#he’s a little behind on motherly hugs in canon

[neztune]

I think I’m addicted to making sure Hiccup gets hugs in my doodles

Anyway! Not my best, but Valka is still the one giving the hugs-

The one doodle I have so far with Stoick hugging Hiccup is one so tiny and a little bit bloody… (it’s right after the fight with the red death)

[longing-for-rain]

Do you think Bryke are creepy for saying that they love the trope of the kid having a crush on the babysitter and that this was the major inspiration for the dynamic behind Kataang? I know Kataang shippers are always denying that they ever had a sibling bond but it's basically canon.

Absolutely. It’s very creepy, not just from the motherly undertones it brings, but the overall dynamic.

I think it’s very fitting for Katara and Aang because the dynamic between them was never equal. Katara was always in a position where Aang depended on her emotionally the way a child depends on a mother or big sister. I actually found the moment where she and Sokka hug him and promise “we’re your family now” very sweet—and making this romantic just ruins it.

As for the babysitter-crush trope being explicitly encouraged by the creators, let’s unpack this. What is a babysitter? It’s a job where an older kid has obligation to look after a younger kid. The younger kid is dependent on the older kid. The younger kid receives emotional support and care from the older kid that is not reciprocated. We see this very clearly between Katara and Aang; she is constantly acting as his support system while he never does the same in return. I mean, he wasn’t even there with her when she confronted her greatest trauma; he just sat there spitting out insultingly moralizing comments.

This is just another example of the maturity gap in heterosexual relationships being glorified, honestly. Immature men are idealized as “cute” and “nice guys” even though their immaturity often serves as an excuse to avoid reciprocating the energy and hard work put into the relationship by the woman. It’s draining to be a woman in that situation. Because it is so close to a mother/child dynamic.

One final note is that the “babysitter crush” inspiration solidifies the one-sided nature of it. It’s not an uncommon trope, and a key feature of it is a little kid getting googly eyes for an older girl who just isn’t thinking about him that way.

Her lack of interest is framed as an obstacle for the male protagonist to overcome rather than a boundary to be respected. It’s simply expected of her that she’ll eventually “see the light” and give him a chance if he’s a good enough hero, wins against the Bad Guy, etc. It’s appealing to a young male audience because it gives them the idea that if they work hard enough, that hot older girl they fantasize about will finally notice them. That’s exactly what kataang is.

[amityblu]

A Monster Like Me (Reiner x Reader)

This is my first little story on here! This is a scenario my OC is in but imma make it inclusive. Black coded reader. Enjoy!

Notes: Reader and Reiner had a relationship before time skip, reader had a son just before time skip (w/Reiner), set in canon AOT, this isn’t edited fr, rambly even.

The forest was quiet. The only sound came from the bubbling pot of stew Hange was making. Yelena was next to you, quietly appreciating the havoc she created. In front of you, Gabi was hugging her knees to her chest, still shaken from the fight Jean and Reiner had an hour earlier. The result of which caused her to be shoved to the ground by Jean. The pout on her face reminded you of the one your son had whenever he was thinking or hurt. Reiner was on the other side of the fire, quietly accepting his punishment. You slowly brought your nearly empty bowl to your mouth to sip the cold broth that was left over.

“You’ve been looking at them a lot, you know,” Yelena’s taunting voice started. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough talking?” You warned. “Not nearly enough,” her lips curled into a cunning smirk, “I think it’s sweet that your motherly instinct is so strong is all.” She barely spoke above a whisper, glancing at Reiner’s still figure, then back to Gabi. “She must remind you of your little boy.” Gabi glanced back at the two of you. “You have a son? But you’re so young,” she said. You kept your lips pursed and gave a short nod, careful not to speak too loudly. “I do. His name is Matthieu. He’s almost four. I was seventeen when I had him.” Gabi looked around the campfire at all of the people either stirring the fire or sleeping. “I met a little boy named Matt when I was with Mr. and Mrs. Braus. Is that the same kid?” You gave another nod in response. “He’s with them until things are safe behind the walls again.” Yelena shook her head, speaking louder this time. “A mothers love knows no bounds. Maybe once all of this is over he can finally meet his father too.”

A loud smack echoed through the forest. You stood, eyes burning into Yelena’s laughing face. “I must’ve struck a nerve?” You hear Connie call your name, telling you to calm down. All you felt was seething anger. “Don’t talk about my son or his father, bitch.” You spat. “You’re right… he doesn’t even know the boy exists,” Yelena caressed her check, red from where you slapped her. “I should keep my mouth shut.” You pulled your arm back and felt someone grab it, roughly. You looked back and saw Reiner, a mix of panic, confusion and sorrow on his face.

There was a time where you and Reiner were inseparable. You shared secrets, snuck off together, and talked every single day. At some point the two of you consummated the relationship. Then he outed himself as part of the reason you and your friends' lives changed for the worse. He lied. He betrayed you all. And he left a piece of himself with you. All of your friends pitched in to help raise your son. They loved him dearly and agreed to keep his father’s identity a secret. You never thought he’d need to know until you saw Reiner for the first time in years earlier in the day.

Reiner’s eyes were downcast. He couldn’t look you in the eye after all these years. He felt sick to his stomach and couldn’t find any words. The two of you were silent. You eventually slid your arm out of his loosening grasp. He spoke your name for the first time in what felt like forever. Then he followed it with the one question you’ve been dreading. “Who… who is your son’s father?” Your silence gave him the answer he needed. His breaths got caught in his throat as he sank to his knees. You reluctantly knelt beside him and placed a hand on his trembling frame.

A few hours went by until Reiner could finally speak. The fire had turned into a few dancing embers. The forest was nearly pitch black and completely quiet. Finally, with his voice barely above a whisper he asked, “What does he look like?” You reached into your coat pocket and pulled out the only picture you owned. Matthieu was reaching out to you with a smile on his face. His light brown curly hair and brown skin were lost in the black and white picture. “He’s bigger than this now. He’s smart and helps around the house.” You glanced at Reiner with a solemn smile. “He looks more and more like you every day. It’s getting hard to ignore that.” He took a long look at the boy’s picture and buried his head back in his hands. “I can’t be the father to such a bright kid. He shouldn’t come from a monster like me.” You grabbed one of his hands and held it in yours, with Matthieu’s picture in between. “I hated you Reiner.” You finally said, letting go of his hand and leaving the picture in his palm. “For years I hated you so much. I still kind of do. But when I look at that boy all I see is you. And when I look at you all I see is him.” His mind continued to swirl. First he was admitting to being responsible for Marco's death. Now he’s being told about a four year old son he couldn’t have known about. It’s too many emotions. Too much to atone for. He began to sob. “I’m so sorry. This shouldn’t have happened. I fucked up a lot. This is something else I can’t forgive myself for.”

“You should meet him.” You said. “I don’t know if what you told me about your relationship with your father is true or not. It seems like it is.” You took the picture out of his hand and placed it back into your coat pocket. A look of terror spread from his wide eyes to his gaping mouth. “I can’t. He shouldn’t be around me. I’d be a stranger.” You knew better. “What’s the real reason you don’t want to see him?” Reiner’s quiet hics and sniffles filled the quiet space for a while before he spoke your name for the second time that night. “It would break my heart to leave him. I don’t want the boy to think that I wouldn’t want him. I couldn’t live with myself.” His admission was shocking, but not surprising. He was always sensitive about certain things, family being one of them. “Then fight to see him. He is just as much yours as he is mine.” You said plainly, reaching up to wipe a tear from his face. “He’d love to meet you. And I don’t think you’d hurt him. Don’t think that this is me forgiving you, but you have a right to meet your son.”

You laid back onto the forest floor, a yawn escaping your lips. “We’ll talk about this a bit more seriously later on. I think we’re both at our wits end.” Reiner laid back next to you, silently agreeing. “After all these years,” he started, “I kept you in my heart. I don’t know if it’s love, but I still care about you.” You turned and saw his hardened face. He’d grown so much. His plump cheeks were replaced with high cheekbones. Stubble started to decorate his face. His eyes were filled with a constant sadness. “I still care about you too. I thought about you every day.” You rolled over and placed your head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around your waist. It was like an instinct. Both of you knew that this wasn’t a continuation of the past. But it was comforting being together like this for the first time in years.

Let me know what y’all think. I haven’t written in years, so I hope y’all like it.

[starglow-xx]

(About the brother!atsushi) aRE YOU READING MY MIND MISS?! Because that has been on my mind for MONTHS. TYSM For writing it was amazing!! If you don't mind, may I request (if requests are open) atsushi, still an older brother, but with a sister that's 10-13 yrs old? It's totally fine if you don't wanna do it. Keep up the good stories, ily mwuah!

*sobs* you’re so kind thank youu 🤧🤧

i wrote this a bit differently i hope that’s okay anon! at first i planned for this to be mainly abt atsushi and the reader, but i decided to add in relationship hcs with the agency bc i ran out of ideas

if you guys liked this don’t worry! im planning a special part two for this one so be the look out for it hehe

atsushi with a tween! sister

ft. the armed detective agency

like in my baby sister hcs, you’re still the most important thing to him period

the two of you got picked up by dazai and kunikida when he was 18 (obviously) and when you were 12

for a 12 year old, you were a bit small bc of malnourishment (which makes atsushi feel so bad) so both dazai and kunikida thought you were a bit younger than you actually were

they assumed you were about 9-10ish

you and atsushi both share a favorite food !! chazuke :)

so when kunikida treated the two of you, he made sure you got more bowls bc like i mentioned above, he feels really bad that you were malnourished and under weight

(don’t bring this up but kunikida felt bad too hehe)

when dazai went with your brother to the warehouse, you were with kunikida

imagine the surprise of the other ada members when kunikida came in with a little girl dressed in rags that popped out from behind him

kenji was the one who vocalized his thoughts 

“kunikida-san you have a daughter?! wow! i didn’t know that! :D”

when you found out your brother was a tiger, you were a bit concerned but you were actually kind of excited

you were even more excited when you found out the two of you were going to be taken in by the agency

anything was better than the stupid orphanage

and besides!

you got a tiger for an older brother and a bunch of other super powered agents to take care of you! who could want anything else?

at your age, you’re very impressionable and can be influenced easily so atsushi makes sure to teach you more in depth of good morals and the importance of kindness

his heart swells with pride and relief when he catches you being kind to others

pride bc he’s proud that even after all the two of you have gone through, you still ended up being a good kid and having a bright view of the world

and relief bc he hasn’t failed as a big brother

pfftt like he could ever fail

but please, from time to time reassure him that he’s perfect and the only big brother that you’d ever want bc he rlly needs that kind of validation

with his salary and savings, he tries to buy nice things for you

what a sweetheart 🥺

he saw you eyeing that one dress at a store window? fast forward abt a week and half and it’s inside a pretty gift bag for you

you wanted to try that dessert from the nice bakery? that’s dessert after dinner at one point

but other than buying you things, he sets money aside for you

like all the time

(y/n), here have this, you might need it”

“but nii-san you just gave me—”

“take it”

#1 spoiler

also your #1 confidant and source of physical affection

you tell him anything and everything (except crushies and those kinds of things)

atsushi loves it when you talk abt your day and he can see the big smile on your face and the sparkle in your eyes

it gives him the strength to keep going 😖😖

the two of you aren’t as touch starved as you’d probably think, but that’s only bc the two of you had each other

in your opinion, no one can match the hugs of your big brother

and it got even better bc YAYY he has tiger arms now ٩(◕‿◕)۶

if you ask, he’d carry you around too hehe

you also get nightmares quite often so he’ll always be there ready to calm you down, talk if you need to, and rock you back to sleep

god i love him 🤧🤧

atsushi will do everything in his power to protect you and make sure you get to grow up happy, supported, and loved

port mafia attack? oop he’s already taking you to the nearest escape route

someone is starting to harass you? they just got suckered punched into the next week

you want to go out to have some fun? he’ll go ask the president for a day off

you’re not feeling well? he’ll take another day off and take care of you

whatever you want to do, he’ll do it with you! (as long as it’s within reason)

will always be your #1 supporter! and he’s the president of your fan club hehe

he loves you so so much and will do anything for you; your life and happiness will always be more important to him

you are his reason to keep going

agency head canons !!

atsushi is your big brother, but kunikida is most definitely some sort of father figure

everyone can see it

except kunikida of course

kunikida scolds you lightly if he thinks your manners need work or if you make a mess in the agency

you listen to him of course and in turn as some sort of a reward, he’ll give you pieces of stationary

he always gives you the nice, good quality kind and you’re over the moon

atsushi adores it when you come running to him showing your new notebook or fountain pen and blabbering what you’re going to do with it

sometimes it isn’t even as a reward for being a good child; he’ll just give it to you and he’ll say smth like “i noticed you’ve used up your last notebook quite quickly, so here’s another one” or “did you run out of ink? here have this then”

he usually has a soft spot for children in general, but he most definitely has a soft spot (or a thousand) for you

yosano is kind of like a motherly figure to you

she gives you the guidance a mother should and goes on shopping trips with you!

