could always, uh, g-go and-”

Gordon shook his head, cutting off Tommy’s rambling. “Nah, I’m okay. You don’t need to worry about me.”

He smiled, a small, pained smile, and Tommy worried all the more. 

Both Benrey and Gordon insisted on moving forward despite there being no real reason to and the objections from the rest of the Science Team. Unfortunately, their concerns were paid no mind as the two continued to press forward, forcing the rest of the group to follow and make sure nothing else happened. 

Not that any of them thought they could stop whatever was happening. 

“You’re both a bunch of fucking morons if you think any of this is going to turn out okay!” Bubby had cursed while pointing at the duo in denial, fortunately without a gun in his hands. “I thought Gordon was supposed to be smart!” 

“what? i’m not smart?”

“Of course not! You think Playstation is great when everyone knows that PC is the best for playing games!”

“but-but how am i supposed to… uh… how do i get playstation plus then, huh? i want my free games.”

“It’s called pirating-”

“That’s illegal!” Tommy wailed. “That-that’s stealing!”

“It’s only stealing if you get caught.” 

This good mood was fleeting as soon enough the Science Team found themselves encountering another hurdle. 

Gordon’s hand glitching and twitching as the skin it was made of faded away and was replaced by a blocky texture, becoming nothing more than a projection of what it had previously been. 

The group all stared in shock and horror, and even Benrey seemed to be at a loss for words. And then pure, absolute, chaos broke out. 

Dr. Coomer rushed to Gordon’s side as the man sank to the ground, clearly in shock as he tried to touch the phantom hand, resulting in his fingers passing through it. Bubby started cursing and yelling, not at anyone in particular, however Tommy had a feeling that some of his insults were addressed to two people in particular, and Benrey… 

Benrey looked… guilty. Eyes looking at everything except Gordon while standing as far from the group as possible yet still being close enough to see what was going on. 

“Mr. Freeman?” Tommy whimpered, causing Gordon’s glitchy eyes to fixate on him. “We-we should go b-back. You need to g-go back. You… you can’t-”

He smiled that empty smile, one that seemed so unconcerned with himself, and reached out to pat Tommy’s shoulder. His phantom hand phased through it, and Tommy flinched sharply. While no words were said, the unsettling interaction was more than enough to convey several worrying things to Tommy. 

Why did Gordon seem so unconcerned with his own safety? It was… scary to see him acting like this! Maybe it was the shock? He hoped it was. 

Naturally, this put their exploring to an end for now. No one disagreed with that decision thanks to a quick glare from Dr. Coomer, and how gloomy Benrey had become. As the group sat in silence and got some rest, Tommy curled up and pressed his face into his knees so no one could see his tears. 

They had enough problems to deal with, they did not need another. 

                                         xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I had to contribute a bit of angst to this AU, it’s in my nature! Also to my followers Also I apologize once more for the change in the focus of the content I’m putting out!

I hope you all enjoyed reading!

- ImmortalCoelacanth

[bebepac]

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?

This is chapter 6 of  Fast Forward which goes 5 years in the future to look at Liam and Riley. To catch up  if you are needing to, please click

HERE

Liam, Riley, Ellie, and Bastien  belong to Pixelberry , all other characters are my own to support their story.  I guess I should also mention the 2 terrorists might be or might not be characters of Pixelberry to cover all bases as no actual names are mentioned. 

Song Inspiration for this chapter:  F*uck You by Ceelo Green

https://youtu.be/pc0mxOXbWIU

Summary:  Some time has passed, Riley’s ankle heals.  Riley’s ex Donovan Jacobs visits Cordonia.  Riley takes a pregnancy test. 

Okay I have to be totally honest on this one.  I have no clue where this is going.  My other Fics i’m currently writing, I know exactly how I’m going to end them, even though I haven’t written it yet officially.  This one is completely up in the air.  So talking with @burnsoslow​  recommended an infusion of more drama,  so heeere we goooooooooo!!!!!!

Thanks also @queenjilian​ @dcbbw​ @xpandabeardontcarex​ for reading small portions.  :)  

I also used @hellsdemonictrinity​ Angsty Drabble List Prompt # 49.  I’m sorry, so sorry that I was such a fool” that will appear in bold.  

Tagging: @loveellamae​ @janezillow​  @lovemychoices​ @kimmiedoo5​ @kingliam2019​ @glaimtruelovealways​ @custaroonie​ @nomadics-stuff​ @yukinagato2012​ @queenwalton​ @annekebbphotography​ @lodberg​​ @camersworld​​ @queencordonia​​ @cordonia-gothqueen​​ @hopefulmoonobject​​ @cordonianroyalty​​ @atha68​​ @flutistbyday2020​​ @bbrandy2002​​ @my0123456789universe​​ @indiacater​​ @texaskitten30​​ @losingbraincellseveryday​​ @furiousherringoperatortoad​​ @marietrinmimi​​ @queen-arabella-of-cordonia​​ @mrsdrakewalkerblog​​ @sevenfuckslefttogive​​ @axwalker​​ @islandcrow​​ @ac27dj​​ @mom2000aggie​​ @sanchita012​​ @acanthisorbis​​ @fluffy-marshmallow-heart​

Warnings:  NSFW, really got carried away with the smut on this one... I’ll be honest.  Profanity, and Riley is dealing with some odd feelings, could potentially be the beginnings of depression.  

Word Count: 2752

"************undisclosed place in Cordonia************

"It was like taking candy from their little babies. Their little yappy whiny babies. How they screamed  when that chandelier almost fell on their American Mommy. I still can't believe with all the options for a Royal union, he opted for the commoner waitress."

"Exactly… but then again Constantine married Eleanor."

"Like father, like son.  The only thing Queen Riley has been good at so far is getting pregnant and pushing out heirs for him."

"The New York Bitch is fertile, that's for damn sure."

"Can't believe you were right about her guard.  He didn't even notice us, because his eyes were glued to Queen Riley's ass all night."

"His eyes were all over her even when I still was a part of King Liam's staff."

"I wish I would have noticed that when I was on their staff roster as well. I could have used that then to cast some doubts."

"I would have never thought you and I would be working together in this capacity."

"As they say….the enemy of my enemy….."

"Is my friend."

"King Liam really needs better security, because by the time they figure out what is happening, it will be too late for them to stop it."

***** Liam and Riley and the kids *****

Car rides always did wonders for the children, ever since they were born. He glanced around, all three children were napping. Which almost never happened, if they could get two out of three calm they were doing good.  Car rides were tiny miracles.

Riley was reading a book, and listening to the radio singing along with the song. It never failed.  Any song that popped on the radio, Riley always knew every single word. This time however, there was an adorable smile on her face as she sang the song.  It was like she was reminiscing as she sang.  

It didn’t take him long to realize, why as he heard Riley’s name in the song.  

“Riley, they just said your name in that song.”  

“I know.  He wrote it for me, when I was 15, for my birthday.  I can’t believe he’s on the radio, here, of all places, but I’m not surprised.  When it was something he wanted, Von was always motivated to get it.”

“Should I be jealous another man wrote a song about you?”  

Riley chuckled.  “If you want to be jealous of the 17 year old boy that had my heart at 15, go right ahead.  He emailed me like 8 months ago, saying he wanted my permission  to  demo the song.”

“Why’d he ask your permission?”

“He said the song is mine, because he wrote it for me.”  

Riley continued reading, Liam put his ear buds in.   The song was called Never Stop.  

He google searched it, then clicked on the music video link .   It was the love story of  two teens that looked like Von and Riley.  It was their story set to song.  Now that Riley had her memory back, she had told him some things about her past and her history with Von. Liam couldn’t help feeling a little jealous as he watched the video.  He knew this was Riley’s life before him.  

Liam found a link to an interview. Von had definitely refined his image quite a bit.  He looked like a freaking adult now.  He easily looked like he would fit right in court in Cordonia,  even looking like  someone he would be friends with.

Von smiled and waved at the camera as they said his name.

"Your song "Never Stop" is quickly picking up momentum already in Billboard's top 20, trending upwards. How do you feel about that?"

"This has been such a wild ride!!!! It's so crazy, considering how long ago I wrote that song.  How long I've wanted and prayed for this to happen for me, and here I finally am."

"Let me guess, it was written about your first love?"

"Incorrect.  It was written about my only love. We were best friends first."

"Wow that's powerful. Are you looking for love right now?"

"No. I can't expect that kind of lightning to strike me twice.” 

“Sounds like you have some regret there Von, is there?”

“Just one.  I should have never left for California without her.  She met the man she married three months after I left New York.”

“Ouch, so she’s still married now?”

“Yes, very happily, with three beautiful children.”

“So you’ve spoken to her recently?” 

“About 8 or so months ago.  It’s really easy to find out information on her as she’s considered to be very high profile where she currently lives.  Never Stop is the song I wrote for her when we were kids that were crazy in love, and her dad didn't approve of me."

"Didn't approve of you? Why?"

"I was a street kid, she was the daughter of a police officer and a nurse."

"If you had it to do over again, would you give this all up, to turn back time?"

"As great as all of this has been, I would give it all up in a second, if it meant I could have another chance with her."

"What would you say to her if she was watching right now?"

He looked at the camera, taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, so sorry that I was such a fool. 

I let the best thing that ever happened to me, slip right through my fingers. I let you go… He may have gotten you in this lifetime, but you're mine in the next. I'll see you next lifetime Ri."

That was spoken like a man that was still madly in love with Riley.

Liam looked at Riley. She was adjusting her clothes as Jaiden had woken up cranky to feed him.

Riley glanced up at him smiling. "Love you." She whispered.

"Love you more."

She texted Von.  She thought he’d love the idea of his song making it overseas to her in Cordonia now.

After a few days back at the palace they were back in a routine, and everything was calm.

"How's your ankle feeling tonight?"

"Pretty good, why?"

"I need you, My Queen." Liam's voice was low and husky.  When his voice sounded like that, it really did something to her. Riley felt her very core tremble at his words.

Riley obliged immediately, lifting her arms in the air. Liam slid her gown off quickly tossing it to the floor.  He groaned looking at Riley's naked body. Liam caressed her fuller breasts. Then his mouth went to each one . His tongue rolling seductively over each nipple.  

Riley reached in his boxers feeling Liam already completely erect. Her eyes widened.  

"You mean business My King."

"You're getting all of me tonight. My Queen . Every . Single. Inch," emphasizing each word. Her body trembled again.

Riley bit her lip looking at him. He kissed her again softly nibbling on it.  She knew tonight was about  the King and Queen, not Riley and Liam.

"I only desire one thing," he whispered in her ear. "And that is to fuck My Queen as hard as she can handle me tonight."

She knew the game he was playing and she wanted to rile him up a little bit, as it would make what was about to happen that much sweeter.

She looked him in the eye saying, "Fuck me Liam."

He pinned her arms with force beside her head. His eyes flashed anger as he corrected her. "My King. Say it."

Amusement danced in Riley's eyes. His grip tightened on her arms.

"Say it." He insisted again. Liam loved his titles… err...correction King Liam loved his titles.

 "Fuck me My King."

Liam's eyes darkened with desire.  His voice was commanding  as he looked down at her.  

"Open your legs for Your King."

Riley obeyed her King.  He licked his lips at Riley and with one masterful rock of his hips caused Riley's body to quiver and Liam to cry out in pleasure.

Liam quickly set a frantic pace. Riley hooked her good leg around him pulling him closer. He could feel her trying to lift her arms. She wanted her arms free.

"Your arms will be free when I say they will be free, stop fighting Your King." He groaned.  

Riley still had that playful glint in her eye, that he loved and absolutely frustrated him at the same time. She liked it when Liam played a little rough. He let her arms free. And quickly adjusted her pulling her legs tighter together pulling both to rest over his left shoulder.

The friction between him and her walls was so tight it caused Riley to let out a loud scream as Liam rolled his hips vigorously against her.

Bastien heard the scream and burst into their quarters. He saw all he needed to see: Liam's bare ass pumping hard and Riley's  boot over his shoulder to know it was not an emergency.

Incredibly embarrassed, and un-noticed as the royal couple was “preoccupied,”  he quickly shut the door to find Nico standing there.

"They're fine." Bastien said, his face turning red.

They heard Riley scream again. Nico glanced at the door.

"Trust me, they're fine."

Riley's scream was followed by a loud groan from Liam.

"Oh!" Nico remarked, as realization of what was happening  on the other side of the door became crystal clear.

"Right."

Both walked away.

Riley couldn't handle what he was doing to her, finding her release rather quickly.

"Your King is not done with you yet."

He flipped her over pushing her face down into the bed.  Riley gasped in surprise.  Liam pinned her left arm behind her back and gripped her hip with his free hand and entered her again.  It didn’t take Riley long to become undone again, and Liam was right with her this time.  Liam felt his first, as he groaned loudly, his seed splashing deep inside Riley’s walls.  Then Riley, a satisfied moan escaping her lips.