atsushi always gets dragged along by you, but he thinks it’s worth it seeing you look so happy

yosano being a doctor also tries to teach the things you should know, or things that would be helpful to you

she’ll teach you the basics of cooking, sewing, how to treat a cold/fever, etc

also gives you excellent advice 1000% of the time

“remember (y/n)-chan if someone hurts you come tell me and then i’ll chop them into—”

“yOSANO-SENSEI DONT TELL HER THAT—”

fukuzawa is like a father to most in the agency but you see him more as a grandfather figure

bi weekly tea and gossip sessions hehe

along with cat talk!

most of the time though, it’s just you talking and him listening to you, but the two of you enjoy it nonetheless

“and then kunikida-san ended up crashing into a pole and dazai-san started to laugh at him and i did too because it was really funny but we ended up getting scolded—”

“hmm i see...”

he’ll let you stay in his office as he fills out paperwork; you’re usually doodling or drawing in your notebooks

sometimes he’ll meditate and you’ll join him, but 4/7 times you’d fall asleep

you always wake up with a blanket over you

dazai is like a cool but a highly concerning and kind of high maintenance uncle

frequently takes you out with him when he ditches work

walks in the park, eating at uzumaki so he has the excuse of treating you so he doesn’t have to pay his tab avoiding kunikida and sometimes chuuya and akutagawa, all that fun stuff

also tries to not talk abt suicide in front of you especially if it’s just the two of you alone

he knows that you mean the world to his pupil and that said pupil would probably hate him for putting suicide inside your brain

he teaches you random but useful things like how to pick a lock, how to steal kunikida’s notebook if you’re looking for some information, how to sweet talk your way out of things, etc.

is also the one to tell you that if you ever get a significant other to introduce them to the agency first

he always wants all of your gossip; some of them work pretty well for blackmail

“dazai-san! dazai-san! did you know that kunikida-san lost his glasses and he was looking for them for nearly an hour when he was just holding them the entire time??”

“woah really (y/n)-chan?! hey hey can you say it again into this recording device so kunikida-kun would believe me when i tell him—”

always ends up giving kunikida a heart attack when he says that you’ve been with him all day

ranpo is also like a cool but a highly concerning and kind of high maintenance uncle

will share some of his snacks, but don’t push it or you might not get anything at all

loves it when you compliment him

if you tagged along with him and your brother on a case, he will show off to impress you

“...and that’s how the crime happened”

“UWAHH RANPO-SAN YOU’RE SO COOL”

atsushi is lowkey and kunikida is highkey stressed that ranpo’s eating habits will rub off on you

“ne (y/n)-chan do you wanna try this highly caffeinated drink and this concerning amount of sugar filled snack?”

“can i really?!”

“rANPO-SAN NO—”

ranpo definitely does stuff like that on purpose 

the tanizakis are like siblings to you!

a weird set of siblings but siblings nonetheless

the two of them adore you and think you’re precious

atsushi definitely knows how to do your hair whether it’s long or short but he got even better at it when he asked the two

hehe braid trains are definitely a thing + kyouka and kenji (and maybe even dazai)

sometimes you have sibling swap days

you’re with junichiro for most of the day and atsushi is with naomi

strange i know

each of the tanizaki siblings try to make it fun bc they know that the two of you did not at all have a happy upbringing

junichiro likes spending time with you by taking you out to different places that naomi likes to frequent

like the mall, different stores and restaurants, the park, places like those

naomi does the same thing with atsushi so if you ever bump into them, you go out and eat together :)

besides atsushi, the next one in line who spoils you the most would be junichiro (and yosano & kunikida both coming in at a close third)

he honestly can’t help it; you remind him of how naomi was when she was younger

and besides

he’s always been a sucker when it came to the happiness of a little sister

“would you really buy this for me junichiro-san?!”

“of course! don’t worry about it” :)

wanna talk abt boys/girls/celebrity crushes things like that? naomi is your girl

you feel a bit embarrassed to go talking to yosano or your brother abt that and kyouka does not know a thing abt them either

“uwahh naomi-san look at all these people in this magazine! they look so good!”

“right?! but of course onii-sama is still the best—”

you get along with kenji and kyouka quite nicely being roughly the same age as them; they’re also like siblings!

just pure, wholesome vibes from the three of you

you’re over the moon when she finds out that kyouka is staying with you and your brother

atsushi is twice as happy seeing you talk your mouth off and finally having a girl around your age to talk to

“do you think demon snow can change how she looks?”

“hmm... im not sure...”

you and kenji talk abt anything and everything

he even teaches you how to take care of plants!

sometimes the two of you are kind of in the same boat bc you don’t know much abt yokohoma being stuck in the orphanage and kenji doesn’t know much abt cities in general

“wait where are we again kenji-san?”

“ah we’re close to the ports! but im not really sure how close because i don’t know what the symbols on this sign mean”

“don’t worry! neither do i!”

bonus things!

yosano was kind of too late teaching you abt you know what

“NII-SAN IM BLEEDING IN BETWEEN MY LEGS”

you’re sobbing in the agency’s bathroom and atsushi is panicking trying to get you to open the door

“Y/N?! H-HOLD ON LET ME GET YOSANO SENSEI”

ranpo overhears and cackles making everyone around him confused

suddenly atsushi bursts in the agency basically on the verge of tears rambling incoherent sentences abt the bathroom, you, and blood

it just clicked for everybody in the room

(im going to pretend that kenji has sisters back home so that atsushi is the only one who remain oblivious here hehe)

atsushi is genuinely confused and sort of concerned that no one is freaking out with him

yosano waves her hand saying smth like that she’d take care of it and junichiro pulls atsushi to the side to talk to him

fast forward like half and hour and dazai and ranpo are cackling on the looks of both of your faces

honestly not sure who’s more traumatized, you or your brother

“why does this have to happen” :(

“ne ne (y/n)-chan!~ you’re too young but at some point you’re not going to have it!”

“uwahh really dazai-san?” :D

“yeah! but first you have to have ANFK—”

next thing you know your ears are being covered by your brother and dazai is thrown across the room by kunikida

you know

the normal

you’re twelve and have never gone to school, but the agency takes care of that

it’s too dangerous to go to school so they teach you what’s necessary and whatever else they can

kunikida takes care of math (obviously)

yosano takes care of science/biology/anatomy/health (whatever you wanna call it)

ranpo even dragged poe to help you with english

atsushi even got lucy to help you out with english too!

as tanizaki and naomi used to be students, they give you their old work books and they try to teach you all the other subjects

sometimes kyouka and kenji are there learing with you too!

sorry if there’s some errors! i’ll read through it again later :)

and as always, reblogs and shares are appreciated! i hope you all stay safe! and just in case nobody told you they loved you today, i love you! you are enough! <3

writing belongs to me! please do not plagiarize! the reblog button is there for a reason

[yallmakemyassitch]

Okay how 'bout we try something a little different.

For Mid Fight Masses! R, L, Q, F, T and either U or D. For Selever, Sarvante and Rasazy. (Excluding Ruv mainly to go along with the canon that he's not ticklish)

Alright, this should be fun! I haven't done any MFM characters before (only once) so it'll be cool to do this =)

Headcanons✨

R - Lee or ler, what is generally their main role?

Selever: He has ler energy 200% but let's be real, this man is a lee by heart. He's a great ler but as a lee, all that bravado melts away and next thing you're met with is a giggling teenager, begging for you to stop. He's adorable, who would stop?

Sarvente: She is canonically ticklish according to the mfm's wiki page but on a serious note, while not a lee often has that ler aura lingering behind that sweet smile of hers. She has two children so of course she would be a motherly tickler. Nibbles, raspberries, kisses, anything a child would love to experience from their mother.

Rasazy: Rasazy is so mysterious that nobody can really pinpoint, nor give her a direct role. She could be both, one or the other, neither, it doesn't matter. It'd be best if you hadn't tried for yourself, she's quite powerful and could likely turn you into a pile of dust if she wanted ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Q - Their response to the question ‘are you ticklish’?

Selever: "Uh yeah, duh???"

The guy is so confident that he'd be entirely honest, This causes the person asking to be taken off guard since they expected some sort of reaction like a blush or scowl but none of that happens. By then he's laughing in their face and makes fun of you for reaching the way you did. Don't try to tickle him either since he can see that shit from a mile away and is already prepared to scatter, along with the fact he can fly so it's gonna be hard to catch him.

Sarvente: "To be sincere my dear saint, I am ticklish. Why do you ask, kind stranger?"

She'll flutter her eyelashes at you all innocent, blissfully unaware of the grave she just dug for herself. Sarv isn't the smartest individual so when you approach her to tickle her, she'll just take that as a invitation for a hug, and a hug she'll give. Until you tickle her and she's shrieking.

Rasazy:

Rasazy won't respond, only staring at you and if you try to make a move , for a split second, her eyes will flash a blue and pink color. It'll be so quick you almost wonder if you're seeing things but once you see she's looks much more threatening, that is a warning you should take it.

F - What is their behavior in a tickle fight like?

Selever: He lives alone in The Nothing World with his sister, so that means no friends or other family members to be with. Tickle fights rarely occur between the two and if they do, they often end in disaster. He acts very predatory and skulks around the place, looking for Rasazy and teasing her to death while doing it, fully aware she can hear him from wherever she's hiding.

Sarvente: She is a wonderful partner to have in a tickle fight. Sarv is very trusting, making her victims easy to capture. She respects your boundaries and will stop if you say so but very thorough in what she's doing.

Rasazy: Not the type to participate and will typically quietly observe or just walk away. If Rasazy is somehow convinced to join than well consider it an instant loss. Despite her petite stature and innocence, she is very powerful and capable of 'restrainment magic'✨, bless your soul if you fall victim to her. Very merciless but will drop you once you've reached your limit. Maybe she'll comment that it was fun and even smile a bit before walking away.

T - Their most favorite methods of teasing their lee/ler?

Selever: He likes to feel in control and will make sure you know you aren't escaping unless he says so. Your struggles for mercy and your begging only inflate his ego, so he's absolutely gonna tease you more about it to hear your delicious cries for mercy. "You can't handle it? Aw, well that too fuckin' bad, suck it up! I ain't stopping anytime soon..." Selever will call you names like a crybaby but means no ill will and that only means he's having fun tickling you. You're likely enjoying it too and if he ever catches wind of this, he's never letting this go and will constantly taunt you for it, poking you randomly all around the place, leaving you a vicious cycle of hypertickilishness (it'll go away in 3-4 business days).

Sarvente: As a holy figure, she won't be as merciless as you think her to be. She's rather kind but because of her naivety, Sarv doesn't necessarily know when she's being a tease. She likes to point them out for her lee to hear and finds it cute when they get flustered. Sarv almost does this to catalog their victims so next time a tickle fight breaks out, she'll know exactly what to do and where to target.

Rasazy: Razy doesn't verbally tease. She is completely nonverbal and only watches her lee struggle and squeal quietly. Physically however is a different ball park. Rasazy will slowly poke her way up, almost like a itsy bitsy spider and relishes in the fact you're screaming a whole lot more.

U - Do they have some unusual tickle spots? Where?

Selever: The spot right between the wings and the shoulder blades. Those spots are the bane of his existence and he can't stand it when it's touched or tickled. But it's not his fault he breaks out in a fit or giggles or even cackled when you just happen to dig in.

Sarvente: Her hands are quite sensitive so imagine what it's like when they are even in any sort of contact. Hand holding with her freaking husband is a hassle since she has this stupidly large grin on her face and she's giggling like a fool. Ruv one time decided enough was enough and investigated it, very thoroughly examining her hand to see what made her tick. Ruv's finger gently tracing her palm would be too much for her and she yanking and pulling at it, begging for him to stop.

"Da, there is nothing to worry about I was just-"

"R-RUV! Nohohohoho!"

Rasazy: Beneath her chin. Hardly anybody knows this (except Selever's rat ass) but under her chin could get quite the giggle and even a blush if you're lucky enough. Rasazy actually enjoys it and likes the feeling of fingers caressing her chin, more brownie points if you manage to get her neck. Because of her reserved nature, nobody knows about it except Selever. Even though he's a little shit sometimes, he promises to keep her secret and often uses her chin to make her smile a bit if she's feeling a bit down. Selever is a greater brother than you think he is :3

D - What is there most ticklish spot?

Selever: A good way to catch him off guard is to sneak up on him, and one of best areas to start are his armpits. Dude squeals like a little girl before his cackling is all that fills the room, it is extremely loud! He can't even fight back because of how much is tickles and isn't even focused on revenge, only getting it to stop.

Sarvente: Ribs, sides, and hips. Attack any of those and she'll shriek at the top of her lungs. She refuses to remember the time Ruv was trying to get her attention during a church service and squeezed her side. The ensuing scream jumpscared everyone in the room, even herself a bit. Ruv sometimes subtly teases her about it and even wiggles his fingers a bit, much to her embarrassment.

Rasazy: Remember what I said about her chin and neck well, if you manage to make it down to her collarbone is when she really starts to react. This is only area where she genuinely laughs with a bright smile on her face. She can't focus enough on her powers to activate so she has to take it until the ler (Selever) stops. He finds this to be super intriguing and even nibbled on them before, much to her ticklish misfortune. Nibbles and raspberries are where they are actually effective and Rasazy is trying to push you off with a blush across her face. Once you'll stop depending on who you are, she won't send you through the roof.

[mcyt-amber-tftsmp]

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮? {𝐂! 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫}

Request?: None

Character: C! Foolish

Side Character(s): Foolish Jr. and Finley

Story-type: Romantic and Fluff

Story Length: 1050 words

AU or Not: None

Time Period: Before he joined Las Nevadas and everything else that had happened but after the whole Red Banquet

Plot Summary: Foolish was walking down the area of the Dream SMP to his summer home until he is met by someone who always ceases to make him smile even on the saddest days

Small Info: None

Keywords: Y/N = Your Name

Trigger Warning: none

Normal Warning: probably cringe but mostly cute ig-

--------------------------------------------------

Foolish's Point of View~

Today was just a normal day as any other days I have had in my life. The only thing I could just think of was just going to my Summer Home and finish up somethings which will make it look complete.

The main reason I build is to forget about my past mistakes and the current events that took place at The Red Banquet. The thought of it makes shivers run down my spine. I inhaled and exhaled as I continued to walk while being deep in thought.

Those thoughts were soon broken, as I heard a familiar voice yelling my name from behind me as I stopped and turned around to see Y/N running in my direction.

"Foolish!" She yelled and before I could react, she tackles me into a hug and I nearly lost by balance but was able to hold myself as I chuckled and hugged her back.

"Hey Y/N! It's good to see you." I said as I kissed her head.

"Good to see you too Himbo!" She said giggling as I gasped in a joking offended manner.

"Hey!" I protested as she started to laugh while I chuckled a little.

This was Y/N. She's technically my girlfriend. It hasn't been even two months that we started to date. I am very glad that nothing bad happened to her nor did she lose a canon life.

"Anyways! Where are you going?" She asked me as she pulled away from the hug.

"Oh! I am just going towards my Summer home to finish up somethings there." I said as I saw Y/N's eyes light up in joy.

"Can I come too?! I really want to see Foolish Jr. and Finley!" She said excitedly as I gave her a close-eyed smile before looking at her.

"Yeah sure! Come on." I said as I grabbed her hand as we walked towards where the nether portals were situated.

It took us ten minutes to get to the nether portal which led to my Summer Home as we had to deal with many mobs on the way here. We both got inside the portal as it took us straight towards our destination.

We walked down from the steps of the portal, we went towards my home. That's when I saw both Foolish Jr. and Finley playing outside and despite my rules of telling them to not come outside knowing Ponk, Bad and Ant are always trying to do something.

"Foolish Jr., Finley? What did I tell you about not coming out here in the open?" I told them as I slightly glared at them.

"Sorry Papa!" Foolish Jr. said and that was when they noticed Y/N.

"Mama!" Foolish Jr. yelled as he came running towards Y/N as she knelt down to his level and hugged him.

I smiled and blushed when Foolish Jr. called Y/N 'Mama'. Both Foolish Jr. and Finley see Y/N as a mother and I am actually glad to see them have a motherly figure who cares about them the same as I do.

Then I saw Finley slowly coming towards Y/N's direction and Y/N herself noticed her coming slowly towards her. Finley was my youngest child and my only daughter.

"Hello Finley." Y/N said giving her a smile while gently picking her up as she stood up as Finley giggled.

"Mwama!" Finley said giggling and smiling.

"Aww!" She exclaimed softly finding it adorable.

I found it adorable as I looked at my children, liking her very much. I couldn't help but smile at them.

"You know Foolish?" I heard say as I looked back at her.

"Hm?" I hummed in response.

"I am technically the superior parent here." She said as I slightly choked at what I just heard from her.

"E-Excuse me?" I asked slightly confused and shocked at what she just said.

"I just said that I am basically the superior parent." She said giggling at my confusion and shock.

"I- We aren't even married?!" I said slightly blushing.

"Not yet that's for sure." She said as I blushed a bit more as she set Finley down who ran over to her brother.

"Oh hush!" I playfully said trying to calm myself down.

"You're pretty fun to tease you know?" She said as I playfully shook my head.

"Some days I question why I'm here." I said as Y/N smiled.

"It's because you love me." She simply said keeping the smile on her face as I smiled back.

"Yeah I sure do." I replied back as I put my right over her right cheek and leaned down to kiss her on the lips and she slowly and gradually kissed back.

After a few we both pulled away as I saw her face was now legit red with all the blushing and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Look who's blushing and being teased now." I said as she puffed up her cheeks in annoyance.

"Shush!" She said as she buried her head in my chest as she hugged me.

This technically gave me a chance to sneakily pick her up in a bridal style which made her slightly squeal in return as we both laughed. God did I love her so much.

"I love you Foolish." She said leaning against my chest as I smiled hearing that coming from her.

"I love you more, My Goddess." I said giving her a small kiss on the forehead as the smile still remained on my face.

"What would I do without you?"

--------------------------------------------------

So I may have died of cuteness from writing this much fluff and romance lmao! XD

Prompt Used: "some days I question why I'm here." "it's because you love me."

Tag: @thenotsohottopic

[drakenxemma]

Hey, I know this is a Drakemma blog, but do you happen to like Mitsuya x Yuzuha? If you do, what would you like to happen with them? Like any theories or predictions? Sorry I just really like this ship 😅. Plus I really like this blog so I'm interested in what you would think about them😊

Hey, anon, don't worry at all❣ My blog is for tokrev, so you can ask and talk about whatever is Tokyo Revengers-related. I'm always very glad to share my opinions and to read yours. 💕

Do I like Mitsuya x Yuzuha? Yes, I do. 😳

What do I think about them? I think they're so cute! In my head they would make such a pretty couple. Mitsuya is your typical levelheaded, kind and trustworthy guy, who has always a sweet smile on his face even though his life is not that easy. Yuzuha is your typical strong and brave girl, with a bubbly and lively personality behind which she hides heavy burdens. I just think they would be so well "matched" because, despite the differences in their personalities that would make them even more cute together, they are very similar in so many aspects: they both fight for family, they both protect their younger siblings, they both are very mature and reliable people and, above all, they both love Hakkai.

What truly makes me soft about Mitsuya and Yuzuha's dynamics is their mutual respect, the way they can understand each other, the way they know what it means to be an older brother/sister and having the responsibility to take care of younger siblings, especially when these are in a more fragile position (in Mitsuya's case because Luna and Mana are little children who rely on him as if he's both a motherly and fatherly figure, other than a brother; in Yuzuha's case because Hakkai ends up needing and relying on his sister's protection against Taiju's constant abuse).

I think it's also worth mentioning the genuine jealousy Yuzuha feels in seeing Hakkai admiring Mitsuya so much to the point he has Mitsuya's picture as wallpaper of his phone instead of hers. I don't know, I think it's funny and cute, because she wants to be the best and strongest sibling figure in her brother's eyes.

Last, but not least, what Mitsuya does in order to free Yuzuha from Taiju's abusive behavior, really made me emotional. He really goes as far as to make a compromise with Taiju, just for her, just to protect her. Not to mention their hug, the holy "I MAJORLY RESPECT YOU". I think I'm going to cry. 😭 Mitsuya respects Yuzuha for what she did, as tragic as it is, because he would have probably done the same for his family.

What do I think about their future? I have to be honest here, I don't think we're going to see them together in the end. Canonically, Yuzuha doesn't have romantic feelings for Mitsuya (at least for now), so our "shipping" them is only and genuinely rooted in headcanon field. But I think it's fine, I mean, their friendship is so special, their wholesome relationship is already too good. I'd be happy either way, even if they stay just friends. 💕 But I wouldn't exclude a possible turn of events. The author hasn't hinted at Yuzuha's crush on Takemichi in a long time. She might find out she has a soft spot for Mitsuya in the future, she might end up seeing him more like a possible partner than she did in the past. Who knows.

However, Ken Wakui wasn't so subtle here, when he straight up put mitsuzuha and the two canonical couples in the same row. It was probably just random, but it's cute. 😍

[baecvlt]

KAITO BREEDING KINK WITH A C H U N K Y AFAB READER,JUST A SMIDGE OF PUDGE(Please I'm so self conscious)

Kaito Momota x Chubby AFAB!Reader

a/n: ...

*screaming internally cause I love me some Kaito and I FEEL you on the self-consciousness aw)*

warnings: well breeding obviously. also the slightly notion of the reader perceived as motherly. + mention of pictures taken without readers knowledge

• • •

You were never skinny, it always bothered you. Understanding that being chubby wasn’t bad, it still did. It made you feel ugly. There were days where you felt thag you couldn’t even look in the mirror. It was that bad. It sure as hell surprised you when your now boyfriend of a year had asked you out, Kaito Momota.

Regardless of his height being taller, you still felt bigger than him. Being vocal of your insecurities, he made sure to reassure you when he heard them. “God, no, baby,” he’d say to you,“You’re beautiful”. He’d smother you in kisses to reassure you. Still, you felt he was slightly repulsed by your physique.

The reality was quite the opposite.

He loved that about you.

There was something about having a bigger s/o, well, chubby s/o that drove him insane. It was just something that gave off a motherly feeling and what can he say? He loves milfs (canon btw). When he first saw you, he thought you were so cute. He dare not act sexually attracted to you, though. Once he did, you thought he was joking and then told him you were insecure about having sex.

So, nothing happened.

He isn’t completely innocent, though. Sure, he won’t express how sexually attracted to you he is in front of you, but it’s different behind closed doors. On your second date you worse a skirt, one exposing your thighs. That was all he thought about. Don’t get me started on beach day. You were dating for 8 months at that point, he waited for you to come out of the bathroom.

“I’m sure you look fine!”

“No! I look terrible!”

“Just come outtt. I’d like to actually spend my day with you”

“Okay, just—I’ll get out in a bit. You go set up”

Kaito had gone to set up your spot, laying down on a sheet he had laid out on the sand. “Hey, I’m here now”. He looked at you and felt his throat dry as you stood in a white and yellow polka dotted two-piece. “Can you hold me so people don’t see me as much”. He eagerly nodded, desperate to have his hands on you. As the day went by, he was able to sneak some photos of you. When he got home, he lay back in bed: cock in one hand and your photos in the other.

He craved you after that day.

Now, you were home and he came to visit. “Hey, baby,” he greeted you and kissed you. “Hiii”. You went straight to the room, cuddling in bed while a movie played on TV. Neither of you had seen it, but it’s not like you were really watching it either. You two were making out, so lost in each other. You decided it’d be best to try something new.

“Can I try something?”

“Sure, go ahead”

You straddled him, Kaito grunting when you landed. “Just let me know if I’m crushing you,” you warned. He nodded, but when you leaned down to kiss him, he nearly gasped, covering his mouth and part of his face. You, for the first time ever, were on his lap, and it wasn’t helping that you had a low cut blouse on.

So just, boobs in his face.

He was shuddering, so you assumed the worse. “I knew it, I’m too heavy,” you mumbled,“I’m sorry”. He grabbed your waist before you could, his hands were shaking. “Can I be honest with you?”. You nodded.

“You’re actually making me really hard right now”

“H-Huh?”

“I need to fuck you. I need to feel you over my cock. I-I want to breed you”

You were blushing. A lot. “Kaito, you shouldn’t say such things,” you whispered,“Especially when you don’t mean them—”. He knocked you over onto the bed, pulling off your shorts. He realized that you weren’t going to believe him unless he proved himself. He got between your legs, kissing your thighs. “K-Kaito,” you sighed, your heart racing as he got closer. He was having the time of his life. “You’re so warm and so soft,” he muttered, taking your panties off,“Your pussy, it’s so pretty...can we try something?”

“Uh, okay. What is it?”

“Can you sit on my face?”

“What?!”

“I’m begging you. Please, just sit on my fucking face”

You blushed. “I’ll crush you for sure!,” you told him, he still didn’t care. “Baby, please”. You eventually went with it. Its not that you didn’t want to, you just genuinely believed you’d hurt him. He lay down and you got into the position. “Is this okay?”

“Lower”

“Okay...How’s—ah!”