He collapsed onto her.  They both laid there satisfied breathing heavily. “

Liam looked at her with a content smile on his face.    

“How’s your ankle?”

“I don’t care about my ankle right now.”  

Liam chuckled, “Glad I could provide some pain relief.“

“Indeed you did!”  

He pulled Riley into his arms, and they drifted off into a relaxed sleep.  

Finally the day had come.   Riley wriggled her ankle.   It felt ok.  

“I recommend taking it easy on the stilettos you’re infamous for wearing right out of the gate.  Or if you are going to wear them, limit the time you’re in them for right now.”

“I promise to take it easy Doc."

She walked into  Liam’s study, closing the door behind her silently locking the door.  Liam noticed her stride right away.

“Yeaaaaaaa no more Queen Cripple Ass!!!”

“You know what Liam Rhys, you can kiss my ass.”  

“Tell me which cheek, and I will.”

She smiled, shaking her head at Liam.  “Of course that’s your response. Do you have a meeting right now or shortly?”  

“I’m free at the moment.  Why what do you have planned for me?”

“I have a present for you, My King.”

“You’ve taken such good care of me these last 8 weeks, while my ankle healed.  Carrying Queen Cripple Ass around.  Doing all the work… in bed.“

Liam smiled.  Please God he thought, let her do what I think she’s going to do.

Riley got on her knees before him.  Riley quickly unbuttoned his pants.  

She heard  Liam's breath catch as he felt Riley start to stroke him with her hands, and take him into her mouth.

"YES MY QUEEN!!!!!!!!! GOD YES!!!" Liam's right hand tightly gripped  his chair arm rest. His left hand was tangled in her curls pushing her head down to further deep throat his length. Riley tightened her lips  around him expertly sliding up and down his shaft. Riley was using both her mouth and her hands to satisfy him.

Liam was speaking incoherently now. She was amused. Maybe she should do this for him more often.

After a few  minutes, Liam loudly said, "Not in your mouth Riley!"

She abruptly stopped.  She stood up. Riley slid off her panties, hiked up her skirt, and straddled him. She quickly angled him at her entrance and lowered herself onto him.

"Is this what you wanted My King?" She asked

"YES! RIDE ME HARD!!!"

"Hold on tight." Liam's arms were so tight around her he was almost crushing her.  

Riley gripped the chair for leverage giving her husband exactly what he asked for.

When she left Liam's study he had a huge smile on his face.

Three Weeks Later

*****************Von**************

He couldn't go anywhere without being recognized  anymore. Everywhere he went he always allotted extra time, not that he was complaining. He was at the airport. He had stopped multiple times and taken pictures with fans. He was sure he was a little insane for what he was about to do.

He walked up to the front desk. The clerk recognized him saying "Oh my God! You're…."

"Von Jacobs."

She nodded, "How can I help you?"

"I need to be on your next flight to Cordonia."

" I hear it's a beautiful country.  Do you know anyone there?"

"Only one person really well."

*****************Riley********************

Riley paced in the bathroom waiting for the results.  She knew better to think of morning sickness  as just in mornings, as she had horrible morning sickness with Ellie and Jaiden.  Adam was her chill baby. She had almost no morning sickness with him, and her delivery was quick.

It was time to read the results.  Riley glanced at the test. There were two blue lines indicating a positive result. Riley was pregnant again, and she didn't feel like she thought she would. She didn't feel anything. Honestly the last time she had really truly been excited about a pregnancy was Ellie.

Her phone beeped. You'll never believe where I am right now?"

"I don't know. Where?"

Von sent her a selfie from what looked like the palace front gates.

She dropped the test in the trash covering it with toilet paper and running down the stairs. She would tell Liam….later.  She had to unpack why she felt or didn't feel the way she should….first.  

She came into the great room. She used the intercom. "Guards I know him, you can let him through."

"Yes Your Majesty."

In a few moments, Von was brought around the corner. His chin dropped when he looked at Riley.

"You look spectacular!" Von gave her a bear hug.  Riley was wearing a blue floral dress that cinched at the waist and baby blue Louboutin pumps. Riley's wild curls even looked different, more tame but still incredibly beautiful.

"Thank you, you do as well."

"What do I call you Queen Riley, Your Majesty?"

"You call me what you've always called me. There's no need for honorifics with me. So what brought you here?"

I missed you, and I still love you. He thought.

"I was in need of a vacation, and the pictures I have seen from here are absolutely beautiful so I thought I would come here, and since I know the woman in charge, there's also that."

Von nudged her with his shoulder, something he used to do when they were young.  She smiled at him. 

"I heard we had a guest."

Liam walked in the room slipping his arms  around Riley's waist resting his head on her shoulder. She rested her hands on his leaning into his touch. He softly kissed her cheek, and neck.  

Liam let go of her. "Donovan, good to see you again. So what brings you to our lovely country?"

"Vacation. Rumor has it this country is absolutely beautiful."

"Oh it is. We will have to arrange some sightseeing opportunities for you.  How long are you planning on staying?"

"I've got nothing but time. I have a little break before I have to be back in the studio to record."

"Riley, would you mind getting our son up from his nap? He might be a little hungry."

Liam pulled her to him kissing her lips and gently rubbing her stomach.

"Riley, are you pregnant?"

OH HOLY GOD!!!!

Liam answered  for her, "Not yet, but soon, we're trying for another."

"I'll be right back," Riley said walking out of the room.

Liam stared at Von, Von stared back at him.

"Maybe you can fool her with that you are on vacation bullshit. Cut the crap. I saw your little interview. What do you really think you can accomplish by coming here now Donovan?"

"I think the real question is, why are you so insecure with your relationship, that you are coming at me like this bro?"

[astyle-alex]

[Fanfic] Museum Mishap | the BatFam

Heya! As we approach the End of 2020 (FINALLY), I’m realizing that this story is ridiculously close to reaching the milestone of 25k hits on Ao3. To celebrate, I’ll be posting the whole thing here on Tumblr!

(I would however, deeply appreciate it if y’all would pop over to view it on Ao3, briefly, so I can get the view counted as a hit and actually make it over the line for 25k in views before the close of 2020!)

Museum Mishap  |  Chapter 1/6

Fandom: the DC Universe, Batman & co. Pairings: Jay x Tim Characters: Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson Rating: Gen Audiences Warnings: None

Total Word Count: 38,590

Summary:

Middle-School Tim Drake is on a field trip to the Science Museum, but with a WE exhibition of top-secret new technologies being staged in the basement, Tim separates from his classmates and breaks into the staff-only areas by using the skills he's developed over years of stalking Batman and Robin.

Current-Robin Jason Todd catches him in the act, but he's not there to confront Tim for trespassing or truancy - he's there because there's a rumor on the street that Tim Drake knows Batman's real name. And the rumor's gaining ground, quick, drawing in the wrong kind of attention.

When a Drug-Lord decides to take the rumor seriously enough to kidnap the little genius, Jason jumps into the crossfire. It all goes downhill from there. Fast.

(Jason is 14, Tim is 12)

Chapter 1 : Special Access

           A trip to Gotham’s History of Science and Technology Museum would’ve been exciting for even your average twelve year old – it was a day of school that didn’t feel like school, and it meant a chance to hang out, relatively unsupervised, with your friends all day instead of just the one or two classes you managed to luck into having together.

           Timothy Jackson Drake was not your average twelve year old, and a trip to the SciTech Muse was the kind of thing that made his enrollment in middle school entirely worth it. For starters, it was an entire day spent in the heart of the city surrounded by some of the coolest artifacts of science humans could craft.

           And to make things even better, the trip was an all-day, delayed opening affair, starting at 10am and ending at 6pm – which meant he’d actually been able to get enough sleep last night to be well-rested, a rarity in its own right with his particular extra-curriculars. Better yet, he’d been able to tell the Drake housekeeper / nanny that he’d be having dinner with his class so she could go home right at 6 without having to wait for him to get back so she could cook for him.

           That part wasn’t true, of course, but he had concrete evidence that had been legitimately published by the school to help back up his story. Mrs. Simz had her own kid, and was therefore harder to convince than some of the others Tim’s parents had hired, but that also meant she had more reason to hurry home when presented with a believable reason excusing it.

           Being a sixth-grader meant Tim couldn’t just stay in the heart of the city when the field trip was over, he was on a rollcall and the bus back to Gotham Academy wouldn’t leave without his name getting checked off. The high schoolers were allowed to take public transit home if they had a signed permission slip from their parents, but Tim had to wait a few more years before he could con his way into having such freedoms.

           Still, getting over to the West Side from where his school was in Coventry would be far easier than getting there from the Drake Estate way out in Bristol. The extra hour and a half he’d save himself in commuting time mean he would be able to grab some coffee and something to eat without having to rush to get in place for the nighttime adventure he’d planned.

           Beyond all that, the fact that the field trip was this week, meant there was a special exhibition from the cutting-edge tech division of Wayne Enterprises in the midst of being set up. All the main components were being staged in the museum's basement and the ones too big to steal were as close to unprotected as they would ever be – and Tim intended to take full advantage of that.

           He’d been summarily and repeatedly denied acceptance to the WayneTech summer camps as his parents owned one of the company's main competitors: Drake Industries. Apparently corporate espionage was a big enough problem that even ten year olds were suspect. Tim found it ridiculous that the one time he would’ve been entirely okay with having his abilities underestimated was the one time he wasn’t assumed to be just another dumb kid. Honestly, Tim was pretty sure that no one had actually read his application – the computer had probably scanned his ID and kicked his profile out of the running before it had even made it to a human that might care about his actual qualifications.

           Tim hadn’t figured out how to make a bulletproof fake identity profile – not yet, at least – And he certainly wasn’t going to get caught trying to gain illegal access to WE on a sub-par fake ID. Because there were all kinds of ways that would go poorly for him – between his parents possibly being disappointed in him enough to hire a live-in Nanny to the legal ramifications he’d face, even as a minor, it just wasn’t worth it.

           But the thought of getting an up-close look at the new tech WE was rolling out still made Tim's heart pound like he’d just downed a full pot of coffee. WE took a very different approach to developing their tech than DI – more of a ‘you know what would be cool? can we make that reasonable?’ philosophy than a ‘how do we solve this problem?’ sort of thing. Tim found the both the WE approach and their results utterly fascinating.

           Not that Tim had been allowed to play with much of DI's tech, being that his parents would hear about him attempting to gain unsupervised lab access, and promptly ground him, and anyone who might supervise treated him like a kid far too young to understand or unobtrusively observe the work going on inside the places he wanted to see.

           So, the fact that a spectacular spread of WE tech was set up in the basement of a rather glaringly unsecured staff only area in the very building Tim’s class was touring stood as an open invitation for Tim to investigate.

           An invitation that Tim took very seriously. He’d spent at least 18 hours over the past week examining the museum’s blueprints – courtesy of the Gotham City Hall Public Archives – And the rundown of the security, both in terms of the human guards and staff on-hand and the electronic countermeasures – via close examination of the extensive repertoire of ‘insider access’ videos on the museum’s own webpage. Tim would probably end up sending the museum an anonymous suggestion about adjusting that at some point, but he’d worry about that later.

           After he used it to his tech fantasy fulfillment advantage.

           For now, he simply slipped away from the unwatchful eyes of his teachers, stuck headphones in his ears, and carefully made his way – casually, calmly, and like he had no destination in mind – over to the hallway by the cafeteria near the east wing gift shop. The hallway that had restrooms and a staff-only door halfway down it. A door secured with a heavy-duty machine-lock, with a ten-digit keypad, but a door that was not alarmed.

           The human guards were always more focused on preventing shoplifters from stealing over-priced – for a good cause, but still over-priced – museum memorabilia than on the high-traffic restroom hall by the cafeteria. Using his headphones as an excuse to tap his fingers to keep count – while his eyes and most of his brainpower focused on evaluating targets – Tim tracked the museum employees on their lunch breaks and calculated the best option to use as his ticket backstage. He had some in mind, but he had contingencies for last-minute adjustment.

           Tim settled on a big guy whose name he’d read on staff profiles but had forgotten with the other useless information provided about his role in the marketing department. What Tim hadn’t forgotten about him was that his department’s office was right by the staff door he was eyeing – 4.5 meters down and to the left, to be exact – which meant that, even with his slow stride, he would be behind another door in the hallway approximately 17 seconds after the door Tim needed closed behind him.

           When Mr. Marketing got up and lumbered over to the trash, Tim sidled over towards an informational sign with a museum map. As Mr. Marketing passed him, Tim counted off 4 seconds before he turned around to follow. He slid his hand into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around the u-shaped metallic magnet he'd had to smuggle in by jamming it into his mouth and using sleight of hand to pretend it was his retainer – Less than sanitary, but effective, and he’d taken an extra vitamin this morning as a precaution.

           Mr. Marketing punched in his code and pulled the door open to well over 90° before he lumbered through the gap. Tim kept his pace consistent; patient, he could be patient – even though it made his heart rate kick up uncomfortably as he put his faith in his calculations instead of in his feet. He reached the door with almost 6 inches of clearance left for him to slide his hand in and clip his magnet into place over the latch.

           The door closed as he withdrew his hand and kept walking, but it did not click.

           The machine lock whirred with an attempt to close, but its components struck the flat surface of his magnet and failed to properly secure the door. Had the door been alarmed, that would have drawn a lot of unwanted attention, but as it was Tim made it to the restroom with almost nothing noticeably amiss.

           The restroom was crowded enough that his entrance didn’t draw attention and he shut himself in one of the stalls to count off exactly 10 seconds. Then he washed his hands, acquired a paper towel that he did not immediately dispose of, and went to retrieve his magnet. The paper towel allowed him to grasp the handle without leaving fingerprints and he retrieved his magnet without incident – opening the door onto an empty hallway and promptly swerving right to access the unsecured stairwell he knew would be there.

           Tim had no way to hide himself from the singular security camera watching the hallway, but the area was so highly trafficked that he doubted any security guard had been monitoring closely enough to spot his detour. He would get in a ton of trouble if he was caught here – phone calls to his parents would be unavoidable and they’d likely be so angry at him they’d fly back from Spain a week early. But he’d almost certainly avoid any kind of legal consequences.

           Besides, he wasn’t going to get caught. He’d planned this too well for that.

           Tim made his way through the less convenient passageways in the museum’s basement until he reached the corner of the sub-basement where the WayneTech exhibit was being staged. It was, as he’d known it would be, isolated and completely vacant of staff.

           A smile split his face as the relief he felt in making it there successfully was quickly replaced by the buzz of unadulterated excitement. He set his backpack down carefully – mindful, as always, of his precious camera. Then he rolled up his sleeves as he stepped closer to the first machine he saw with the WE logo stamped proudly on its side.

           According to the signage prepped in the binder sitting next to the behemoth, it was a component of the quantum computer WayneTech was developing to facilitate physically interactive virtual realities. Tim bounced on his toes as he warred with himself – half wanting to read more about the technical specs and half wanting to dive right in and see it for himself.

           Tim made it through another two pages of engineering details before he gave up and literally tackled the machine to hoist himself up high enough to look inside via the glass panel built in for that specific purpose. There were at least a dozen windows in the casing and Tim wondered – for a brief moment of distraction from the tech itself as he clambered higher up its exterior – how the museum was going to work in ramps and such for visitors to get the best views. If he didn’t get arrested tonight or banned from the museum forever, he might have to come back to see it in its full glory.

           He’d finagled his way to the last protrusion from top and was marveling at the neat rows of complicated wiring laid out below him when something crucial changed: he discovered that he was not, in fact, alone.

           “Ya know, I don’t think you’re supposed to be down here.”

           Tim really wanted to pretend he didn’t yelp like a kicked puppy when the sudden voice scared him half out of his skin, but the basement echoed enough for him to know it would be ridiculous to think the newcomer hadn’t heard him. Tim ducked his head in shame as his ears burned red and he turned to face whoever had caught him with hunched shoulders and guilty hands raised in surrender.

           And then he spotted his accuser on the floor and froze.

           It was Jason Peter Todd.

           Jason Peter Todd – Bruce Wayne’s new ward and the new Robin. And also kinda Tim’s neighbor. Well, as far as the word ‘neighbor' applied when your respective estates were so big it took an hour to hike door to door. Tim’s brain got caught in a loop of wondering what the frack Jason Peter Todd, of all people, was doing at the museum on a Thursday afternoon. Was doing down here, in this particular sub-basement, on a Thursday afternoon.

           Tim had fully been expecting to see the new Robin today, but that was when he was in full costume and wasn’t supposed to be for at least ten more hours. And Tim had not – in any of his contingencies – planned for Robin to see him.

           “Uh, hi,” Tim floundered.

           “Hi,” returned the crime fighting teenager Tim idolized and had been planning to stalk through Coventry later today. There was a glint in his eyes as he stared up at Tim with a smirk.

           They stared at each other in silence for way longer than could possibly be considered reasonable and Tim's ears resumed to burn at that, and at the distinct realization he had no idea what to say next.

           Because what exactly are you supposed to say when Jason Peter Todd catches you red handed in an off-limits part of a museum? Sitting on top of a piece of cutting edge computer engineering that you had absolutely no right to touch?

           “You're Tim Drake, aren’t you,” Jason asked – in a way that was definitely not really a question and also made it clear that Jason was laughing at him. “We met last month at the charity gala. I’m Jason.”

           “I remember, Mr. Todd,” Tim spouted, falling back on the robotic safety net of manners his mother had drilled into him. “Um, what brings you here?”

           “It’s just ‘Jason’, kid.” He jerked his chin at the machine Tim clung to, continuing, “That shit’s WayneTech. B sent me over to make sure it’s got all the right bits with it.”

           Tim nodded like a puppet, trying not to drown in his horror as he realized what it meant that Jason had caught him. He was messing with tech that Batman owned. There were probably a hundred undetectable BatSecurity features on this thing. Robin had probably been sent to see if someone was trying to steal it when one of Batman’s invisible alarms had gone off.

           “How about you, kid,” Jason asked, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his cargo pants. He regarded Tim with openly amused parody as he asked, “What brings you here?”

           “Field trip,” Tim responded automatically.

           “Field trip?” Jason echoed with an incredulous chuckle.

           He stared at Tim for another long moment and Tim stared back, terrified and unblinking and too tongue tied to substantiate his claim.

           “Alright then,” Jason said eventually, with a one shoulder shrug inside his leather jacket. “So, you got yourself stuck up there or are you gonna come have lunch with me?”

           “Lunch?”

           “Yeah, ya know, food. You eat it,” Jason explained. “I know I could use some pizza.”

           Tim frowned – at the confirmation of the non-sequitur of lunch plans, not the various insults attached to it.

           Jason seemed to falter briefly. “You actually stuck up there, Tim?”

           “No,” Tim huffed, willing to admit he sounded slightly petulant about it.

           “Well then get your skinny ass down here,” Jason prompted – a beat too late in a way Tim didn’t quite understand. He blinked, trying to puzzle out what didn’t sit right, but Jason arched an eyebrow – in the way Tim had seen him do as Robin, magically managing the expression despite the mask – and Tim realized he was supposed to be doing something.

           He was already in enough trouble as it was, so Tim scrambled down the computer and found himself face to face with the second Robin. Or face to chest, as it were.

           Tim hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet, so he knew he was a scrawny twelve, but he hadn’t thought Jason would be that much taller. Jason was only two years older and he was stocky to start with. It was different when he’d been in the suit he’d worn for the charity gala. In civvies he looked broad and strong, and he stood up straighter.

           Jason pulled one hand from his pocket and threw his arm around Tim’s shoulders – began dragging him towards the exit. Tim lunged for his backpack as they passed it and clutched it close to his chest as Jason continued to drag him back upstairs.

           They ended up in the west cafeteria, in a corner that Jason had clearly selected for it’s state of semi-privacy. It was crowded and public enough to make raised voices problematic, but private enough to discuss sensitive details without much worry of being over heard. And it was neutral ground, like Jason was trying to make Tim comfortable before hashing out exactly how much trouble he was in for touching Batman’s stuff without express permission.

           Jason had acquired a large pizza, dripping with extra cheese and a blanket of peperoni, and two double-thick paper plates – one of which he piled high with three slices and placed in front of Tim. He gave himself five slices and settled down to chat having somehow already inhaled half of a sixth.

           “So,” Jason started around a mouthful of food as Tim poked tentatively as his own serving, “Some people are saying you’ve got some sort of connection to the Batman.”

           Tim frowned, his gaze snapping up to evaluate Jason.

           He’d spoken quietly, conspiratorially – like he wanted in on a secret Tim had. Like he wasn’t about to threaten to hang Tim by his thumbs in the depths of Batman’s secret lair for the rest of the foreseeable future.

           Awareness that Jason didn’t know that Tim knew his vigilante identity sparked inside Tim’s brain. He might be able to get out of this. If Robin didn’t know then Tim was only in trouble for touching the quantum computer because Batman didn’t want anyone touching it, and Jason was limited in how he could exact vengeance because the wrong move would reveal his role as Robin. All Tim had to do was talk his way out of this.

           Tim could do that. Right?

           All he had to do was figure out how.

           “I’m sorry I touched the quantum computer,” he blurted.

           Probably not like that.

           Tim hunched down into his shoulders and poked again at his pizza to avoid eye contact with Jason. His ears began to burn again as he felt Jason staring at him.

           “Shit, kid,” Jason said, after swallowing his bite this time, “You’re not in trouble.”

           Tim’s finger paused mid-poke. “I’m not?”

           “Nah,” Jason promised. “Fuck the Man.”

           Tim blinked. “Then why are you talking to me?”

           Jason blinked. A sort of confused expression that was vaguely pitying flickered across his face. Then he reiterated, “’Cause I hear you know who the Batman is, ya know, under the cowl.”

           Okay. So, Jason didn’t know he knew, but he suspected.

           Tim could work with that. Probably.

           He took a bite of pizza purely to keep himself from blurting anymore unhelpful apologies and attempted to calculate the best response.

           “Nobody knows who Batman is,” Tim said eventually.

           “But you’re a fan, right?” Jason nodded at Tim sweater – at the big black and yellow R embroidered on the left-hand side of the red-wool knitwork. Mrs. Davis had made this sweater for him, before her kids had insisted that she retire from babysitting rich Gotham kids and go be a grandmother in the safety and comfort of their town in Florida. Mrs. Davis had been one of the very few people who had supported Tim’s moderately obsessive interest in Batman and Robin.

           She hadn’t really understood, but Tim missed her – missed being able to talk about it.

           “You’ve gotta have some theories,” Jason was saying, his voice persistent enough to pull Tim back out from inside his own head.

           “I don’t have any theories,” Tim said. And it was true enough. He’d had theories. But that was before. Now, he had evidence. Another bite of pizza kept him from saying that out loud.

           “Seriously? None?”

           Tim shrugged and counted the circles of peperoni left on his first slice. Nine more circles, fifteen more bites. His stomach was already wary of the food he was putting in it. If this interrogation lasted more than ten bites, Tim’s stomach would probably begin to protest.

           Adamantly.

           He peeked up at Jason. Who was somehow already finishing slice number three.

           “Then why’s the word on the street that you’ve got insider know-how on ole Batsy?”

           “I dunno,” Tim said with another shrug. Truthfully, the question was bothering him too.

           Tim had never been seen when he’d staked out a spot to catch the dynamic duo on patrol or in the midst of a big bust. Never. They would’ve confronted him then and there if they’d ever found him with a camera full of very clear photos of them in action.

           So, how did Robin know enough to suspect him?

           “Who’d you hear it from?”

           This time, Jason shrugged. “I dunno. People. But like seriously, you don’t have any fucking idea why someone would think you know Batman’s real name?”

           Tim shook his head silently. He wanted to save his pizza for the questions that really needed him to have something to do with his mouth other than blabbing out his secrets.

           “Huh.”

           Jason’s eyes were narrowed, not quite threateningly, but pressingly – like he wasn’t quite sure a threat would be appropriate, but he was certain that Tim wasn’t telling the truth. It was another look Tim had captured him using as Robin. A kind of gentled-down BatglareTM for Robin to use on uncooperative victims instead of how Batman used his on uncooperative criminals – because victims could be uncooperative for all kinds of non-criminal reasons.

           Tim suddenly understood why it was so effective.

           He squirmed in his seat and caved to the need to take another bite of pizza.

           But he wasn’t a victim. Was he?

           Suddenly, Robin’s presence at the museum seemed a lot more suspect. It made sense for Robin to be there because Tim had triggered some sort of invisible Batalarm on the quantum computer, but he’d gotten there way too quickly for that to have been what brought him to the museum initially. He’d’ve had to have already been inside the building.

           But why?

           Tim’s class had been scheduled for this museum trip over a month ago. He’d even talked about it briefly with Bruce Wayne himself at the charity gala he’d attended with his parents – that’s how he’d known about the WayneTech exhibition far enough in advance to plan effectively to sneak down to the basements.

           “When’d you start hearing that rumor?”

           Tim’s question was so sudden and loud in his own ears that he startled himself.

           He seemed to have startled Jason too – who was starting on pizza slice number five and appeared to have been in the middle of a sentence when Tim had jolted into questioning him.

           “Uh, about a week ago, I guess,” Jason explained. “Your name had come up a few times before that in regards to you being a fan, but it wasn’t too long ago that it changed to you having special access or some shit.”

           Tim nodded absently.