Before you could even process anything, Kaito was already lapping up your folds, eating you as if your pussy was the Last Supper. Your moans and soft whimpers fueled him to have less mercy on you. You then noticed the tent he was pitching in his jeans. Quickly, you bent over, undoing his button and zipper. You pulled his cock out, quickly putting your mouth over it. He groaned against your pussy, locking around your thighs. “Are you enjoying yourself, baby?,” he asked, placing kisses on your clit every now and then.

“Hah- Yes..”

“Get off now”

You did as you were told, laying down. He spread your legs and held them up. “I’m going to destroy that pretty pussy,” he whispered before slamming right into you. He groaned softly feeling how wet you were around him. This was just what he wanted, it was also just what you needed. His hips were good to you, just as he was good at reading you. Based on how noisy you were, that’s how he’d fuck you. He would try hitting different spots, finally finding the one that made your whines grow louder. “You like that, don’t you?,” he teased, holding your jaw.

“I-I...”

“Mmm, just ease into it, baby. God, you’re so pretty..”

“Kaito, I-”

“I love every inch of you. Fuck, it makes me so hard..Your body is just so hot. I’ve wanted to have it all for myself for so long. I needed it”

Your walls involuntarily clenched around him, he winced slightly as he felt himself closer to cumming. “S-Sorry,” you whined, but all he did was shush you. He kissed you, which helped shutting your apologetic self up and also tasting your kind lips. After feeling that he’s kissed you to your heart’s content, he grabbed your legs. Pushing them back, he thrust harder into you. “K-Kaito! Y-You’re gonna make me cum...,” you whined.

You were in ruins as you hit your first climax, but he wouldn’t be finished when he hit his. You felt his first load shoot inside you, flipping you on your stomach after. He thrust into you without warning, holding your waist. His fingers dug into your skin and his hands were cold. “You’re so soft,” he muttered. Kaito’s face was terribly flushed. His face was red and he knew he wouldn’t last long inside you, but he wanted to keep filling you. Your body was more than he had ever imagined. When he jerked off, he took his time. It usually took him about an hour and a few minutes to finish. Now that he was inside you, that time was going to be cut by half, if not, more.

You tried your best not to cum so quick. Especially, for a second time. Yet, you were already so sensitive and you couldn’t hold it in much longer. The feeling of Kaito grabbing your waist and slamming into your spot was too much. “K-Kaito?”.

“Yeah?”

“Can I cum?”

“You don’t needa ask me. Relax”

He held your hair, tugging it slightly. He was ramming into you at full force, his hips slapping against your ass. Your stomach immediately sank and you felt like you were falling. You were a mess of moans, your walls pulsating around his cock. He grunt, thrusting faster as his load shot into you. You came right after that, now his loads inside you enough to feel. You fell onto the bed, he joined you. He caressed your cheek. Panting, he asked,“C-Can you go for one more?”. You knew your body was going to be in a state of shock tomorrow, but you wanted him so bad. You nodded and he kissed you.

“I’ll take it slow, but I need you on top of me again. You’re gonna ride me now”

You almost moaned at his words and now extremely nervous. “O-Okay, lay down”. You got up and straddled him, positioning yourself above his cock. Slowly you lowered yourself, letting him penetrate you. His breath was sharp as he covered his face. He was in deep, using his last bit of strength to stop himself from immediately bucking his hips and fucking right up into you. “I-Is this okay?,” you asked him. It was more than okay to him. He nodded, now quieter than before. “I’m gonna move now, okay?”. He nodded once again. You slowly rolled your hips as he was inside you, stimulating yourself a little. He suddenly didn’t know where to put his hands, although he wanted them to be everywhere at once. Eventually, with one hand covering his mouth, the other grabbed your thigh. Now, you were ruining him. He was so shy and so quiet.

You’ve gotta admit: it was kinda cute.

You began to raise you hips, just a little, then dropping back onto his cock; earning a moan from him. He was resisting the urge to fuck you to the next day, but it was getting so hard to do so. Without saying a word, he pulled you torso down. Your tits in his face, he began to suck on your nipple as his free hand pinched and played with the other. You whined, riding him a little faster, grinding down a little when you landed. It felt even better since you were filled with his cum and awaiting another load.

Now, you wanted him to fuck you and you wanted him to fuck you hard. “K-Kaito, I need you to fuck me,” you whispered,“Make me yours, please. I need it to ache”. Without hesitation, he let his hips break and slam right up into you. He bounced you as he wrapped his arms around you almost in a hug. You felt buildup in your tear ducts as he kept hitting your sweetest of spots. It wasn’t fair, you thought. How he was able to make you feel so good.

That’s when you began to explore him. As he fucked you, you lowered yourself more to kiss him. You kissed his nose, focusing on his lips for a bit. You then brought your kisses lower. He loved when you kissed his neck, but that wasn’t his spot. You brought your kisses a little bit higher. As you did, his breath hitched and you knew you were getting closer. Finally, you reached his jaw. A snicker that broke into a sweet moan escaped your lips as you began kissing his jaw. He gasped, moaning softly. “Gotcha,” you whispered, bitting his ear lobe and kissing his jaw again. You felt him twitch inside you as you did and he kept fucking you harder and harder. Kaito was in pure bliss, knowing he wasn’t going to last much longer. He was going to make sure to warn you, whilst you didn’t say anything because you couldn’t control it.

“I’m gonna..”

“What is it?”

He didn’t even repeat himself, he just begged you to kiss him. His tongue entered your mouth, refusing to build up to that. His hands placed on your boobs, squeezing them as he came. You moaned, arching your back and collapsing on his chest. He wrapped his arms around you, kissing the top of your head and still inside you. “You’re so good,” he said between kisses,“You’re so fucking good”. He held you as you got up and lay next to him, all shaky. He parted your legs, spreading your pussy just to watch his cum spill out. You covered your face and turned around. He laughed and pulled you to him.

“You’re really hot”

“Really?”

“Yes, doll. I love you”

He threw a blanket over the two of you, cuddling nude. You were exhausted, nuzzling his chest. “You going to bed?”. You nodded, eyes closed. He chuckled. “I love you, Kaito...”. You just knocked out like that. “Alright, baby,” he whispered, kissing you,“Sleep tight”.

[the-modernmary]

always been a storm || hotchley (ch 1)

summary: Lots of people wondered about their love story. How they met, how they fell in love, and even how they fell apart. Haley likes to tell their story from end to beginning. Aaron tells it from the beginning to end. Somewhere along the way, they meet, and it always ends with a goodbye.

Author’s Note: This is inspired by the musical The Last Five Years, so I will be following that format. If you aren't familiar with it, it is told in opposite chronological directions from both character's POVs. So Haley's POV will start at the end of the relationship and move backwards, while Hotch's POV is going to start at the beginning and move forward. Hopefully it should be clear as you read. Also, since the writers couldn't decide how old Hotch was, I sort of played around with the years/canon timeline. But canon is just a suggestion anyway.

read on ao3

Haley - 2009

Haley Brooks once told her sister about a boy who kissed her at the Pirates of Penzance cast party. She had said that she could see herself with this boy for the rest of her life and, when the couple got engaged five years later, Haley told her sister that she just knew that she was going to love this boy until the day she died.

Haley Hotchner never could have expected it would end like this: a serial killer, gun pressed to her temple, on the phone with her husband — ex-husband — and no way to protect her 5-year-old son, the little miracle she and Aaron never thought they were going to get.

“Tell Jack I need him working the case,” Aaron says through the phone, voice shaking, and Haley has no idea what Aaron could possibly mean by that.

“What?” she asks, even though she knows it’s futile. Years of chasing down serial killers and getting into their minds has made Aaron paranoid. He has backup plans for the backup plans of their backup plans. He has safety plans for anything that could possibly go wrong, some that even Haley doesn’t know, and this must just be another one of those plans.

Aaron repeats himself a little more forcefully, and that’s when Haley knows it’s over for her. At least Aaron is still alive, and not dead like she had been told he was. At least Jack won’t be completely orphaned. It was a small comfort.

 If Jack survives, her brain reminds her unhelpfully, but she pushes that thought down. For all of Aaron’s faults, he’d never let anything happen to Jack. And if the only person Aaron saves is Jack, then Haley can die peacefully. 

  When she hugs Jack, she doesn’t even realize how tightly she’s holding him until he tells her, and it’s with reluctance that she loosens her grip. Logically, she knows it’s safer for Jack to go off and do whatever Aaron told him to do, but the motherly side of her brain is screaming to hold her baby boy to her chest and never let him go. She can keep him safe and protected from the world, she just knows it. She’s protected him this long from the reality of the world - fed him stories of villains and superheroes to try and explain where his dad was and why his dad so often woke up in tears - so she can do it just a while more.

And if she can’t protect him, she selfishly wants to keep Jack close to her for a little longer, for both of their sakes. For Jack, she wants his last memory of her to be one of happiness and love — a final hug from his mom who loves him so, so much. For Haley, well, she needs that last bit of bravery. Aaron keeps telling her to be brave and to not show The Reaper any weakness, but she’s never been that person. She’s always been the emotional and dramatic one of the marriage.

(If she had more time, she might have considered that, no, she actually wasn’t the dramatic one and that up until the bitter end, she had been reasonable and willing to compromise, and it was Aaron who believed the weight of humanity was on his shoulders, despite the fact that he was nothing more than a man. But no one would ever believe that Aaron Hotchner was overemotional, and like most things, it’s just easier to put it on Haley.)

As if reading her mind, Aaron’s voice cuts through the silence. “You’re so strong, Haley, stronger than I ever was,” he assures her, and she can’t find the right words to say, not when her mind is racing a million miles a minute.

 She thinks of her sister, her best friend in the whole world, and how she never got to say goodbye. They had been planning on taking Jack on a weekend camping trip when Haley got pulled into WitSec. There had been no fanfare, no tearful farewell. Just a nondescript car from the hospital to a nondescript building where Haley Brooks went to disappear. She wasn't able to tell Jessica that she loves her or to thank her for everything she had given up for Haley. Now Jessica was going to lose her little sister.

And her dad… God, the last thing Haley did with her dad was fight with him. It was something so stupid, too — Roy had insisted on Jack going into Pop Warner football even after Haley had told him multiple times that she didn’t want Jack starting in such a high contact sport so early on in his life. They had gone back and forth on it for close to an hour before Haley had stormed out in tears because if she had to hear one more word about “Jack needs to develop tougher skin” and “he should be around more male figures, it'll be good for him” as if it was Haley’s fault that Aaron didn’t make it to see Jack the past two weeks, she was going to lose it.

God, she was so bone-deep, achingly exhausted of everything always being her fault. 

“You’ll hurry, right?” she asks, eyes never leaving the Reaper. He’s stalking across the room, gun hanging lazily at his side.

 “I know you didn’t sign on for this,” Aaron starts, and it’s not lost on Haley that he avoided her question.

Still, she doesn’t need an explicit answer from him. The Reaper is behind her now, his hot breath creeping down her neck and the column of her spine, meeting perfectly halfway with the tip of his gun. “Neither did you.”

The conversation somehow switched from comfort to a goodbye without either of them ever realizing it. “I’m sorry for everything.”

The cold steel of The Reaper’s gun nudges against Haley’s back. A braver, tougher person than Haley might have fought back - might have elbowed him in the gut and kicked him where the sun doesn’t shine and escaped - but Haley’s accepted her fate. All she’s able to do now is grip the phone a little tighter. It’s the closest thing she has to holding Aaron’s hand one last time.

“Promise me that you will tell him how we met,” she starts, and her voice becomes steadier and more confident than it had in years, “and how you used to make me laugh.”

“Haley…”

She thinks back to the Aaron she met in high school - tall and lanky and smiling despite already feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. She hadn’t seen him smile in so long. Aaron always believed himself to be a protector, and Haley knows that he already blames himself for Sean and Gideon and Spencer. God only knows how far he’ll spiral after this.

“He needs to know that you weren’t always so serious, Aaron.” She takes a grounding breath and says the next part to him directly, hoping that he’ll understand what’s unspoken. “I want him to believe in love. Because it is the most important thing. But you need to show him. Promise me.”

There’s a long pause that makes Haley’s stomach drop. A million things still need to be said, but she can’t bring herself to say them. She can’t even think, not when she hears the click of The Reaper’s gun cocking. She can’t be brave any longer.

The air in the room seems to get thinner, and Haley gasps desperately to try and get a breath while tears stream freely down her face. She’s going to die alone and Aaron and her son are going to hear it and oh God, Jack is going to be in the house with Foyet and nobody to protect him. Her one job as a mother is to protect her child and she’s going to die a failure. 

They both know what’s going to happen next, but in his own bit of stubbornness, Aaron doesn’t say goodbye. It’s not what she wants to hear, anyway. He decides to give her comfort, a promise that he’ll see through her final wishes, although it’s not the first promise he’s made and broken. Haley wishes she could go out believing him.