           Two weeks ago, there’d been a major drug bust in a neighborhood just over half a mile away from his school. Batman had been tipped off about the drug ring in the same way Tim had: kids who came to school high rode the bus home and the chalk marks on the benches at the stops used by the kids who were using weren’t terribly sophisticated code.

           Tim had snagged some really spectacular shots the night that bust went down.

           Several of Tim’s classmates had exhibited symptoms of withdrawal shortly after that. A few of those students – namely some who’d never seemed to be able to have a civil conversation or simply let Tim pass in silence – had stopped exhibiting those symptoms a few days later. Tim had assumed they’d found a new dealer.

           Maybe they’d needed to find something more valuable to trade too, to make up for getting their old dealer busted.

           Info on the Bat who’d busted them would be pretty valuable.

           Even just a lead on info would’ve been valuable. Tim had been outright stalking Batman and Robin for over a third of his entire lifespan, at this point, and only just recently figured out who Batman really was. And he was a verified genius who’d happenstantially acquired the right life experiences to recognize things like quadruple somersaults. Who’d circumstantially idolized and stalked two different costumed acrobats for several years before he realized they were actually the same person and begun to extrapolate from there.

           Nobody knew anything about Batman.

           A tip on someone who might, would be very valuable indeed.

           Tim was being interrogated by Robin because he was a victim. He just hadn’t been victimized quite yet.

           Tim dropped his pizza like it’d burned him and began to rifle through his backpack for the new cellphone his mother had bought him when school started. It was ‘so he could fit in with his peers’. It was too big to fit in his pocket and he’d never liked wearing a watch, so he’d had to dig to find it and figure out the time.

           It was 4:32pm.

           Shift change for the guards was in less than an hour and they were already definitely antsy for it. Most of the science staff were already heading home to beat the traffic, and most of the new guards wouldn’t be coming in for at least another twenty minutes.

           If Tim were going to lead a team to invade this place and capture an unwilling potential asset, he would do it in the next ten to fifteen minutes.

           “We have to get out of here.”

           Jason frowned, his confusion pronounced with wary unease. But he demonstrated a willingness to trust Tim at his word for no other reason than Tim wanted him to and clambered to his feet. He took his last slice of pizza with him though – and nabbed the two untouched pieces from Tim’s plate as he followed.

           “What’s wrong, Tim,” Jason asked, carefully nonchalant. His hands were full of pizza in the way Tim’s mouth had been to stop him from doing what he wanted to do when asked a stupid question he should’ve known better than to answer – Tim suspected that if Jason wasn’t holding onto the pizza he’d’ve grabbed Tim’s shoulder at this point.

           Tim didn’t know how to answer at all, let alone efficiently communicate what he’d deduced about their current situation. Especially not without revealing that he knew Jason was Robin and could guess why Robin was here talking to him to begin with.

           Jason was rapidly eating though the pizza that was keeping him from grabbing onto Tim’s arm to stop their not-so-subtle scramble towards the museum’s main exit. They made it to within sight of the doors before Jason had inhaled the last piece of crust, and Tim had probably ignored several unheard comments and questions about their rapid egress, when Jason finally lost the battle to avoid physical contact and wrapped his hand around Tim’s elbow.

           Tim swung around to face him as his inertia asserted dominance.

           “Timmy, what’s got you so spooked?” Jason asked. “C’mon. You can tell me. Anything. I won’t rat on you, even if it’s something bad. Lemme help.”

           “I can’t – it’s not – You don’t,” Tim could practically feel the whine building in his voice at all the false starts that his brain attempted to send through his mouth to make the act of communication happen. His brain apparently thought it worked something like magic.

           Tim was frustrated and embarrassed and still very acutely aware of the fact that they needed to get out of the building. Right now.

           And Jason was doing the Robin look, the other one – the one for the scared little bunnies of the victims they came across that needed to be soothed and calmed and promised that they had a friend somewhere in the cold cruel world. Tim knew why it worked – felt it working on him – and yet he was mortified that Robin thought it necessary.

           He wasn’t a bunny. He was an asset. Currently being targeted.

           Recentered, he focused and forced words to come out of his mouth intelligibly.

           “We have to get out of the building.”

           Jason had moved to holding onto both of Tim’s shoulders at some point – holding him steady, holding him still. He looked Tim right in the eye and asked gently, “Why?”

           The words got jammed up in Tim’s throat again and he squeaked.

           And then the museum’s windows exploded inward with a dramatic shower of glass and gunfire as more goons than Tim could count began to repel their way inside.

           Tim closed his eyes and winced at the bite of regret on how fracking close they’d been to getting out of this without any major complications.

           “That’s why,” he groaned.

-----

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[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 挽夏のミステリーブライド (Late summer Mystery Bride) Event Story: Part　① Translations

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained default Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @eno_bara (榎戸乃ばら)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Special Stages

--Back when I was alive… I thought that I’d lose everything, once the spark of life snuffed out.

Affections. Loneliness. Happiness, sadness…--All of it.

Asagiri: But I was mistaken. Everything still resides within me, as vivid as ever.

Asagiri: Affections, loneliness, happiness, sadness…--Therefore,

Asagiri: I wish to stay by you.

Asagiri: I cannot stand being alone any longer.

Rei: A-Asagiri-san…?

Asagiri: If I’m unable to stay by you, then I’d much rather I--…

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

--Mid-August.

⋆⋅☆ Investigation Planning Division ☆⋅⋆

Asagiri: …Huh? A trip together with the Kujo Family?

Rei: Yup. This year’s Obon Holidays spans an entire week so,

Rei: After returning to our Family Home, paying our respects and maybe doing a big clean-up of the rooms or something,

Rei: We’d still have quite some time left to spare before our Holidays come to an end, so they extended an invitation to us while we were on the topic.

We had just finished and successfully closed a case today. It was a pretty nasty one that netted us to carry out a Joint Investigation with MPD’s Investigation Division One.

We toasted with bitter coffee, to our satisfactory triumph over successfully curtailing and prosecuting the suspect during our investigations. A toast, and chatter, about the upcoming Obon Holidays.

Imaoji: Well, it’s basically a trip where all parties involved and related to STAND can gather and bond together as friends.

Rei: That’s right. Shion-kun’s coming too, apparently. And Seki-san has given his official stamp of approval about it as well.

Asagiri: I see.

Yui: Izumi, if anyone looks like they’re trying to pull some funky business, don’t hesitate to use the Special Crime-prevention Spray.

Rei: Ahaha…Yes, I do have that packed.

Asagiri: It’s the Obon Holidays, so it’s going to be packed everywhere. Where is the intended destination?

Rei: It’s…

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Inside the Car ☆⋅⋆

Kirishima: La-la-la, an old castle♪ Kujo♪ Old castle-san and Kujo-san♪ Hm-hm-hm-hmmm~♪

Hinata & Kaname: …………

Kirishima: I’m going on a Trip to an Old Castle with family today♪ Kujo-san who plays in the Old Castle♪ How cool of ya’~ Kujo-san♪

Kujo & Miyase: …………

Kirishima: Kujo and an Old Castle, I’m so hyped up♪ I’m in such a good mood~♪

Shindo: ……

Kirishima: Come on Rei, you continue!

Rei: EHHH!?

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Inside the Car ☆⋅⋆

Rei: Hold up! I’ve been totally out of it till you called me out-

Kirishima: You just have to go along the flow with this kinda’ thing. Just try singing about how you feel to come on a trip to an Old Castle with the Kujo Family!

Rei: Try singing…?

Kaname: (That’s asking for the impossible…)

All the attention in the car centred on me, sitting on one of the Passenger Seats. A long-awaited Trip. Kirishima, who’s in a Godly-jolly Mood.

Rei: (…Right. I can’t let the mood die like this!)

Rei: A-An Old Castle♪…Kids♪ Elephant-san and Kujo-san…♪

Kirishima: Kids…

Kaname: Elephant…

Rei: Argh~ I’m so sorry! Kirishima-san added Rhymes to his tune, so I thought that I’d do the same too.

Shindo: Did you forget to pack a Travel Bag for your senses too?

Rei: Your jibes are as sharp as ever!

Kujo: --Pft.

Miyase: Heh. Seems like you grew a tail in Izumi-san’s song, Kujo-san.

Kujo: …No, I’m not making fun of it at all. It’s a brilliant improvised song.

Rei: It’s okay. I’d actually feel much better about this embarrassment of one if you laughed.

Kujo: I apologise…Pft-

Kirishima: Haha. Ain’t it great!? You’ve come up with a song that made even that Kujo-san laugh!

Kirishima: Rei, you’ve really got a good musical sense in ya!

Rei: I still can’t beat yours though!

Kirishima: Well, my version of the “Kujo-san and the Old Castle Song” came out pretty well too!

Shindo: Is the word twist in your dictionary?

Miyase: It’s a brilliant Song Name.

Kujo-san and—The “Old Castle”-san. The subject of Kirishima’s Original Song, was none other then the destination we were headed to with him behind the wheel.

Our destination was an “Old Castle Converted Hotel” that one of Kujo’s acquaintances owned. The Old Historic Castle had been renovated to become accommodatable and we were all invited to stay in it before it opened its doors to accept guests. Call it a Trial Run, of sorts.

Hinata: Mmngh…

Kaname: Oh, you’re awake.

Hinata: Mm…Have we already reached our lodgings?

Kirishima: The GPS says that we’ve got another 3 Minutes left.

Miyase: --Oh, isn’t that the Castle’s Rooftop we’re seeing over there?

Looking out of the Car’s Windshield, I could see green-tiled roofs that were pointing sky-ward.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Old Castle: Corridor ☆⋅⋆

Rei: Whoa…This is amazing. It’s really a Castle!

Hinata: The air in here’s really cool.

Kujo: I heard that Air-Conditioning was also installed during the renovations.

Miyase: Ohh, so that’s why it feels as cool as a cooler in here!

Hinata: It’s easier to sleep with so I think it’s a boon.

Kaname: Aren’t there any staff in here?

Kujo: Apparently, one of the pre-requisites of this place was to “Have no outsiders”.

Kujo: But I’ve got consent to use this facility however we wish during our stay here.

Kaname: Hmm. So we’re the only ones within this castle right now.

Rei: It’s a little exciting, when you think about it.

Kirishima: …………

Miyase: …Kirishima-san? What’s wrong?

Kirishima: Huh?

Miyase: You must be tired from driving. I apologise for leaving the wheel to you.

Kirishima: No, I’m not the least bit tired at all. Plus, I love driving!

Miyase: Then I suppose it’s fine.

Kirishima: You bet’cha! Well, we’ve definitely gotta explore this place first. Let’s see what this Castle has to offer!

Hinata: I’ll look for a good napping spot.

Kujo: Don’t you all want to know more about this Castle before you wander off exploring?

Kirishima: I wanna know!

Miyase: I shall prepare tea then. I hear that there’s a kitchen in here accessible to the Tenants.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Old Castle: Study ☆⋅⋆

Kujo explained that the Lounge open to the VIP Guests had actually been the former Land-lord’s Study.

Hinata: The number of books in here is astounding. The collections in here have been beautifully preserved.

Miyase: I’m amazed by this and the Vintage Tea Sets that’s been carefully maintained.

Kujo: I hear that a Young Noble lived here in the past, alone.

Kujo: And that a caretaker was appointed to take care of the Castle after his death, according to his Will.

Rei: Alone?

Kirishima: In such a huge Castle?

Kujo: Yes. His parents died early-on in his life and it seems like he, himself, died young, having taken his own life.

Kaname: What…?

Silence descended upon us at the revelation.

Kirishima: …Did he die in this room?

Kujo: How’d you guess that?

Rei: Uwa…

Kirishima: No, I just…had a feeling.

I suddenly became acutely aware of this place, now that I knew that “Someone had died here”. That there was someone else here, present, as we casually sipped at our tea.

Rei: (I’ve been to sites where lives were lost during my Investigation. But this…this is a little different.)

Kirishima: Please continue; tell us more.

Kujo: Apparently, the only thing he had written in his Suicide Note was “I’m bored”.

Hinata & Kaname: ……

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Old Castle: Study ☆⋅⋆

The young man that lived here had put on a honey-sweet facade and was popular within the society’s circles.

Every night, without fail, he’d bring woman upon woman into this Castle of his. He never grew tired of it, despite having perpetually filled entire wings of them. However, despite the copious number of women he had invited in, it seemed like not one of them had managed to move his heart.

Kujo: For it he already had someone he had been enraptured with.

Shindo: But he had to let go of her— Was she the Wife of another?

Kujo: Indeed.

Kujo: He was never satisfied, no matter how much he repeated this cycle of mutual agreement between both parties. For he longed for someone he could never obtain.

Kujo: Thus, conceding to death alone, in the end.

Hinata: The person that held his interests might be the girl reflected in this Photo Album here.

Rei: Huh?

Shion had retrieved a thick and large tome from the bookshelf sometime during the explanation.   He showed it to us as he returned back to his seat on the sofa.