BANG

Haley cries out in pain, falling to her knees as white hot pain spreads like a fire through her abdomen. The phone drops out of her hands, but that doesn’t stop her from calling out for Aaron. 

“Aaron… Aaron, help me… Please,” she begs through tears. She wants to hear his voice again, to tell her that it’s going to be okay and that he’s about to burst through the front doors and save her. She wants to hear him say goodbye and that he loves her. 

All she gets is silence from Aaron’s end. The only proof she gets that he’s still on the line is the rumble of the SUV he’s in. Black spots dance in the corners of her vision, so she can only barely make out the Reaper towering above her and the barrel of the gun being pointed towards her face.

Haley calls out for Aaron again, unable to say anything but his name through her sobs. It’s useless to beg for her life, she knows that, yet she still tries. Tries to reach out to him and tell him how sorry she is. Sorry for not being stronger and for not protecting Jack. 

The Reaper raises his gun, and Haley immediately wishes that she had said more to Aaron. She wants him to know that she never stopped loving him and that she doesn’t blame him one bit and that if she had the chance to go back, even knowing how it all was going to end, she absolutely would because Aaron is all—

BANG

[1234-angelika]

Gym Crashers

an: Hey y'all! I'm so glad to be back on schedule this week. I'm almost all caught up on the fics that I missed last week. This is the fourth installment in the Happily Ever After series for Derek. As always, hope y'all enjoy!

words: 1k

warnings: language, canon-typical violence, mention of violence against children (canon typical and very slight), injuries, blood

summary: "A strong relationship requires choosing to love each other even in those moments you struggle to even like each other."-Unknown

masterpost|taglist|have an idea

The past couple of weeks had been really rough on you. Derek had left for a case almost two weeks ago, and it had been almost complete radio silence.

Your first anniversary with Derek was coming up at the end of the week. You were worried primarily about Derek. Afraid that he wouldn’t be home in time—your anniversary was very important to you—but you were more worried that he would be badly injured or worse. On top of everything that had been happening in your personal life, another recruit you were training had become extremely rude and refuse to attend their training sessions. Overall, you were just having an awful week.

Over the years, you had made it a habit to exercise when you began to fall into that oh-so-common negative state of mind. A way to distract yourself, really, while still being productive. Today was no different. After not hearing from Derek for so long and the recruit and just not having a good day, you could feel yourself spiralling. Now, you had basically been in the gym since you woke up, trying your darnedest to get over the week.

Drinking your water and taking a small break from your distraction, you decided to check your phone. Nothing new showed up. Not seeing any notifications on your phone made you more frustrated. The frustration you were feeling weighed heavier than the worry, and you stormed your way over to the punching bags. You wrapped your hands mindlessly; at this point, it was muscle memory and got to work. You punched and punched and punched, doing your best to block out the world around you and just focus on getting out the frustration. You lost track of time. You would’ve kept going, but the pain radiating through your hands was enough to stop you.

You walked to your office and began the process of unwrapping your hands. An accidental hiss of pain slipped through your lips as the wrap separated from your knuckles. After disinfecting your wounds, you made your way to the change room. As you walked across the training room floor, something made you stop in your tracks. Unsure as to why, you slowly looked around the near-empty gym, and sure enough, you spotted the distraction. There, in the doorway, stood Derek Morgan in all his glory.

“Hey pretty lady,” he said with a smile.

You ran across the floor, not caring who saw, and hugged him as if your life depended on it. He returned the hug, equally as eager as you and just as tight. You pulled away and quickly pressed a kiss to his lips before your eyes scanned over him, looking for any injuries. Your eyes landed on a butterfly bandage above his eyebrow and a deep bruise forming on his cheekbone.

“Derek! What happened?” You asked, concerned, paying no mind to the motherly tone that your voice had taken.

“The UnSub was a sick son of a bitch. Using kids against their parents,” he let out a huff before continuing, “when we went to arrest him, he resisted and decided the best course of action was to start swinging and he ended up hitting me.”

You pressed another kiss to his lips; this one was extended a little longer than anticipated. You only broke apart when a squeal startled you. Derek had talked about his teammates over your year together so, when you looked to where it came from, you were positive it was the bubbly blonde described as Penelope. You detangled yourself from Derek and moved to his side. As you laid your head on Derek’s chest, his arm extended around you and found its home around your shoulders.

“Penelope right?” You asked, nodding towards the blonde.

“That’s right.” She said with a grin and a sparkle in her eye. “Who might you be?”

From what Derek described to you, the rest of the team was lingering behind her, not so casually listening to your conversation. You could see the curious looks on the rest of the team’s face as a result of Penelope’s question.

Derek answered the question saying, “This is my girlfriend, Y/N, we’ve been dating for a year this weekend.” He finished, placing a kiss on your forehead.

“And why did you hide her for so long?”

Instead of waiting for them to introduce themselves, you made an executive decision to make the first move.

“Agent Hotchner right?” You asked, walking up to the stern man in the suit extending your hand for a handshake. You made sure to use his formal name and not the nickname Derek had told you.

“Yes, nice to meet you. Call me Aaron or Hotch.” He answered while shaking your hand.

You moved on to the older man standing beside him. “David?”

“How’d you guess?” He asked.

“Derek described you all to me,” you said, pausing, “you specifically were the Italian gentleman with kind eyes.”

“Dr. Reid right?” You asked the awkward, lanky-looking man with a wave, remembering that he wasn’t a big fan of handshakes.

“That’s me.” He said, waving back with an awkward smile.

“Emily Prentiss?” You asked, moving toward the dark-haired woman beside Spencer.

“That’s me. It’s lovely to meet you Y/N,” she said while shaking your hand with a kind smile.

“Dr. Lewis?”

“Hi there. You can call me Tara,” she said kindly.

Walking to stand in front of the only person left, you said, “So you must be JJ.”

“Nice to meet you Y/N,” she said, walking up to come and hug you.

Looking back at Derek, you noticed a goofy smile on his face.

“What?” You mouthed.

He just shook his head slightly, barely noticeable but probably very obvious to the profilers around you. You made your way back beside him and curled into his side. A lazy smile at home on your face. Well, at least now the team knew about you, and it was one less secret to keep.

taglist:

@multixfandomwriter @myescapefromthislife @gspenc

[chinchillasinunison]

Can you pls do more headcanons from the hagakure-ishimaru-owada fam?

okie dokie lokie

The Diamond Brothers are big time cuddlers. They've only had each other for so long that snuggling up with each other was basically the only sort of comfort they had in their darkest patches. They're low-key a little embarrassed about it (but Mondo way more obviously) because of their macho tough guy images. But with the Ishimarus and Hagakures that's left at the door. They like to wrap their big selves all snug around their bfs. Both little spoons (Daiya spent way too long being a big spoon for Mondo).

Takaaki is canonically very ticklish and everyone in this house (except Taka) exploits it whenever they can. His sides are never 100% safe. It's so strange because he absolutely cackles with this huge grin and then once you finish he switches back to his default dead-inside look like "are you done?" They think he's mad about it the first few times and try to stop but he actually loves getting positive attention for once, that's just what his face looks like, he's sorry.

Taka inherited the tickle spot and Mondo surprises him all the time. It's a bit annoying when he's trying to study but otherwise it's enjoyable.

The Hagakures are like the only people here with a decent amount of self-esteem. We all know Mondo and Taka, and Takaaki's can be pretty easy to extrapolate, but Daiya has it locked deep deep down behind several layers of cool dude charisma because he's had to be the bigger person for so fucking long, he wasn't allowed to feel insecure and scared but fuck, he still was. One time he and Hiro are just hanging out and he just starts crying, not because he's upset but just as an emotional release.

I believe in nonbinary Yasuhiro supremacy, big he/they vibes, like he doesn't label much but he does use it as an umbrella

"WHAT your None Binanry........ you don't have any binies........ that is so cool........." --Daiya

Daiya is gay but he never realized it until getting with Hiro because the cult of toxic masculinity was just too strong

The Crazy Diamonds' creation was low-key like.... constructing intricate rituals to touch the skin of other men but Very Extreme.

For years of his life Takaaki legit thought people were lying when they said they enjoyed sex. It's just another show you put on for the public, he gets it, he's the son of a politician. Anyways uh he talks to Hiroko about it while they're dating and she's like "Kiki I love you but your experiences are not universal"

Speaking of the "Ishimarus reproduce asexually" post, when Takaaki was in school he legit looked exactly like Taka, except for his bangs and his eyes (which are a much darker and duller shade of red, like rosewood). If they time travelled to his highschool days it would seriously look like Taka and Great Value Taka standing next to each other.

I like Takaaki's beta design forehead scar so he gets to keep it. Shortly after the scandal somebody threw a glass bottle near him and one of the shards got him in the face real good. He doesn't like to talk about it.

Hiro buys Daiya a cool cane :)

Daiya tries to teach Hiro how to be more careful with money because they spent way too much on the cane

Hiroko and Mondo bonding. They paint their nails together and Hiroko talks about coping with anger issues and how shit sucks now but it gets better, kid. Thank you that is all.

Taka hugs Hiroko and experiences motherly affection for the first time and he's just like 🥺 "Oh. Oh. I am.. very happy right now."

They go to a movie together and Taka makes them sit in the back because half of them have large and distracting hair (but it doesn't matter because they prefer the back anyway). Taka is there taking notes during the movie like there's gonna be a test later meanwhile Takaaki falls asleep. The Diamond Brothers eat all the snacks.

[detroit-become-human-analyze]

Is Daniel/Simon (PL600) a sexual companion like North or a Traci?

Analyzing the game again, a controversy has sparked because of this picture, so let’s take a look at how much of “canon” (real game canon) might or not be behind it:

Now, we see this PL-500 picture that clearly states that, although “romantic mode” is optional, the PL-500 is intended as a intimate (sexual) partner, and if one thing we’ve notice from the androids in this game is that the first two letters usually determine “the category” (just like RK are military/police, or the YK are children). And there are two major characters on the game that are later versions of this “PL-500”, and that is the PL-600 Daniel and Simon, that although are described as “household/caretakers/companions”, it’s never specified up to what point.., and possibly the fact that they can cook meals and care for your kids is actually the NEW feature, as PLs where originally sexual/romantic companions on previous models.

This is never actually “explicit” but it’s weirdly hinted during the entire game. - So, we mostly see Daniel, a PL-600 android during the chapter “The Hostage” (witch is also the demo of the game) and maybe a bit of him (depending on what you do) at the end on the chapter “Last Chance Connor”, but we can all conclude that Daniel life was at the house of the Phillips.

At first glance everything was good at the Phillips house, and, there’s even this very nice picture of them as soon as you get off the elevator with Connor.

Connor is given very little time to determinate the best approach to rescue the hostage (Emma) from their now deviant android Daniel.

One of the first interesting things I’ve noticed, despite the fact that the Phillips are actually quite rich to be living in such an apartment (during such rough economic times in Detroit, as Kara sees it on the trip at the beginning, on Todd car), is that the mother never, EVER says ANYTHING about her dead husband. Never laments or screams or even mentions it (her husband is right there dead on the living-room, I mean...), Caroline Phillips (little Emma’s mother) is only focus on saving her daughter, and spitefully says “keep that thing away from my daughter” referring Connor, but we all assume her hate is shared to all androids (witch it’s odd, she owns one that even plays with her daughter).

This very vaguely hints the mother of the house has a quarrel with androids (for some reason) from BEFORE the incident at hand, and when you go see Captain Allen, you walk into the main bedroom.

One thing that caught my eye is that, despite having a household android, it’s nighttime and the incident has being occurring -since one hour- before Connor arrival (meaning an hour ago wasn’t the morning either, you see this on the news on the fridge area), AND, for some reason, the bed sheets are all messed up on the parent’s bedroom.

If you (Connor) analyze/re-construct where Daniel got the gun of the father, you see he never touches the bed when he goes for the gun.

I doubt Captain Allen is letting his SWAT team fool around in the bed, so that’s discarded.

The father of the family (the now “late” John Phillips) has being watching TV and using the tablet to order another android... so... why are the sheets on the parent’s bedroom undone?

If the wife was suffering depression or simply “in bed”, she would have seen Daniel go into the room in panic and get/load the gun right in front of her.

This indicates that possibly the mother was either out of the house at the moment of the event, or somewhere else (the bathroom, etc).

If you examine Emma’s room you will see that she was listening to music, as Connor concludes that this is why Emma didn’t heard the shooting, again, the mother must have being out, if not, she would have heart the entire thing... but there is a darker twist as to why Emma might have being with her music full on... Yes, there is a high provability that John Phillips, “dear old dad”, was having sex with Daniel in the bedroom next door, and there is a grater chance that obviously this was “a regular thing”. Therefore a broken relationship with his wife and that “rich people perfect family photo” was just a charade, thus, also, why “mom was out of the house”. - Even if all evidence is circumstantial, it just fits right in too fast and too perfectly to ignore in a game that pays so much attention to details and talks so much about abusive relationships and dysfunctional families.