Hinata: It’s all photos of the same girl.

Miyase: Wow, she’s pretty dazzling.

Rei: (She’s really gorgeous…She has her back straight and her entire being exudes coolness in every picture.)

Kujo: She bears some resemblance to you.

Rei: What?

Kaname: Maybe. Rather than how she looks, I suppose it’s the aura she has around her?

Kirishima: Oh…Now that you mention it.

Kirishima: Like how she’s so at ease despite having a photo taken, as if she doesn’t give a shit at all. Or maybe the part where her expressions change every second?

Hinata: It’s only natural-looking because they were all taken in secret.

Kirishima: Huh? How’d ya’ know that?

Hinata: There isn’t a single picture in here where she’s looking straight at the camera. And the flash function wasn’t activated even when the photos were taken at night.

Shindo: I see. All so that the person being snapped photos of doesn’t notice.

Kirishima: Ain’t that just like…Tokusatsu?

Hinata: The Sentai Hero?

Kaname: You meant Voyeurism, don’t you?

Kirishima: That’s the one!

Shindo: It’s a little ironic that someone wealthy enough to own a Castle like this has to lower themselves down to the likes of a stalker who stockpiles photos of his target.

Kirishima: Oh, speaking of Stalkers. –Miyase.

Miyase: Yes?

Kirishima: The Toaster that you had written off as broken; I managed to make it work by giving it a little smack this morning.

Miyase: Ahh, thank you so much for fixing it. I see, so all that Toaster needed was a simple smack from you.

Kujo: I’ll purchase a new Toaster.

Shindo: What are you talking about…?

Kirishima’s unique train of thought softened the tense atmosphere in the room. But right at that moment—

Rei: Eek!

Kirishima: Rei!?

The Teacup that had previously been seated atop the table fell with a clang and shattered into smithereens

There goes my top, brilliantly stained by the tea that had spilt forth.

Miyase: Are you alright!? Did you get scalded!?

Rei: I’m fine. The tea had already cooled anyway.

Rei: Rather than that, what just happened just now?

Hinata: The Teacup moved on its own accord…?

Kujo & Shindo: --

???: (…Ah-ah~ How boring.)

???: (I’m about to go crazy from boredom.)

???: (Who would’ve known that boredom would follow me even in death.)

???: (I wouldn’t have chosen to die in such a boring place like this if I knew that I wouldn’t be able to leave this place after I died.)

???: (Hm…? I can hear an approaching vehicle. Is it that stuffy and uptight constriction lot again?)

Kirishima: YEAH! IT’S THE OLD CASTLE!! WE’VE FINALLY ARRIVED!!

???: (Seems like it’s a different group…but well, I suppose anyone will do.)

???: (Anyone; save me from this never-ending boredom--)

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[skybritestudios]

Addressing The Claims Against Us

Hello, this is Skybrite Studios with our official statement.

It has recently come to our attention that a former member of ours has been spreading claims that we stole his character design. Many of you might not have heard of this, considering the situation has started only a few days ago. But we felt it necessary to explain ourselves.

For those of you who have seen the posts of Bastion’s concept or sprite, you’ve probably also seen the special thanks we’ve included post script, crediting the originator of his character. We’ve always acknowledged Alex for his role in Bastion’s creation, and we’ve made no secret of it.

That was until recently, when the events leading to the release of this statement resulted in his wish to have all his work and credit struck from our project, and for us to remove any and all association he had in relation to our studio. In compliance with his request, we’ve since taken down any mention of his name.

As many of you have guessed from the content of his claims, our initial parting of ways was less than amiable. Circumstances being as they were, we weren’t certain we’d end up hearing from him again. Our last contact with him was on November 22, 2019, and there was a long period of silence between his first departure and his messages sent a few days ago.

For various reasons that we will get into shortly, Alex was let go from our team. Unfortunately, not long before the fact, his father had been diagnosed with cancer; and a recent exchange between him and our original project lead (dated June 11, 2020) has made us aware of the fact that he believes this was the reason for his termination. The screenshots enclosed below will prove that this was not the case.

*Blue refers to Alex, black is the original leader, and red is an old member who is still with us. Out of respect for the privacy and protection of personal information regarding the parties involved, certain things not pertaining to this argument have been blanked out. We apologize for the lack of quality in some of the screenshots as Tumblr photo qualities aren’t the best.

Albeit shared in private, messages between the other staff members (dating as far back as June 4, 2019) were already beginning to show signs of concern over his behavior:

This eventually led to the decision to let Alex go. Note that this decision was made on August 24, 2019 - months before his father’s diagnosis:

Due to personal reasons, the original leader took a step back from our project and she never stayed long enough to follow through.

This brings us to November 22, 2019, when she handed the project over to our current project lead, Sarah:

Following this, she went to our other veteran member to let her know that the project lead had changed for an indefinite amount of time and that her continued presence on the team would be appreciated - something she accepted and agreed to. This other member was then consulted over Alex’s behaviour and what was to be done:

After this conversation, Alex was informed in private about the decision to let him go. She told him that he would be credited for whatever ideas and characters he came up with that we intended to keep. Although he didn’t object at this point, the fault lies with us for not confirming this with him before continuing to use said ideas and characters; an oversight that we own and take responsibility for. Sarah also apologizes on not having been more empathetic towards his personal situation while letting him go. Having the project handed to her so suddenly as well as trying to figure out where to go from there was overwhelming and it ended up not being done at the best time. This is not excusing her, however, and she is aware of her faults.

After he was let go, he proceeded to mass delete the messages he’d left in the group chat with neither notice nor permission. It wasn’t until Sarah noticed and informed the original project lead that he was kicked from the server and stopped.

Although far from amiable, we’d assumed that our parting of ways marked the end of this episode. We never reached out to him and he never made contact with us. We never chatted directly again since his departure. But as fellow members of a relatively small community we still ran in the same circles; which was how we came to learn that he was developing a game of his own. The workload of a game developer (especially one who is working alone) is quite heavy, so we assumed this was another reason why he never spoke to us; and out of respect for his work ethic and maintaining the status quo, we kept to ourselves. For months, neither he nor us messaged, and it seemed we were each content to let the other exist quietly within the same space.

That was until June 12, 2020, when the original project lead suddenly messaged Sarah, informing her that Alex had messaged her, threatening legal action over ‘stealing’ his character. A message that appeared in Sarah’s inbox shortly confirmed her statement.

As the current project lead and one of the members of the original team Alex was a part of, Alex chose Sarah to reach out to with this message. This was her response and part of their subsequent exchange:

Although we had plans to pay him from the beginning, being that our tenuous relationship was what it was and the fact that this game was still in early development (in addition to the chance that this game may not turn a profit) we didn’t want to rock the boat by contacting him and distracting him from his own development work before we had his paycheck in hand. Another oversight on our part, and we should have told him earlier.

After digging and coming back with receipts for all the work he had done, this was what we came back with:

The concept art of Bastion

1,000 words worth of script within the prologue

Miscellaneous ideas that he’d brainstormed with the rest of our staff.

We consulted each of our staff for their regular rates to come up with an appropriate amount. Our concept artist charges $10 per concept. We offered him $20. We had no dedicated brainstormers on our team at the time, so ideas were a little harder to put a price on. But we decided on an initial offer of $5 for all the ideas he’d come up with (that we intended to keep), intending to go into negotiations with an open mind regarding pricing on this front. Fortunately we didn’t have the same problem with calculating what he was owed for his writing, which, according to various sources, showed that the industry standard was about $0.02 a word. To help us with calculating the price of his written work, we had Sarah who co-wrote the prologue with him highlight everything he’d written as well as all the parts that she wasn’t sure who’d written. The total word count of the high-lighted portions came down to just over 1,000 words. This, we rounded up to 1,100 to account for anything we might have missed. Using our rate of $0.02 a word, all written services rendered came down to $22 and gave us an overall total of $47 for all the work that he’d done.

In response, he requested $50 and 10% of any and all future sales. While we didn’t mind giving him the $50, 10% of all earnings was a lot to ask relative to how little was contributed, let alone used.

He claimed to be one of the founding members of a project conceived between the original project lead and her friend. He also claimed to have developed ‘most of the characters’. For the most part, during the brain-storming process, exactly who came up with what can be easy to lose track of, but even when digging through the entire chat history of our original discord server, we could not find evidence that he had any involvement with anything beyond fleshing out Bastion - though it should be noted that most of what he came up with, we ultimately decided against using. In addition, he has made similar claims with the plot, lore, and the prologue.

As mentioned earlier, we acknowledge his part in writing the 1,000 words he contributed to the prologue he co-wrote with Sarah. Having said that, the word count of the completed prologue prior to editing was almost 11,000, expanding quite a bit from his own contributions.

The ‘advertisement’ he claimed to have done for our game consisted of spreading our project through word-of-mouth via a few posts to discord servers, speaking with real-life friends and the premature reveal of Bastion’s character for an Art Fight.

Alex also made claims to have ran the Tumblr, our main form of advertisement. While he did have access to our original Tumblr, Sarah was the one to originally create it. Before his departure only two to three posts had been made on the platform.

He claims to have gathered resources. However, those resources were just reference pictures that we, as mentioned previously, did not use. He also said that he directed Sarah when he was in no position/had no authority to do so.

Sarah explained this to him, admittedly a bit heated throughout, to which he then told her to forget the payment and remove everything he did; else he would file a DMCA report:

Most of what he claimed to have done, he did not do. He did not create the concept art for any of the characters except Bastion. Our concept artist, Cate, did. He claims that he came up with the concept of a tenuous relationship between the human and demon races when it’s been a common trope in media for years: Humans vs. Demons. He created a font, but it was not requested nor have there been any plans to use it. He also claimed to have come up with the idea to put in more LGBTQ+ options in the dating sim - something which has been done many times in VNs like these, not to mention it was always the original leaders’ intention to include these options. In addition, Sarah was actually the one to bring up “evening out” the ratio. Here is a closer look at the screenshot she sent him:

Sarah even explained to him that if he were to demand a ‘tithe’, he would also be accountable for a tenth of the losses should the game fail to turn a profit. He then told her, again, to delete all of his work, along with anything that would associate us with him:

We agreed and deleted all of his written work. However, she told him Bastion did not need to and would not be deleted. Cate had changed his concept, and we’d fleshed Bastion out very differently to how Alex had imagined him. His DMCA report would be considered invalid for various reasons, including that he asked us to remove his written work- the only work of his that we'd been using prior to its removal per his request:

For reference to show how he’s changed, here is (in up-to-down order) his final concept of Bastion, our final concept for him, and our official sprite:

*More context and information regarding these concepts further down

Following this, he did not respond. Instead, he went back to our original project lead to find anything that could prove he legally owns Bastion due to Sarah having declined to give him the 10% of all future sales he’d asked for:

*The time is different because the original leader and Sarah live in different timezones.

In response to this, he has been claiming that we stole from him despite crediting him and intending to pay him. This is defamation. Moreover, it had been discovered that Bastion's original concept was not even created by him.

After discussing things with our original leader, she told us that she was actually the one who drew the original concept of Bastion. In fact, the idea of having a Paladin LI that Alex claimed was also thought up by her and her friend. Alex’s only contributions to the character were coming up with his name, making him half-human half-elf, and black - all traits that are public domain/fair use and can not be copyrighted.

Here are all the screenshots in chronological order:

These were some of the first messages sent after Alex joined. As you can see in the picture, he asked what ideas the original leaders had. A paladin LI was already in the works before he joined.

This was the original project lead’s first concept of a paladin LI.

This was Alex’s rendition, sent after the original leader’s. Unfortunately, no matter how long we waited, the second photo would not load. But it was similar to his concept art above.

*Note that the hairstyle is different

He then sent this link. Within this document, there was a reference photo as well as a drawing of his.

This was his reference photo:

This was his drawing:

However, it appears to have been traced. Below are photos of both images layered on top of one another-- one with the drawing on top and one with the reference on top:

Shortly afterwards, the original project lead sent in her drawings for Bastion:

This was the first time this hairstyle had been drawn on Bastion. This was also what Alex stuck with for his final concept. The design he was trying to claim was actually created by our original project lead. If you compare our art side-by-side, you can see that our official sprite takes more inspiration from our original leader’s than it does Alex’s.

We said at the beginning that we have not stolen anything, and we stand by that.

Everything we’re using is either public domain, a popular cliche, or interpretations which fall under fair use. We offered to credit and pay Alex and he ended up declining. We hope this helps with answering most of your questions. If anyone has anything they would like to ask or see addressed, our inbox is always open.  

And please, to anyone who knows of this situation personally as well as know who is involved, don’t send any negativity towards any of them.