Connor can reconstruct events but not “audio”, if you examine the late John Phillips body, you will see that Daniel stood up behind him and they actually had “a talk” BEFORE Daniel starts shooting.

By the food that was left overcooking in the kitchen, the bet is that “dad” had it with Daniel at the main bedroom (maybe even realizing at that point that having sex with the same android was “getting boring”, thus, since they obviously have the money, start considering buying another “sex android toy”).

Then Daniel went to do dinner, oversaw the same men that just had sex with him ordering another “replacement” android, got pissed off like a lover would (this is very common actually, a couple or sexual/romantic partner shooting the other if they know that they’ll being left for “someone else”), run to the bedroom, takes the gun, confronts John (his lover) verbally, Daniel finally snaps, shots him to death, and then runs (like a mother would), to get Emma.

Possibly THAT was the moment where Caroline Phillips returned to the apartment and Daniel saw/heard the elevator blocked, so he head outside.

Now, another interesting thing is that Daniel has a very close relationship with Emma (the little girl), almost “motherly like”, up to the point in witch after shooting the dad, the first thing he can think of is taking Emma (much like Kara when shooting Todd and gets Alice).

Sure, then in desperation and confusion, is shoot by the first cop that arrives and everything escalates “pretty quickly”, but any mother would tell you that after a traumatic event, the first thing you get with you is your kids.

This talks a lot about how Daniel at least “felt” he was indeed one of Emma’s parents, he has a mother instinct until Emma starts to reject him due to the situation and he realized that the girl doesn’t see him the way “he sees her”, feeling all the more betrayed.

* On a side note:

If you see where Daniel and Emma video (tablet, Emma’s room) was taken, you will see the background well enough to realize it’s the same park that Markus cross every time he goes to get paintings for Carl Manfred. - As we established before, Markus is a “patient zero” regarding deviancy.

Markus has the “virus” of deviancy (possibly implanted by Kamski itself before giving him as a “gift” to Carl Manfred), and unaware of it, spreads it to any android near him (remember the “androids are constantly shearing information, and during Freedom March, when Markus becomes aware of his ability, he can turn deviants from almost a couple blocks away from his location).

Then, if the infected android gets into a traumatic or emotional event, the “symptoms” of deviation occur. - Thus, there is a high chance that Markus infected Daniel with deviancy without even noticing when crossing the park one day, and the detonating stressful emotional trauma was later on when Daniel saw, what he obviously considered “his family” replacing him.

Simon, being also a PL-600, has also relevant behaviors to that matter, especially regarding Markus.

For instance, it’s only him and North the only ones who can “give Markus their heart” (source of power, AKA “battery”) if Markus gets wounded during the violent final protest. - This is interesting because while North might or not have an “intimate relationship” with Markus at that point, and Simon validates his point by “if you (Markus) die, our cause dies with you” kind of thing, he does seems a lot emotionally involved, and, plus... Why isn’t there a scene where, let’s say, equally important character like Josh, offers to sacrifice himself too for the good of the cause??? (let’s say you never develop a relationship with North, you let Simon die at some point, and, North being an egocentric psycho-maniac that only wants to “kill and burn”, I guess Josh would have had more chances to give his life for “the cause”).

* By the way, North has NO excuse, I’ve already explained this before, she killed (strangled) the human that “rent her” (so her immediate abuser is already dead), but also she wants to kill all other humans as well, AND!, she is quickly to say “let’s kill androids too”, so... other androids are North “victims” too, either it’s because she wants to fight and they’re being slaughter, or because “Shoot Simon!” (when, there where a lot other options).

By the way, this scene where Simon gets shot at the roof is one that makes you wonder, developers (as it’s obvious in the EdenClub chapter and Hank later reflections over it, as if it was a future where all sexuality is embraced as normal), have no issue regarding the sexual orientation of any character (if per-se’ androids are genderless and only assigned a gender to look like humans making interactions more comfortable). - If you take the gun and follow North “orders” to shoot Simon on the roof, you’ll be given a second chance to reconsider things, as Simon reminds you that “there is always another way”, but it’s up to you (Markus). - If you decide to put the gun down (disappointing North lust for blood of any color), next time this two characters meet, they hug each other very warmly, ...witch isn’t odd given that Markus thought that Simon was death and left behind... but still, quite an emotional response, because this isn’t Kara and Alice “hugging all the time”.

Add to this, during the Freedom March, Simon, being basically “the coward” throughout the whole game and avoiding conflict, if Markus gets shot (and you don’t have any other androids that came with you from the where house of Cyberlife), jumps into the fight like crazy and even dies for Markus at that point. - This goes basically against every fiber of Simon good judgment and behavior traits from the star, he is always scared and passive, even pessimistic regarding the android revolution although it supports it.

Conclusions:

Overall there aren’t hard evidence, there isn’t a “fools-proof” signature telling you any of this things, but when too many circumstantial evidence piles up, you also have a case...

The entirety of the situation with Daniel might be interpreted differently, if you stretch things up, to a more “innocent like” explanation (that I personally don’t see how could fit at this point). And trust me, this blog is for analyzing the main canon of the official game, if there was any other feeling or evidence, I would point it out... but some things are beyond any explaining, like why the bed is all messed up at night if you have a domestic android just to take care of stuff like that (even Kara makes Todd’s bed).

So, for me, the first chapter (or “demo”) sums up the end of an abusive relationship on a love triangle that torn apart a marriage and a family (like even Magazines during the game indicate, that because of “sex androids” couples where getting divorced).

But tell me what you think or if you have found any other evidence that points out otherwise!

[stevesnailbat]

Hi! So I saw that you were taking request and I was wondering if you could do one with Steve where the reader aka his girlfriend is pregnant but they’re not telling anyone yet but he lets it slip since he’s worried about her and Hoper(her dad) like freaks out but like is happy about it yet still mad. Maybe it’s happening at the battle at Starcourt. A bit angsty yet a lot of fluf. Also I just want to say I love your blog and hope you’re having an amazing day!!! ♥️♥️♥️

warnings: pregnancy?, a little angsty but pretty fluffy

word count: 1.8K

a/n: Kinda AU bc Hopper comes out of the base alive but besides that, everything is pretty canon. Thanks for the love and request, anon, enjoy!

“Are you...positive, that it’s positive?”

“Yes, Stevie. I’ve taken two of them to be sure.” Y/N said shakily as she watched her nervous wreck of a boyfriend pace around his bedroom.

She waited almost two weeks after her missed period to even confront Steve about being late, knowing that he would freak. As scared as she was for their future, she was sure that Steve would be a great and loving father just like he was a great and loving boyfriend. Tears of pent up fear sprung to her eyes when Steve turned to see her reaction, fiddling with the two sticks in her hands. Steve’s nervous demeanor immediately softened when he saw her tears, feeling bad for making her even more worried than she already was before telling him.

“Hey, hey. Don’t cry, baby. I’m sorry, I’m just in shock. Don’t be upset.” he said in a hushed tone, cupping her cheeks in his hands after sitting down on the bed and pulling her into his lap. “We’ll figure this all out, okay?”

She sniffled quietly as he spoke and nodded silently in response. Her gaze never met his, she always hated looking at him when she cried. Before she could instinctively bury her face into the crook of his neck, he put a finger under her chin and pressed his lips against hers in a gentle, yet reassuring kiss.

“We may not know what the hell to do right now, but what I do know is that I love you and I’ll do anything to make sure you and this baby of ours are taken care of.” he said sweetly, his hand resting on her still small stomach. “We probably should get you home now, yeah? It’s almost midnight and I’d rather not have your dad call a search party to find you again.”

The car ride back to the cabin was quiet for the most part, both of them still trying to process what was really happening. Steve mentioned something about picking up some extra shifts at Scoops Ahoy! to help out with paying for doctor’s visits and other things she needed. His words and the gentle circles his thumb rubbed on the back of her hand soothed her, allowing her to be reassured that everything would be okay.

“Are you gonna...tell your dad?” Steve stammered out when he parked in front of her small house in the woods and saw the living room light on, signaling that Hop was still awake. “Like right now?”

“I was thinking we could tell him soon, like the two of us could. Not right this moment, Stevie.” she said with an exhausted smile, running her hand through his hair. “We don’t have to tell anyone right now, I don’t think I’m ready to yet.”

Steve nodded in agreement, relieved that he didn’t have to endure the wrath of Jim Hopper quite yet and had some time to prepare for it. He gave her a small kiss goodbye and brushed his hand along her stomach once more, as his way of showing her that he really was okay with it all. They said their goodbyes and told each other they loved the other before she walked into the cabin.

Little did the couple know, the next week would turn out to be a living hell for them and everyone around them. They didn’t see each other for days, Steve was stuck in the underground Russian base while Y/N was staying alongside El, protecting her little sister at all costs. Their reunion in Starcourt was emotional, Y/N’s fresh pregnancy hormones getting the best of her when she saw Steve’s beaten and battered face. Everyone around them bickered about what the hell had just happened after El flung the car across the mall, while Y/N held onto Steve tightly and never wanted to let go.

It hurt Y/N to watch her sister go through so much pain, but she held onto El as tight as she could as Jonathan attempted to pull the flayed arm from her leg. Steve stayed close by her side, rubbing her back soothingly as she held her little sister close. It was like a motherly instinct had kicked in already for Y/N, because she felt the need to comfort El through her pain.

Soon enough, Joyce and Hop showed up with Murray to reunite with everyone. Plans are made for their navigation through the tunnels of the Russian base, others are made for everyone else to plan out their success. More tears are shed from Y/N and El when they talk to Hop, both girls promising to stay together and keep each other safe while he was down there. Before they all part ways, Steve pulls Y/N to the side with a worried look on his face.

“Please come with me to Dustin’s radio thing. You’ll be safer there, baby.” he pleaded, running his hand through her hair as he spoke.

“I...I need to stay with El, Stevie. You know I want to keep her safe more than anything.” she replied, shaking her head to get rid of the tears forming in her eyes.

“But...baby please.” he begged nervously, his hand instinctively going to her stomach as he spoke. “This day has already given your body enough stress. I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re stressed already I just want you to be okay! I...I don’t want the baby to get hurt because you’re trying to protect El.”

“Baby?” a roaring voice came from behind her and her heart dropped to her stomach, after Steve’s nervous talking came out a little too loudly to be just between the two of them.

“Looks like we’re telling him now.” Y/N said as she bit her lip, Steve letting out a string of curse words and apologies into her ear before kissing her temple as she turns to face her dad.

“Mind explaining what you two were talking about, Y/N?” Hop’s voice came out as angry, more tears coming to Y/N’s eyes from being so nervous.

“I’m...I’m pregnant, Dad.” she said in a quivering voice, feeling reassured when Steve squeezed her hand.

“And what? We’re you not gonna tell me about it?” he questioned, his tone growing angrier as he spoke, which caused El’s eyes to widen in fear also as she sat next to him.

“I was going to tell —“

“Hello! As great as this reunion seems to be going, we need to leave, Jim.” Murray interjected, causing you all to look his way.

“I’ll deal with you later, Harrington.” Hop said as he pointed a stern finger in the already nervous Steve’s direction; he gave his girls a strong hug before leaving, telling them to be extremely safe now.

The next two hours seemed like two days. An eternity could have went by between the time Steve left and when the Mind Flayer was defeated, and Y/N wouldn’t have noticed. Between the fireworks, the Mind Flayer’s screeches, and everything else going on, Y/N was overloaded and exhausted. She collapsed into a hug on the ground with Max and El after watching Billy sacrifice himself to save everyone else. Tears of exhaustion and sadness flowed in the trio, the quietest of sobs to be heard from each of them occasionally as her and El tried to comfort Max.

Sitting on the back end of an ambulance, Y/N huddled up with El after being cleared out of the mall. They waited eagerly, eyes wandering everywhere to find Hop and Joyce. Before they arrived, Steve made his way over and pulled Y/N into a strong embrace. She could have sworn she saw a tear run down his cheek, but he would deny that forever.

“Are you okay? No injuries?” Steve questioned, his hands roaming her arms and torso to check for cuts and bruises, eventually landing on her waist and belly once more.

“I’m fine, Stevie.” she giggled exhaustedly, her hand running along his battered cheek as he flinched. “The real question, are you okay?”

He hummed and nodded in response, kissing her forehead gently. “Just a little beat up, baby. I’m just glad you two are safe now. Please no more getting involved in this stuff after today, okay? I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.”

She agreed and sat in his arms, her hand still in El’s to comfort the traumatized girl. Steve complimented El’s courage to make her feel better and she smiled, Y/N getting the courage to tell her younger sister about the baby. She seemed excited after they explained what was happening.

“I’ll be...an aunt?” she said quietly as she squeezed Y/N’s hand, they both nodded in reply as tears flowed down Y/N’s cheeks once more.

As they spoke, Joyce and Hop emerged from the underground base. Hop’s eyes filled with tears as he hugged his daughters again. They relished in the moment for a little too long, knowing what conversation was to come after they pulled apart. Locking eyes with Steve as he watched the three of them hug, Hop’s demeanor changed. Y/N took a deep breath as she braced herself for his anger.

“Dad, listen. Before you lecture me or yell at me, I just want to say that I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you. I was...scared. I didn’t know how you would take me telling you that I was having a kid.” Y/N choked out, wrapping her arm around Steve’s for comfort.

“I always told you that I only had simple rules in my house, Y/N. The ‘don’t be stupid’ rules, but you obviously didn’t follow them.” Hop said, residual anger still filling his voice as he spoke which caused more tears to flow from Y/N’s eyes. “But we’ll have to deal with this no matter what.”

“And I’m sorry for not being more careful, Chief. We were always safe...I guess just not safe enough since it only takes one time.” Steve said as he wrapped a blanket around Y/N’s shoulders, “I don’t plan on going anywhere, either. I’m taking care of this baby no matter what.”

Hop looked at Steve and Y/N, noticing how his touch was calming her down during a time of overwhelming emotions. He never was able to express his feelings enough to talk to her during those times, let alone to calm her down like that. She needed Steve, he thought. While in the base, he worried about Y/N and El, but also about the baby Y/N was going to have; he wanted her to be safe and for nothing to happen to either of them. He had come off as so angry about the situation, but his feelings milled over while he thought about it.

“You and I both know that I will make certain that you’re around to support and love her throughout this whole time, Harrington. Understand?”

“Yes — Yes, Chief!” Steve replied nervously, making Hop chuckle at the flustered soon-to-be dad.

Maybe being a grandpa wouldn’t be as bad as he imagined.

[polar-stars]

Just a little One-Shot on a tad bit of bonding time between the former Central Ladies

Takes place in the “Shokugeki no Kimiko”-Verse. In case you don’t know, the “canon” ships involving these characters in this verse are: EiRin, SoMomo and EtsuNe and there will be heavy implications and mentions regarding that. So in case that there’s something about it that’s not your cup of tea...Here’s your warning. 

-

Just like she always did, Nene arrived first. However her burgundy lipstick, open hair, squared glasses and pale pearl earrings did make her look more mature, even a tad bit more experienced. The days of her innocent, prudish pigtails being long gone. She wore a black, lacy cocktail dress with a wide skirt that went to her knees and probably costed more than all of her striped T-shirts from earlier days together did. Her legs were covered by transparent tights and her feet had dived into a pair of flat pumps. The entire ensemble was covered by a warm, grey coat. With crossed arms she stood in front of the brightly lit restaurant, surrounded by the sparkles of the city’s lights and the misty clouds she blew into the air with every breath.

The next one to arrive was predictively Momo who stepped out of a car that had driven right in front of the restaurant and Nene. While there was still a lot of youthfulness in Momo’s stoic face, one could still tell that she got older as well. Her straight, purple hair had gotten longer and went beyond her shoulders nowadays. There were bits of glitter in her pale eye shadow and small, embroidered flowers on her short dress. Considering that she was not much of a tall person, she made up for that fact with a pair of high-heeled pumps. The purple plush-cat she held close to her chest was the most strongest reminder of the times when both Nene and Momo would meet each other in royal blue school uniforms. “Kinokuniyan. You’re here already.” Momo greeted in usual flat manner. Nene took a step forwards and gave a slight head nod. “Momo-senpai, good evening.”

Of course Rindou was the last one of the party to show up. Even back in their school days, she had always looked the most mature out of the three. The other two spotted her running towards them, her high heels echoing through the streets, laughing and ecstatically waving her hand. Her bright, red locks flew wild and free in the night air and her yellow, cat-like eyes practically glowed in anticipation. Given her sensitivity to the cold, she had wrapped a scarf around her neck and wore a more than thick jacket whose hood had, what the two assumed to be, fake fur attached to it. Dark red lip stick was on her lips while she had settled on smokey eyes for eye-make up. “Sorry for being late.” She giggled when stopping in front of the two, cheeks flushed from the cold and the running. But before the other two could even begin to debate wether they should forgive the lateness or not, they were already pulled into a tight hug.

“Good evening, ladies!” Rindou exclaimed full of joy, as she clutched the bodies of her much more reserved friends closer to hers. “I’m so excited we got to do this!” “Go….Good evening, Rindou-senpai.” Nene was able to press out. Momo was a bit more precise. “I can’t breath, Rindou.”

After a few more seconds, in which Momo felt like being in the grip of an anaconda, Rindou finally let go of the two, of course with a big grin. "I haven't seen you for a long time, Momo!" She chirped. Momo only huffed. Nene brought herself back into the conversation. “I am certain that Momo-senpai is looking forward to seeing you too. The same goes for me, of course.” She explained in her usual dry manner.

Rindou giggled. "Oh boy, for a second there I felt like it’s been only a day ever since I left Totsuki behind." She eyed her two friends from top to bottom. “Appearance-Wise you two have changed quite a bit, especially you Nene, and I am sure you have a lot to tell me. But let's go in first. ”

So Rindou just started to walk, but her friends actually followed immediately. And it didn’t took long till the three of them were sitting at the table reserved by Momo in one of the most decadent restaurants in the city.

"Well then." After ordering, Rindou put her two elbows on the table and rested her head on her hands. A mischievous smile graced her face and her feline eyes glittered mischievously. “Feed me news, Akanegakubo and Kinokuni.”

Immediately surprise wandered over both Nene’s and Momo’s face. "Since when are you using our last names?" Momo finally asked, remembering how a young, short-haired Rindou had shouted enthusiastically a long time ago. "Your name is 'Momo'? How sweet! Here’s a cheers for a good companionship, Momo! ”

"Hm-Hm~" Rindou’s smile widened a little. “I merely make use of the last moments in which I can do so. Or am I not talking to the future Ms. Saito and future Ms. Eizan? ”

Momo raised her eyebrow while Nene’s cheeks turned slightly pink. But before they could even start thinking about what to answer, Rindou’s arms suddenly jerked forward, grabbed Momo’s and Nene’s hand and pulled them forward. "I want to see the engagement rings!"

"Rindou..What was that about?" Pouted Momo, who was startled by the sudden action. Her face also turned a little red. " Ho...Honestly...Rindou-senpai ..." Stammered Nene. "Oooh ~ It looks fairly expensive." Rindou only purred while inspecting Nene’s hand and the small, radiating diamond on her finger. A classic, as well as sumptuous promise for faithfulness, devotion and a life without financial worries. "But I wouldn't have expected anything else from Eizan." Nene’s free hand went to her glasses to adjust them while she looked bashfully to the side. Discussions about love had turned the cool, strict girl, who was not afraid to reservedly threaten death to classmates, into an innocent, shy wallflower.

"I have to say, I never thought I would ever hear that the refined, proper Kinokuni Nene got engaged to..." She let go of Nene’s hand and started tapping her finger on her chin while playfully pretending to be naive. “... what did you always call him back then? Ah yes!” She fixiated her former Elite 10 colleague with an amused and penetrating look. "... the rude, ruthless barbarian."

One of the waiters came and poured the three women a high-quality wine that was exactly the same color as the one that Nene’s head had taken in the meantime.

"In ... third year of high school, he changed a lot." Nene explained, still looking somewhere else as soon as the waiter was gone. Beside her, Momo shrugged. “Momo has always seen it coming. After all, Etsunyan had always had a crush on Kinokuniyan.” She pouted again. "If he hadn't been so clumsy in his courtship, you might even have become a couple earlier and not when Momo left school."

The completely overheated Nene did not answer, but preferred to take her first sip of wine this evening. Rindou, on the other hand, only laughed loud enough for some heads at the other tables to turn in their direction.

Still giggling, she finally turned her eyes to Momo's hand that she was still holding on to. “Then let's see what the good, old Saito gave you- Oh! Well, that's cute!” There was a golden flower attached to Momo's ring and in it was a sparkling green emerald to match Momo's eye color. Rindou couldn't help but smile. Everyone knew how much Momo loved flowers. "If it hadn't been cute, I would hardly have said 'yes'." The wearer of the rings snorted, although it didn't sound too convincing despite all her efforts.

Rindou smiled and released Momo out of her grasp. “It’s nice knowing you two happy then. Glad to know that you can look into the future with someone by your side.” She leaned back and for a few seconds Nene thought she saw a kind of sadness in her otherwise bright eyes.

"And what about you Rindou?" Momo asked and immediately became more precise. "What about you and Tsukasa?"

The glow in Rindou’s eyes returned and a laugh was heard. “What’s there to talk about? Apart from the fact that we both address each other by first name now, kiss each other on the lips and exchange various other forms of affection that I don't have to discuss in public… nothing much has changed between us. ”She started rubbing her cheeks a little like a rapt schoolgirl. "He brings me breakfast in bed, we cuddle a lot and sometimes I wake him up at 3 to see the stars with me." Her voice became a little quieter but Momo and Nene heard complete happiness speaking from her. "It’s like everything’s stayed the same and yet it’s still so much more beautiful."

When she looked back at her two friends, she saw a honest, small and truly touched smile on Nene’s face. Momo just nodded in agreement. "I also always knew that you two would become a thing." She looked at Nene. "Hopefully Tsukasa doesn't take too much time with the wedding proposal, right Kinokuniyan?"

The smile disappeared from Nene’s face and she frowned, almost a little motherly. “Momo-senpai...Don’t rush them.” Rindou had to giggle again.

-

The time passed. Plates stacked with exquisite delicacies were emptied. Topic-changes piled up.

And at some point the overly delicious dessert, which even the extremely critical Momo had praised, was consumed.

"It's late." Nene said, looking at her elegant, silver wristwatch. "It felt a lot shorter than it was." Momo commented. Rindou then just cheered. “That's how it is with good friends!”

For a short while there was silence. Then just when Rindou wanted to call the waiter to pay the bill, Momo spoke up again. "Say Rindou ... I've wanted to ask you all this time, but why haven't I heard much about you and Tsukasa lately?" Her forehead wrinkled. “You are two of the most famous personalities who have ever left Totsuki and yet none of you have opened a restaurant. Is there at least one planned? ”

Nene gave an automatic nod. “I must confess, I was wondering about that as well. It shouldn't be too difficult for you two to get a foothold in the industry. When it comes to opening a restaurant, Etsuya may also be able to help you as a consultant. ”

Rindou remained silent for a moment. Something unreadable in her facial expressions. Then she smiled, though weaker than usual. "As sweet as it is to hear that you want to get your fiancé some work, but neither I nor Eishi have any plans for a restaurant or anything."

"Oh?" Nene pushed her glasses up her nose in surprise. Momo started talking again. “Then what are you planning? You haven't even said anything about your career all evening. ”

The corners of Rindou’s mouth dropped again and this time the silence was a little longer. Then finally she seemed to have found her answer. "Let's put it this way ... it's a surprise."

-

The bill was paid and finally the three found themselves out in the night air again.

"Somei picks me up, he should be here soon." Momo mumbled with a quick look at her cell phone, which after all these years was still in a case that would be associated with a middle schooler based on the look.

"I'm going to order a taxi." Nene said, more to herself, but she still got Momo's attention. “We can take you too, Kinokuniyan. You just have to tell Somei where you live.” Nene looked down at the much smaller companion and started a search for excuses in her head. “Oh no ... that's not necessary. I don't want to be any troub- ” “You aren’t a trouble.” Momo promptly interrupted her. And before Nene could argue, Momo turned to her former classmate. “And you Rindou? We can take you too.”

Rindou only made a fleeting hand gesture. "No need. I much prefer to walk home.” She spread her arms enthusiastically. "There's nothing like a night walk!"

"... night walk?" Momo repeated, raising an eyebrow. "It could be dangerous, Rindou-senpai." Nene pointed out.

Rindou, however, gave them both a charming wink. “Don't worry too much about me. I'm a big girl after all.”

For a few more seconds, skepticism persisted on Momo’s and Nene’s faces. But finally Momo grumbled. "If you really want to." "But please be careful!" Came from Nene.

"I will, I will!" Rindou laughed and walked up to them. "Well, I think it's a goodbye for now." Without warning, she fell forward and pulled her friends into a hug. “Goodbye you two! Greet Saito and Eizan from me. All the best for your sweets-empire Momo and your restaurant-plans Nene. ”

Momo felt that Rindou’s hug was even tighter and longer than at the beginning. Nene didn't want to believe her ears but somehow she couldn't shake the feeling of hearing a slight melancholy in Rindou’s voice.