Sincerely,

~The Skybrite Team ❤️

[fanfictrashdump]

Queening a Pawn, 7

Summary: During the Time Heist, Loki stole the Tesseract and escaped. He did not expect, however, to be pulled through a Time Loop that delivered him to a Midgard more than a decade older, wiser, and bitterer. Having just lived through his unsuccessful attack in New York, Loki must learn to live in Midgard after the defeat of Thanos (post-Endgame). The question is, who is Loki without a quest for a throne or total domination?

Pairings: Loki x OC

=

"You assaulted him!"

"Hello, Thor. Great to see you, too. Why, yes, this is a new shirt. Thanks for noticing!" Delilah sassed, not even bothering to look up from her paperwork.

"Bruises, cuts, broken bones–"

"I know you didn't just barge in here to start yelling at me Thor Odinson," she warned, evenly, her eyes flickering up to zero in on his. "Right?"

"I left him in your care!"

"You left him under house arrest. In my facility." She shuffled the papers into a neat pile and set them aside, crossing her arms over her chest. "Did you let him talk before you decided to play protect the maiden's honor?"

"Good job, Lilah! I haven't seen anyone drop Loki in a spar in ages!" Valkyrie cried, bounding into the office with a wide grin perched on her lips, it falling slightly with the palpable tension in the room.

"Loki doesn't spar with mortals," Thor said with a scoff.

Valkyrie made a face. "Who else would he spar with, Thor?"

"Ding! Ding! Ding! You've won today's prize, Brunn."

"What? Am I supposed to be my brother's keeper for time immortal?" Thor argued.

"Literally, no one asked you to. Sparring got out of hand, I admit, but you know your brother." Thor's expression still hadn't softened from the glower. "He's my friend. Why the hell would I hurt him on purpose?"

"I want to take him back to Asgard."

"I don't want him in Asgard!" Valkyrie complained.

Delilah sighed. "Sure. Let's go run this by him, shall we?" Abandoning her work, she led the group to the living quarters, in silence. When they reached Loki's door, it was already swinging open and Loki was holding it aloft. He gestured with his free hand for them to enter with his mouth set in a thin line. "You're going to New Asgard, I guess."

Loki reeled, frowning. "What? I don't want to go there."

Thor clapped his shoulder and he had to swallow a wince of pain as the kind oaf rattled his ribs. "You should be among your people, brother. They'll be grateful to have you back again."

"I don't think we should be exposing to the world that your kid brother jumped a time loop and was brought here. Asgard might be glad, everyone else…" Brunnhilde reasoned.

"I don't want to leave. Do you want me to leave?" Loki cut his eyes at Delilah with the question.

"God, yes! You're annoying as fuck!" He failed in not looking disheartened, but the covert wink she sent in his direction made him smile to himself.

"And what happens when you go off on one of your trips to wherever it is you go? What is he to do then?"

The Valkyrie's volume was increasing and Delilah took a half-step backward to give them their space. Loki, noticing this, did the same. Thor had countered her argument before they had both resorted to screaming in some other language that Delilah did not understand. Rolling her eyes, she gestured with her head at the door, slipping backward through it and Loki following close after. They didn't dare laugh until they were at the corridor, well away from the other two.

"They're definitely going to get it on in your bed," she said with a giggle, turning the corner.

Loki rolled his eyes, matching her quick steps with sauntering, long strides with his arms behind his back. They had slipped into an area of the facility he had yet to explore, a glass-encased sunroom that gave the illusion of being outside, nestled among the trees while still being protected from the elements. There was no one there, and they had not passed any other staff on their way to that place, so he assumed it was a rather well-kept secret.

The world was icy outside. The early winter frost covered the ground in blankets of white crystals that glittered in the sunlight. Beyond the glass deer paced through the trees, glancing shortly into the room before disappearing back into the thicket. Lilah had folded herself into a window seat, pulling a fleecy throw over her shoulders as she stared back into the forest. 

Loki distractedly tapped the window with his fingers, watching the very ends of his digits turn a pale blue in response. It only took him a second to regret the decision, deciding his warmer self was probably a better sight than the frost giant. With his powers dampened, however, his physiology was making the decisions for him, adapting to whatever it thought best. After a moment's contemplation, he sat down beside her, leaning into the tastefully arranged cushions.

"Did you ever spar with him?"

Delilah snapped out of her reverie and tilted her head. "Thor?" He shook his head, and she made a noise of understanding. "Oh, him. Not really. We were friends, but we weren't particularly close."

"Did he do other things, then?"

She smiled. "To flirt with me, you mean? No. Flirting wasn't really on his radar." Loki urged her on with a nod. "He was, I don't know, tired. Jaded, maybe. There were things worth pursuing and that didn't seem to be one of them." She leaned forward in a conspiratory whisper. "Not that he didn't enjoy a lady's company." Loki raised an eyebrow in question and she internally cursed the relative innocence in his gaze. "His lady friends came with a price tag? He paid… for sex…"

The thought blew his mind. Usually women threw themselves at him. He certainly had no difficulty acquiring a date for the night on his own. "Why?"

"Honestly? It was uncomplicated. Sometimes I think he just wanted company. You could call at his door and he was perfectly dressed and just chatting. That or he just liked making Cap uncomfortable." She wrapped herself further in the blanket. "Who knows? Maybe he realized early on that flirting with me would be useless."

"Is that so?," he queried, smiling as he shifted closer.

"Yep. Entirely useless."

"We shall see, I suppose." A comfortable silence followed, as they both stared at the prancing deer outside.

Lilah pulled back a corner of her throw and held it open. "Get under this, will you?"

Loki looked amused. "I thought flirting was entirely useless."

She rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean it like that. Just… get under, please."

"Tell me why."

Delilah played with a loose thread on the hem. "You're, erm, turning blue."

Staring down at his hands he confirmed that he was, indeed, turning blue and so he crossed his arms over his chest and tucked his hands under his elbows. He looked as if his intention was to fold himself into a quantum dot and then, disappear.

"Come on!" He stubbornly stood still, hoping that if he was quiet enough she would ignore him. The nape of his neck was currently turning the same dusky blue and it was quickly spreading to his face. Lilah sighed, scooting over closer and throwing the blanket over his shoulders, pulling the corners so it pressed them together in a bundle. Her hands rubbed his larger ones to get some warmth into them, ignoring the fact that he looked well and truly uncomfortable. "Blue's my favorite color."

"What?"

"Blue. It's my favorite color." She raised his hands to her mouth and blew warm air onto the chilled digits, watching the color fade from dusky blue to periwinkle to lavender to pink.

"If that were the case, you wouldn't be rushing to rid me of it."

"No, it just clearly isn't your favorite color." Her fingers traced the raised lines on his hands, looking eerily out of place as his skin returned to its usual pallor and not the blue they were normally accompanied by. "You were taught the giants were monsters, sure, but… whatever."

"Tell me." The skin on skin contact distracted him, though he remained conflicted about deriving any sort of pleasure through her appeal to a side of himself he had resolved to keep hidden.

"I don't know." A flush crept up her neck and the side closest to her turned back fully in her warmth, leaving him an incongruous, mismatched form. "It's sort of pretty, isn't it? I mean, the eyes are a lot, yes, but the decorative lines, the blue…," she trailed off, embarrassed.

"You're a strange human," he breathed, though he remained luxuriating under her ministrations.

"So I've been told." She reached up to fix his hair, ruffling it out of its perfectly slicked back style

"Was my hair blue?" He asked with a smirk.

"No, you just looked like a dork." They both laughed, settling against each other under the throw. Loki threaded his fingers through the hand abandoned on her lap. "Are you OK sitting? Do you need some rest?"

Loki shook his head. "No, I'm quite alright. I'd ask for you to kiss and make it better, but I fear that would be pushing my luck."

"You'd be correct. Though I am sorry I kind of lost it on you."

"Don't be. It was… glorious." There was something dangerously close to awe in his eyes, though he would have passed it off as pride. And it was, to some extent. "Angry Midgardians are a force to be reckoned with and you were quite a sight to behold."

Delilah laughed. "You are such a weirdo, Lo."

"I concur."

[dcomposing]

jumin route rewrite???

ive had.... Issues with jumin's route since the first time i played it and im waiting out a 3 hour layover which means its time to self indulgently fix all of those problems right now in excruciating detail

for the record, i dont mean any disrespect towards cheritz -- i love mysme dearly and this is purely a self indulgent experiment to see what my ideal jumin route would have been! if you like his route as is thats totally fine! it just wasnt for me lmao

this was super fun to write and if this picks up i might do another route rewrite (and i might do it even if it doesnt because it was just that fun lol)

anyways this is REALLY long (literally its like 3k words all in outline form) so its gonna go under the cut lol

okay so: issues i had with jumin’s route that i want to address:

it moves WAY too fast — i mean all of the routes do to a certain degree; they’re only 11 days long but like... you’re literally engaged to him by the end of it which iirc, is something that is only replicated in seven’s normal ending (and even then i think its only implied?) and i get that the point is that jumin goes all out for the people he loves and is VERY certain that he loves you but it just feels... way too soon for my liking ESPECIALLY because you’re his first love! it just makes it feel like he’s caught up in the rush of being in love for the first time and isn’t thinking things through which... isn’t exactly the making of a great relationship lol. so for this re- write we’re gonna slow it WAY down because... oof. 

the sarah and glam plot line happening concurrently with the mint eye/possessive jumin one makes the route feel overly busy. i actually have a similar issue with the echo girl/mint eye overlap in zen’s route but that’s a topic for another day lol. so i’m gonna try to delineate between the two a bit more so there’s less overlap.

SPEAKING OF possessive jumin lol... maybe its just my Personal Background bleeding in, but possessiveness is a really big red flag/trigger for me and i felt like it went WAY too far in his route. dgmw, i understand that its meant to be a character flaw and something he’s meant to overcome but i just feel like there are simpler ways to show that side of him without it becoming... as scary as it got. i wasn’t sure how to deal with it though -- i think it would best be expressed through smaller actions and the minutia of dialogue with the others (e.g. jumin refusing to send a photo of you into the chat room when zen asks if you’re alright, locking up elizabeth, etc.)

the canon first kiss with jumin happening both without your explicit consent AND just to drive sarah away is.... icky to me. especially because he MAKES EYE CONTACT WITH SARAH while kissing you??? i hate that cg lol. it just takes what should be a moment about the two of you and turns it into him using you to prove a point and i don’t like it at all. it’s not romantic and it feels... out of character for jumin to use someone he cares about like that. i have similar issues with the proposal happening right after he exposes glam and sarah. so lets make the kiss more genuine and nix the proposal entirely because it happens too quickly for comfort anyways.

with all of that in mind, i decided a fake dating plot would probably work best (and like i said, this is self indulgent and i’m a SUCKER for fake dating stories sooooo). it makes sure we hit all the beats of the glam/sarah plot line without shoving him and the mc into a relationship too quickly. it also means we can keep their first kiss as a big “fuck you” to sarah, but this time mc gets to be 100% in on the joke AND they get to have a “real” first kiss later on! that’s two (2!) kisses for the price of one folks.

i also decided that in order to streamline the plot a bit, the glam and sarah plot should end earlier, allowing for the mint eye plot to take center stage instead of being shoehorned in around a larger love triangle plot line. also glam and sarah are annoying and i don’t want to deal with them for six full days. the only downside is we don’t get to see v dunk on sarah at the party :-(

in lieu of a proposal for the necessary Big Romantic Gesture at the party, i thought it would be nice if jumin whisked you away from the party to paris or somewhere far away for a ridiculously extravagant first date literally in the middle of the party. not only is it ridiculously grandiose in and of itself, but in abandoning the party halfway through, it shows that jumin has grown into a more relaxed and spontaneous person through knowing you! he’s ready to throw caution to the wind and have fun with you (plus, Big Romantic Date cg!!)

day 5:

VN mode where we essentially get the exact same scene of chairman han telling jumin he wants him to marry sarah to make the merger with sugar round go more smoothly BUT this time jumin blurts out that he’s already with someone and that he didn’t want to go public with it yet. he assumes his father won’t press further, given that they’ve always had a mutual respect for one another’s privacy, but at glam’s insistence, chairman han says he wants to meet jumin’s partner. oh no!

jumin laments his situation to the rfa, resulting in pretty typical responses. zen laughs, yoosung is sympathetic but also kind of wishes it were just that simple for him to meet a wife. jaehee is worried that the inevitable fallout of this will result in more work for her. everything is business as usual until seven is like “ur so rich why don’t you just pay someone to pretend to date you lolol” and jumin (being, well, jumin) runs with it 100%. because they don’t have time to vet candidates (they’re supposed to have dinner with his dad tomorrow night!) he decides it should be someone he knows, but the majority of the other rfa members are already acquainted with his father via rfa events, making it more likely that he sees through the ruse. mc, however, has never met him, making them the perfect candidate! who would have thought lol

so they decide to move you into the penthouse that evening BUT before that can happen, they have to clear it with v because bomb, hacker, mint eye, etc. (yes this is how i’m choosing to do the bomb reveal lol). bonus, v gets to chide jumin about his dumb lie and we get a fun bff conversation with them!

final VN where you show up to the penthouse and you and jumin establish the parameters of your “relationship”. you decide that you’ll both sleep in his bed, just in case a cleaning staff member walks in and notices that he and his partner sleep separately and it ruins everything. establish what physical contact is and isn’t cool, etc, etc. you also decide that when the time comes, you’re going to tell his dad that the entire debacle with sarah put so much strain on your relationship that you had to break up. the hope being that chairman han will feel so bad about ruining things for jumin that he won’t try to force him into something like that ever again.

days 6-8:

you have dinner with his dad and answer pretty typical “meeting the parrents” questions. he asks what you guys did for your first date and jumin tells a 100% fake story about taking you to dinner on top of the eiffel tower and kissing you beneath the stars and the chairman is satisfied. that doesn’t mean that glam and sarah are though. they decide to do some sleuthing to prove that you guys aren’t really dating.

this is the fun part where we get to hit most of the beats of ur typical fake dating story! you and jumin get to know each other really well, albeit kind of superficially (favorite foods, fun childhood stories, etc. etc. nothing too heavy yet.) you guys cook together for the first time, cue cg of jumin with like... idk tomato sauce on his cheek or something. you watch a movie together and elizabeth falls asleep on your lap and jumin dies on spot idk

this is also where your first kiss happens, and pretty much in the same way except its much more mutual and he doesn’t look at sarah this time because his focus is on trying to make it look like he doesn’t even care that she’s there because you’re the only thing he cares about. (which.... isn’t actually hard for him to do at all)

chatrooms are pretty typical for this timeframe — you guys all know the drill. the other members are like “wow they seem really close” and speculate on whether or not you guys are actually together. zen is worried that jumin is going to force himself on you (wolves, etc.). yoosung is jealous that jumin gets to hang out with you. jaehee is upset that jumin is neglecting his work.

VAGUE mentions of weird activity on the messenger, but nothing too serious sounding. just enough to make jumin nervous -- esp with sarah and glam on his back still. this is when he locks elizabeth up. 

 day 8, the chairman learns that sugar round is worthless and that glam and sarah have been duping him the whole time. they’re disgraced and are never heard from again so... problem solved but this also means that you and jumin no longer have a reason to stay “together”... and you’re both kind of falling for each other so obviously that’s no good. you spend one last night in the penthouse before resolving to break things off officially in the morning. the other members talk about how sad you guys both seem to be parting.

BAD STORY END 1:

if you shy away at the fake intimate gestures (hand holding, hugging, etc), and pointedly answer incorrectly when asked a question about jumin that you should know the answer to, your ruse fails and you guys are caught faking the relationship. to avoid the scandal breaking to the press, jumin winds up marrying sarah anyways.

the branch point for this one would be right before the kiss scene, if you’re on track for the good end then the kiss happens, if not, you’re forced to shove him away when he goes in for it, revealing to sarah that you guys are frauds.

the cg would be him and sarah at the press release for their engagement announcement. sarah’s all smiles and jumin is... pretty understandably miserable looking. a reporter asks him about the other person he was in a relationship with prior to his engagement to sarah, and he reads off a line about how sarah captivated him like no one else ever could in an emotionless voice.

BAD RELATIONSHIP END 1:

if you do fine during the VN portions, but aren’t active enough in the chats, then the fake relationship plan works, but afterwards its just... really awkward. once the whole mint eye thing ends you’re pretty much just excommunicated from the rfa since you... didn’t really seem to like them all that much.

day 9:

a huge attack on the messenger happens, coupled with explicit threats directed at mc, sending everyone into such a panic that ending your fake relationship is the last thing on anyones mind. jumin is so fucking scared that he’s going to lose you, and muses in the chatroom about why he’s more scared for your safety than he would be if it were, say, yoosung being threatened (cue yoosung’s crying emoji lmao). everyone else is like “well clearly its because you’re in love with them”

anyways. they decide its for the best if you continue to stay at the penthouse and in spite of everything, you’re both... kind of relieved lol. 

everything is all fine and dandy until elizabeth III runs away, ramping jumins anxiety up to 11 like... right away

this is where we really start to see behavior more along the lines of what happens in his route, you suggest the two of you leave and search for elizabeth, and he refuses to let you go, etc. etc. 

it sort of turns into a fight, but it all works out in the end. he tells you about rika and elizabeth and why she means so much to him, and you guys talk about how fear of losing someone important to him can’t rule his life, and that its one thing to be careful, but another entirely to try to control someone else’s behavior because of fear. 

you convince him to get some sleep, assuring him that elizabeth will turn up soon and that he’s going to be alright. you guys fall asleep next to eachother without even thinking about it. its not until jumin mentions something about waking up next to you in the chat the next day that the rest of the gang is like “uhhhh,,,, why are you guys still sharing a bed”

MEANWHILE lol seven and yoosung arrive at mint eye and find elizabeth, just like what happens in canon. they decide to bring her back tomorrow.

BAD STORY END 2:

obligatory mint eye ending. if you’re too aggressive and forward with jumin and don’t give him time to properly process his feelings, he doesn’t offer to let you stay at the penthouse, relying on seven’s assurance that the apartment is totally secure (it’s not). saeran breaks in and takes you away.

this branch happens pretty early in the day, before elizabeth escapes.

i thought about a cg for this one but tbh... there are so many saeran and mc at mint eye BE cgs that idk what i could come up with that wouldn’t be super derivative lol

BAD RELATIONSHIP END 2:

again, because you’re only talking to jumin and not the rest of the rfa, he assumes that you don’t like being in the rfa very much BUT he still likes you... a lot and is very worried about your safety re: hacker, AND because he still hasn’t really dealt with his issues regarding v/rika/emotions, you guys decide to just straight up leave lol. you move to a different country where he can pretty much continue doing his work remotely while keeping you safe.

the cg for this one is the two of you in a different cushy apartment somewhere. you’re making dinner while he works. its... stable, but noticeably stiff. neither of you are talking much and his dialogue is pretty stilted. its pretty clear that he regrets abandoning his friends and is unhappy.

day 10:

3AM chat with zen where he speaks entirely in thinly veiled hypotheticals about you guys. (“well, if i thought i could have a shot with someone i really loved, i think i would take that chance and tell them, even if i might get shot down. and even if that person was a huge ass who my sexy white-haired best friend hated. i would tell them how i felt”)

seven secures the messenger again and the threat is declared neutralized! you’re safe to go home but neither you nor jumin want that at all.

yoosung brings elizabeth back around 9, and it proceeds pretty similarly to what happens in his route: he’s wary about taking her back because he feels that he’s mistreated her, you’re like “whoa buddy you’re going too far in the opposite direction here” and you and v have to convince hm that its going to be okay. the only real difference is that v doesnt also have to convince him to let you go. he just says something about how the two of you seem to bring out the best in each other, and that jumin is brighter when you’re around. 

later, jumin (tries) to make you lunch using the cooking skills you taught him a few days ago as a final payment (since you refused actual money) for all of your help, both with his father and with elizabeth, but he winds up ordering in instead. its very cute BUT its super awkward because neither of you has said anything about not wanting to leave.

finally you have to face the music and pack your bags. you hug jumin goodbye and make him promise to still get lunch with you sometime before heading back to rika’s apartment sadly.

everyone is like “yo what the fuck???” and its actually yoosung of all people who is finally like “this is ridiculous. you two clearly have feelings for each other and you need to deal with it” 

jumin is absent from most of the chatrooms for the rest of the day  though, so he doesn’t really see anything until he forces himself to log on later that night and is like “oh”

and YES of course this is going to culminate in a typical romcom scene where he has driver kim race to the apartment so he can pound on the door and apologize to you and tell you how he feels!! maybe it even happens in the rain just to maximize romance. the important thing here is that you finally kiss him for real this time and its perfect.

BAD STORY END 3:

pretty much jumin’s BE2, if you werent assertive enough with him re: his possession/control issues on day 9, he never gets over them. when elizabeth is returned he locks her back up and insists that you continue to stay with him as well, canon BE2 ensues.

i gotta hand it to cheritz. its a really good bad ending and theres not much i wanna change about it. its so scary in a calm sort of way, which i think is the perfect vibe for a dangerously unhealthy jumin. if only people would stop fetishizing it lolol

party (GE ver):

you and jumin mingle with the guests and the other members for a bit, but as the evening goes on, jumin gets restless. he pulls you aside and tells you that, while you did a wonderful job planning the party, he can’t help but regret that your guys’ first

date is technically a work function. especially when the fake first date you told his father was so perfect. he then decides that the two of you have been there long enough to fulfill your obligations, and that no one could really begrudge you if you “took off” a little early. you guys fly to paris that night and have that dinner on top of the eiffel tower.

the ending cg isn’t a kiss one, but a more simple, sweet one of the two of you in a dimly lit restaurant, jumin listening to you talk with the most tender, loving look in his eyes.

party (NE ver):

you and jumin mingle with the guests and the other members for a bit, but as the evening goes on, jumin gets restless. he pulls you aside and tells you that, while you did a wonderful job planning the party, he can’t help but regret that your guys’ first date is technically a work function. especially when the fake first date you told his father was so perfect. he laments the fact that if he was caught shirking responsibilities to take you on a real date, the press would have a field day with it, but promises to make it up to you, and take you out on a proper one tomorrow.

this cg is the two of you dancing at the rfa party, jumin resting his chin on the top of your head and daydreaming out loud about everything the two of you could do on your real first date.

[noahstilinski]

Just a Scratch - Derek Hale

Ok wow I got a little... Carried away with this one

You must forgive me lmao

Masterlist

Requested: Yes

Prompt:  Hey I wanted to request a Derek Hale imagine- hope that's not too much. Fem!reader(has Hunter skills) and Derek are in relationship and in love. TheY both get in a nasty fight and reader get a *little* hurt but Derek goes all protective and AAAAAHHHHHH. Basically a little fluff. Thanks and have a good day.

Pairing: Derek Hale x Reader

Word count: 3511

Warnings: Language, violence

"Remember you have an essay due for next Monday on the economic crisis of 1929" You reminded your class as the bell rang. "Mr. Dunbar, if you could please stay for a minute" You dropped the chalk on the holder and wiped your hands on your jeans. You waited for the class to empty and faced Liam, a sympathetic look on your face.  "I know, I know" He beat you to it. "I'm sorry" "Liam, I understand that you're out there literally protecting this city from all kinds of evil, and I'm all the more grateful for it, believe me" You sighed. "But as your teacher, I really cannot give you anymore free passes without it becoming suspicious"

You had done your best to pick other people to summarize the readings or answer the questions. You even made him retake tests when you knew he had been on werewolf duty the night before. But you couldn't cover for him forever, especially not with the school board on your heels. 

This time, he failed to give back a homework sheet that counted for five percent of his grade. You told him out loud he'd get zero out of it, but you knew you'd find a way to cheat the system yet again. However, you also knew you couldn't keep doing that for long without losing your teaching license.  "I'll do it tonight, the sheet" He replied. "I swear" "Alright" You nodded. "And heads up, tomorrow I'll randomly choose you to do the readings summary. Don't make us both look like fools, please" "Thanks (Y/N)" He gave you a faint smile. "I won't, I promise" "Now woosh, go save the world" You tilted your head toward the door. "Let me grade my papers in peace" His smile widened a bit at your joke and he scurried out of the class, nodding in salutation at someone outside the class. You thought it might have been a student until the person stepped in the doorframe. "Don't tell him that, or he's actually going to do it" Derek snorted, walking nonchalantly in the class.  "What are you doing here?" You had meant to be stern, but your happiness to see him betrayed your facial expression.  "Coming to see you" He replied easily. "Isn't that obvious?"  "What did we say about visit on work hours?" You scolded, even though you went straight for his open arms.  "Technically, school's been over for..." He trailed off and looked at his watch over your shoulder. "Two minutes five seconds" "Smartass" You rolled your eyes, but smiled nonetheless. "But seriously, did I forget we had a date or something?" "Can't I just pick you up from school as a grand gesture of love?" He raised an eyebrow, which made you squint your eyes at him in suspicion. You knew he wouldn't pick you up without telling you, he hadn't done it in the years you've been with him. Derek hated surprises.  "Der" You warned, taking a step back. "What's going on?" "Nothing" He shrugged unconvincingly. "I just want to make sure that you're safe, that's all" "Is this about the wannabe hunters swarming the town?" You crossed your arms against your chest, and the shift on his expression confirmed your thoughts. "I'm fine, Derek. You don't need to watch over me" "What if they ambush you?" He asked with an edge in his voice, like he was genuinely scared they'd get to you. "We've seen what they're capable of" "Should I remind you I'm not a supernatural being?" You sighed as you sat back at your chair. "It's not me they want" "But they want me" He countered. "And correct me if I'm wrong, but we haven't been exactly subtle in terms of hiding our relationship. They could want you by association" "You're not wrong" You gave him a short chuckle. "Okay, let's say they decide to take me down to get to you. I doubt I'm high enough on Gerard's priority list for him to do it himself, so who'd he send? His pet, Monroe?" "She's more vicious than she lets on, (Y/N)" He almost pleaded.  "I know how she is, and I'm not afraid of her" You smiled at him. "That little martyr act is quite pathetic, if you want my opinion. And no matter what she got, remember I've been doing this for way longer than she has" At that, Derek let a quick smile pass through his serious demeanor. He probably had an idea of what went down, knowing you and your hatred for people like her. She had cornered you after school a few weeks ago, pushed you in a corner in a poorly executed grip and sent you an ultimatum. Either you'd leave Derek, or you'd perish with the rest. Now, you weren't the one to get involved, but this direct attack on you had made you angry.  When she had been done talking and gloating about how much of a champion she was, you had easily overturned her grip and changed role, pushing her back on the wall and kicking her down to her knees. Your grip, at opposite of hers, had been much more solid and efficient. You had then told her that you wouldn't play her game and wage war on her, unless she came after Derek or yourself first.  Apparently, your little demonstration of force worked, because she had left you alone ever since.  "I know you're not scared of her, (Y/N)" He said. "But it's not the point" "You think I can't defend myself?" You challenged, eying the little cylindrical shape poking out of your pencil basket. Derek followed your line of sight and shook his head.  "That you definitely can, not arguing" He replied. "But if they decide to come anyway, we'll be glad we have each other. Strength in numbers, remember" "I know, but I'm at school. I doubt they'll hit a human here, in a public place. Too much PR to handle" You explained. "Besides, I have papers to grade" "Okay that was a lame excuse for a life or death situation" He pointed out and you rolled your eyes. "But it's fine by me, I'll stay here" You were about to protest when he pulled out a chair and dragged it back loudly enough to cover any other sound in the room. He let himself fall down and threw his keys on the desk, still making as much noise as possible. Asshole. "I'll stay here. If something happens, you'll be glad" He spoke again. "And if not, you'll have the satisfaction of being right and knowing you wasted my time for nothing" "Deal" You smiled tightly. "But not a sound, Derek Hale. Or I'll throw you out of the window" He made a zipping gesture over his mouth and threw the imaginary key over his shoulder. You sighed and shook your head, taking the first copy on your desk and getting back into the grading rhythm.  Before you even knew it, the sun set and darkness took over. It was actually a yawn coming from Derek that made you notice that much time had passed and that you only had one copy left.  You hurried grading that one, and you were sorry in advance for the poor student that would have to read your correction. But to be fair, you had a hard time reading his handwriting too, so much you couldn't even understand the last two questions. "Oh Greenberg, what the hell did you write" You muttered to yourself as you massaged your temples. You then heard Derek's chair scrape on the floor as he stood up abruptly.  "Did you hear that?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows. "T’was just me complaining" You yawned again. "It's fine--" "No..." He trailed off, gesturing you to stay silent. You sat up straighter as you suddenly became more alert of your surroundings, your hand hovering closer to your pencil basket.  Then, total silence fell over the room. Not even the pipes could be heard, and it made your blood chill in your vein. This could never be good.  "Get down!" You felt it coming before Derek's shout by watching him tense up all at once, his eyes widening considerably. You dived under the desk, but not before snatching your weapon before you did. You ducked under the wood as bullets flew everywhere. Derek then came crashing down beside you and scurried for cover too.  He nodded at you to let you know he was fine, and you nodded back. No bullet had gotten to either of you yet, or at least not fatally to him. You waited until the guns were emptied, and your attacker stepped in the room. "(Y/N)" Monroe taunted. "Come out, I know you're here" "Oh hey" You replied, still under the desk. "I thought we had come to an agreement. I'm disappointed" "I don't agree with people who protect murderers" She sneered. "Ah, and I'm guessing your current backup have picked firearms recently as a hobby" You scoffed as you and Derek quietly planned your strategy with hand gestures. He’d take half of her back up, you’d take the rest and Monroe. "Or have you brought kids this time?" "Those kids know the only way they'll stay alive in this town is if they take arms against those who pose a threat" She growled. "And that includes you" "Tamora, most things you say are painfully whiny, but I gotta admit" You nodded at Derek and slowly raised to your feet. Four men in black were standing at her side; too bad it wouldn't be enough. "You're goddamned right" You pressed the button on the black cylinder in your hands and it extended to a full staff with sharpened steel edges. Behind you, Derek roared, and you could almost feel the raw power emanating from him.  "I am a threat"  Before any of them could reload their guns, which you noted to be a beginner's mistake, you both jumped in action. You kicked Monroe's gun out of her hands, then kneed her in the stomach as she bent to catch it mid air. As she was catching her breath, you dealt with the man at her right. You spun your staff and brought it down on his riffle, sending it to the floor. You sneaked a punch before ducking his incoming fist, but you were thrown off your feet when another man slammed into you.  "Son of a bitch" You groaned as you got back on your feet. You grabbed a book that fell off the shelf and slammed it in the face on your new assailant with a mean swing, sending him to the ground unconscious.  The first man charged to you and backed you to the wall, pushing you into it hard enough to cave it in. You lifted your arms to block his punches, waiting for his rhythm to fade. When it did, you grabbed his fist mid air and twisted his arm, pushing his elbow inside out with a loud crack.  While he howled out in pain, you grabbed your discarded staff and slashed both his shoulder muscles and the back of his knee, so he wouldn't be able to stand and shoot again. You wiped out the blood from your lips and nose and turned around to find Monroe, but you had to throw yourself on the ground before you saw her. A gun had fired, and you heard the bullet whistle past your ear. You saved your fall with a roll, and came face to face with the barrel of a gun, halting your movements all at once. At least you had found her.  "You don't wanna do this, Monroe" It was Derek who said that, the two unmoving bodies at his feet.  "I actually want to do this bad" She replied with a cocky grin. "If you try anything, I blow her brain" "It's find Der, let me handle this" You spoke carefully, giving him a quick glance and a nod. Then, you looked up at Monroe. "So. I guess you already have a story prepared to explain this mess" "Don't even try" She scoffed dryly. "I won't let down my guards" "Oh, I know" You chuckled. "It was probably the first thing Gerard taught you, wasn't it?" She cocked the gun as an answer. "Here's the thing" You kept talking, not breaking eye contact. "You think you're all high and mighty because you've been training with Gerard for a few months. You've learn a lot, you think. Maybe you really did. You think you're experienced because you've taken down scared teenagers, so you think you can go against targets above your skill set" "Does my gun on your forehead seems above my skill set?" She taunted, and you smiled. "You're feeling invincible now, don't you?" You hummed. "But let me remind you, that while you were still a clueless civilian, I had already years of experience. And right now, your lack of it gave the opening I needed" Before she could register your words, you swatted her wrist away and kicked her knees from the ground. Her gun fired again, but this time you didn't back down. You jumped on her and straddled her, a hand on her throat and your legs restraining her arms.  "Next time you try that, no matter how much fire power you bring, I'll kill you" You hissed before knocking her unconscious with the rest of her men.  You stood up and grabbed your staff, retracting it to the smaller cylinder shape. You then dusted off your material and put back the copies in your bag, sighing when you noticed Greenberg's was decorated with a long splatter of blood. You threw the strap of your bag on your shoulder and walked out of the class with Derek, wincing at your sore arms.  No words were exchanged until you were well away from the school. The radio in Derek's car played some billboard's songs, but you tuned the sound out when you started feeling some pricking pain on your side. You reached to it and felt a wet liquid covering you, which you noticed was red when you got a glimpse of it under a street light.  "You're bleeding" Derek stated and you didn't miss the new panic in his voice. "The bullet hit you" "It's alright" You reassured. "It's just a scratch, not even that deep" "Shit, I should have taken her down" He gritted his teeth and tightened his hand on the wheel, so much his knuckles turned white. "I'm sorry (Y/N), fuck" Your eyes widened when he floored the gas pedal, you knew he wanted to get you home asap.  "No really I'm fine" You tried to make him realize that you were, in fact, okay. "I don't even think I'll need stitches" "We're almost there" He mumbled as he almost drove into the half opened garage door.  "Are you crazy--oof" You winced when he slammed the brakes in his designed parking. He sent you an apologetic glance before rushing to your side of the car. "I can walk, you know?" He didn't listen to you as he gently picked you up and carried you to his apartment. You knew it was useless to protest, he was like a rock in every sense of the term. He then placed you on the wooden table and grabbed the first aid kit in the cabinet. "Take off your shirt" "I don't think this is the right moment for that, babe" You joked, but took off the ripped clothe nonetheless.  "Really? You're doing this right now?" He scolded, eyebrows raised. "Come on, lighten up a bit" You laughed, but it made your side hurt. "Ouch" "Don't--" He caught your wrist before you could give in to the reflex to cover your wound with your hand. "Here, let me" You pulled back your arm to give him access to the wound so he could clean it and check the damage better. When he sighed in relief, you knew you had been right and that it was only a minor flesh wound.  "Told ya it was nothing" You smiled warmly at him as he carefully cleaned the skin around that was covered in blood. "See, I'm alright" "Still need to bandage it" He mumbled as he grabbed the gauze and tape, getting to work without wasting time. "Better to be careful" "I know" You whispered back as your hand went to rest on his cheek. He looked up at you with tired and worried eyes when he was done patching you up, and it made your smile widen. "I'm tougher than you give me credit for" "I know how tough you are" He replied and nuzzled his face in your neck, intertwining his hand in yours. "I'm just scared one day the bullet will hit somewhere you cannot heal" "Then we make sure this doesn't happen" You shrugged lightly. "Damn right" He replied as he took a step back, but didn't let go of your hand. "I'm not letting you out of my sight until this hunter problem is settled" "That's a bit unrealistic, don't you think?" You raised an eyebrow.  "Watch me"  "And what about school tomorrow?" You asked again. "I doubt the school board will let me have my boyfriend looming in the back of the class" "Call in sick" He suggested. "Absolutely not" You gasped. "You're all banged up anyway" He tried to convince you. "Stay here. With me" "As much as it sounds appealing, I'm still going to work tomorrow" You denied him. "What if Monroe shows up and I don't? Bam. She wins. Besides, they won't try anything against a human during school hours, and if they're stupid enough to try it, Liam will be there" He knew you were right. It was just history classes on a Friday, after all. And unless the hunters decided to shoot a bunch of innocent kids just to get to you, they would get more legal trouble than they could handle.  "Fine" He finally conceded. "But I'm driving you AND picking you up right after school hours. If you feel there's anything wrong, and I mean anything: with the wound or even just a feeling, you call me. Okay?" "Okay" You agreed, even though it was a bit much. But Derek was like that, and it was fine by you. "Should I call you mom? It would feel right after that speech" "Don't call me mom" He said sternly. "Alright then" You grinned at his offence. "Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna go to sleep" You started getting off the table, but Derek stopped you. "Nope" He shook his head. "You need to take it easy, so no walking tonight" "You must be kidding me" You deadpanned. "You saw the wound, it's nothing" "It's something enough to be careful" He argued, picking you up in his arms and carrying you again upstairs to the bedroom. He then put your down on the soft surface of the mattress and grabbed your pajama shorts from the dresser. He took off your jeans and replaced them by the stretchy clothing, all while you gave him an unimpressed look. It was something you could have done yourself without a problem.  He then paused and looked away, a distant look in his eyes. His shoulders slouched as he made his way around the bed and laid down beside you. "Derek" You called softly, and his glance met yours. They showed vulnerability, which was a rare occurrence for your boyfriend. "Thank you. For taking care of me" "Always" He mumbled as he took your hand and placed a kiss on it. "I'm sorry you got hurt because of me" "It's not because of you" You said, carefully rolling on your good side to face him. "It's because they're stupid and wrong and they don't like that I'm exposing them" Derek cracked a smile at that.  "I bet they'll be so jealous of my personal escort and bodyguard tomorrow" You added with a yawn. "They wish they had someone as good looking to do the job on top of it"  "We've been together for two years and a half, you don't need to flirt to get what you want" He rolled his eyes playfully, poking your shoulder where he was sure it wasn't bruised.  "What if flirting is what I want?" You challenged before laughing it off. Just seeing his smile made up for the terrible evening that had happened. "Come on, get your pretty ass closer. You can't protect me from all these feet apart" "Very funny" He tried to stay stern, but failed miserably. He scooted over and wrapped his arms around you, careful not to put weight over your injury. "I love you, (Y/N). So much" "I love you more" You smiled against his chest. "Goodnight, my fierce protector" "Goodnight, queen warrior" Your laugh at the nickname got lost as tiredness took over you, making you fall asleep in the arms of your lover.