"Goodbye, Rindou." "Come home safely, Rindou-senpai."

Rindou let go of the two, gave them one of the most beautiful smiles on planet Earth, and then turned away.

[slashersannonymous]

Your Roommates the Slashers

I don’t see many headcanons of platonic relationships between slashers and the reader so I’m gonna take a crack at it

Welcome to your new home roomie!!

You get your own room in a pretty good sized house in a rural, but none the less beautiful area , for a hell of a price. Almost too good.

Sure your roommates are a bit... eccentric but hey they’re fun enough.

Jason

Real stickler for the rules (No drugs, no loud music, No bringing “strange people in”, No sex in the house), Freddy gives him shit for being a fun nazi but everyone else seems pretty content (including yourself ); does it to keep his mama happy

Super sweet and nice, has a commanding presence but only uses it around Freddy when he’s being a shit. If you’re having a rough day Jason will gladly take your chores for the day and let you have some rest

Speaking of chores, HE MADE AN ADORABLE CHORE CHART HE FOUND ON PINTEREST

Keeps the house nice and clean, plus is the grounds keeper; that garden is phenomenal!

Can cook and bake REALLY WELL (who knew the dude who doesn’t need to eat can cook so well 🤷🏾‍♀️) he’s on par with Bubba!

Freddy

If Jason is the ideal (all be it a little strict roommate) Freddy is the absolute opposite

For the most part he follows the rules BUT he will break them to get under people’s skin when he’s bored (aka Jason’s)

Can be a real asshole but a really FUN asshole none the less, you want to do something crazy or fun? Go to Freddy, he’s got the hook up

You never want to see another red and green sweater in your life; how many does this fucker have?! HE LEAVES THEM E V E R Y W H E R E

Plus he does all of his work at night- so expect to hear him coming in AND out of of the house multiple times during the night

Does not follow the Pinterest bored of chores.

Gets the machete to the head when Jason gets mad enough (you want to get payback? Ask if he needs some Advil for that splitting head ache)

Michael

You met Michael one late night after you got off work and nearly had a goddamn heart attack when he just appeared behind you with a nice little “Welcome” gift bag in hand

Really chill and reserved, super introverted, likes to keep to himself.

Dependable if you really need him! You need someone to run to the store really quick while everyone else is busy and so are you? Michael will do it for you, he isn’t busy

Is too damn quiet sometimes, you’ve bumped into him so many times there’s a talley going now to see how many times you’ll bump into him on average

Isn’t too much of a cook, usually prefers to eat simple or easy to make meals.

You want someone neutral to vent to? Michael is the silent and true neutral we all need

He’s the second handyman of the house next to Jason, who knew he was so good with tools

Bubba

Sweet lord he is such a sweety! Bubba actively hangs out with you the most in the house; he loves making friends and loves being around you!

Oh but the baby is messy. Because of his upbringing in rural Texas, Bubba isn’t the best housekeeper (HE’S TRYING DAMMIT); sometimes forgets to clean the blood remains of his meal preps and cooking when he’s done, and every once in a while tracks blood in the house (The reason Jason got the Pinterest board of Chores)

But damn are those messes worth it! The boy can smoke and barbecue his ass off! Whenever you come home to the smell of barbecue (usually a Sunday) you know you’re going into a food coma

His main stay is in the basement. He has his own room upstairs, like everyone else, but his workshop is down there (just like back home!)

If you want someone to cry to; Bubba is there to be the shoulder to cry on, the person to cry with, and the bear hug to help you feel a little better (also really doesn’t mind helping you down some junk food to make you feel better)

Sometimes gets bullied by Freddy (even if it’s him trying to be playful), but everyone (including you!) actively stands up for Bubba (despite being a massive behemoth of a man himself) MUST PROTECC SWEET BUBBA

BONUS - MRS. VOORHEES

You stumbled across her while on a walk when you heard a very sweet and motherly voice beckoning you to come back home and have a little chat

She’s the mama bear (literally) in this house of crazed killers and madden, she wants everyone to be happy and enjoy living together

She’s a polite but FIRM woman (put some respect on her name)

She may only be a head but she has the demanding presence of her son (Jason got it from her 🖤)

You need advice? She’s happy to talk to you and help you our figure out a solution to your problems or to give some words of comfort

DO NOT PISS THIS LADY OFF, SHE WILL CUT A MAN DOWN VERBALLY AND KEEP A SMILE IN HER VOICE (she’s done it plenty of times with Freddy)

So this was my very first head canons/imagines post! Hope y’all like it! Send me an ask or a request if you’d like!!!

[txladyj-blog]

This Time Around - Chapter 1

This is posted with permission from @xmistressmistrustx, the amazing writer who helped me bring a story I had in my head into the world.   She’s been an inspiration and has become a dear friend, one I hope to meet in person someday.

A Daryl Dixon x OFC collaboration written by @xmistressmistrustx​ by request of @txladyj-blog​

Rating: Explicit

Relationship: Daryl Dixon/Original Female Character

Tags: Friendship, Friends to Lovers, Awkwardness, Awkward Flirting, Awkward Crush, Fluff and Humor, Angst and Humor, Mild Smut, Strong Language, Eventual Sex, Eventual Romance, Slow Burn, Canon Divergence, Some Canon Scenes and Dialogue

Chapters 23/?

Screaming. High-pitched, desperate screaming, piercing the air and echoing all around, bouncing off the trees like rubber balls, ricocheting and growing louder with every thud of her boots on the dry, cracked ground. Or, was that her imagination? Her heartbeat thrummed in her head as she sucked in breaths to try and propel herself forwards, her chest burning with every gasp and her feet aching after each rapid step. She scolded herself for every single excuse she’d thought up to stop herself from going to the gym, or for a jog, or to the tennis courts. She really wished she wasn’t so inclined to sitting inside and gaming or reading. If she’d known she’d need such stamina to save herself from the jaws of another human being, she’d have jumped on a treadmill occasionally.

Twigs broke under her boots as branches snapped at her sweat covered face but still, she pushed on, further into the woods, away from the screaming. The snarling grew quiet as the inferno in her lungs grew hotter, her breathing became labored and she stumbled, her hands shooting out and grabbing at a nearby tree. Bark and dirt filled her mouth and obscured her view. She blinked, only to find her vision blurred by mud. It took a few precious seconds for her to realize that she’d fallen before she quickly hauled her body upright and carried on along her jagged path through the woods.

She thought there had to have been at least ten people behind her when she had flown off into the tree line from the highway, all terrified with eyes bulging and hearts hammering. Now, her surroundings had fallen quiet and it occurred to her that she was wandering alone in the thick darkness, meandering between trees with no weapons or idea where she was headed. She stopped in her tracks, leaning against the trunk of a tree and trying to catch her breath. Her ears strained to hear the slightest sounds around her so she could sprint off at any hint of danger. Her hands found the straps of her back pack, tugging it from her shoulder and swinging it around to her front. Inside, she selected a torch and quickly flicked the switch. A bright, beam of light shot through the velvet dark, illuminating her surroundings and proving that she was now alone. She swallowed hard and gradually edged around the trunk, shining the torch between the surrounding trees and listening, above the sound of her own breathing for the slightest snap of a twig of a distant groan.

She was walking the highway after being unable to drive any further. The city saw thousands upon thousands of people flee when the chaos hit and spread like wildfire. She watched from a distant hill as the roads filled up with panicked, angry refugees that were offering each other money and all manner of expensive and luxury items for passage out of the highly populated area that had fast become a death trap.

After losing her companion shortly after fleeing into the woods, she was forced to shake off the shock of what she had witnessed. Her best friends throat ripped out in a split second, a river of crimson blood flooding over his bright, white clothing, the contrast somehow making the horrendous scene even more macabre. With no time to cry, no breaks in which to grieve, she raced off with blurry eyes into the night with her friend’s assailant hot on her heels, snarling and snapping its jaws until the sound was gradually replaced by the terrified screams of others, dotted about in the trees around her.

She kept walking until her heels ached and her knees grew weary and her stomach grumbled so loudly, she wrapped her hands around it to muffle the sound. Knowing she had to get some rest, she chose the sturdiest looking tree she could find and began to climb, her hands gripping the harsh bark and heaving her weary body up the structure until she was perched on a thick branch that was wider than her own body. She settled against the trunk. The contents of her backpack dug into her spine but she cared little for anything except being able to rest someplace that meant she wasn’t about to be consumed by what once was somebody’s son or daughter, somebody’s husband or wife. Now, just a ravenous, monstrous shell of what they were.

When she awoke, light shone through the trees, a slither hitting her face and heating up one cheek. She blinked and shook her head before leaning over the edge of the branch and checking it was clear to climb down. Finding nothing, she was soon ambling back over the leafy ground in search of some semblance of shelter.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Carol watched as her young daughter gently plucked at the fabric of her doll. Such delicate fingers poised over the cloth face of an effigy she’d become attached to ever since she was a baby. She was a quiet child, even more so since they’d arrived at the camp. She’d seen things no one of her age should have, the same things that other children across the world had now seen. Not to mention the violence she’d witnessed before the turn. Violence at the hands of her own father. Carol’s heart hurt for her and not only the memories she would have to carry, but the new, even more brutal things she was unavoidably going to have to endure in her bleak and uncertain future.

Her dirty blonde hair glistened in the sun and her skin, still so young and flawless, had yet to display the pallid gray that some of the others had. Her freckles were still noticeable and each one reminded Carol of the times when she’d cradle the girl in her arms, counting the subtle dots across her nose and smiling to herself.

“Mom?” Sophia squeaked from the waters edge.

The quarry boasted a deep, teal body of water that provided the camp with a means to wash clothes, bodies and was a much-needed source of drinking water once boiled of its impurities. The blazing sunshine, intense temperatures and picturesque view from the top made it the ideal place to set up and stay for a while and most of the camps population had no designs on moving anywhere.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Carol cooed back.

“There’s a woman up there.”

The small girls tiny finger extended, pointing out a lone figure stood, buckled over at the top of the quarry. A red backpack was hanging from the woman’s shoulders and she used the front of her black T-shirt to wipe sweat from her forehead, exposing a pale stomach. Carol squinted and slowly got to her feet, shielding her eyes from the sun in order to gain a better view. Her brow furrowed and her heart began to race in her chest.

“Shane!” She suddenly shouted, her voice thrown around the quarry and traveling up the hill to the main camp. “Come on, Sophia. Come with me. We have to go and get Shane.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

She had been at the camp for three days before she summoned up the courage to talk to anyone. An introvert by nature and traumatized by her experience, she chose to retreat into her tent and sleep while others went about their daily tasks. She ate alone, sat alone and read her books alone. Carol was the woman that first approached her at the top of the quarry, flanked by a group of four men. She didn’t remember the names of any of them at the time, only Carol’s as she backed away like a frightened deer. Coaxed along to the camp on the promise of food and a tent, she hadn’t breathed a word then and still hadn’t as she sat, hugging her legs and peering up at everyone on the third evening.

She flinched when a man crouched down in front of her and offered her a square, metal camping bowl of food. She didn’t care what it was, her stomach protested loudly at its emptiness and she slowly took the bowl from his hands. Carol had been the one to make sure she ate, it was always Carol. Nice, non-threatening, motherly Carol. Now, it was this man with his sunken eyes, dark, military haircut and thin lips.

“How you doin’?” The man asked.

She half shrugged, not able to manage much more for fear of having to get into a conversation.

“I don’t know if you remember, but I’m Shane. Over there…” He pointed to a man dressed in a sheriff’s uniform. “…That’s Rick. Then ya got T-Dog next to him and then Glenn. That’s just some of us. You’ve been pretty quiet; just thought I’d let you know who people are. You need anything, just ask anyone, OK?”

She nodded a thanks and leaned forwards, taking a small sniff of her food. Some kind of meat stew, laden with herbs. It was the most amazing thing to grace her nostrils in four days.

“You got a name?” Shane asked.

“J-Jess.” She uttered through chapped, cracked lips.

“Well, Jess. I know you’re scared n’ all. We all are. But you’re safe here.” He assured her.

“OK. T-Thank you.” She stammered, picking up a spoon from the bowl and beginning to stir her food.

When Shane left her, she hungrily demolished the stew and picked up her journal from beside her. She knew she’d soon run out of ink for her pen and resigned herself to the fact that she would at some point, need to ask someone to fetch her a new one from one of the supply runs they seemed to frequently go on. As she scribbled, jeering from the other side of the camp caught her attention and she glanced up to see two more men emerge from the trees, one was carrying a crossbow, his sleeveless arms shiny in the light as he approached the glow of the fire with a string of squirrels hoisted over his shoulder. He wore a leather vest and his expression was sour, despite the cheering and jokes being cracked by his companion. The other man was visibly older, bald  and also wore a leather vest, he swung a dead opossum by his side as he walked, soon throwing down in front of the fire with a dusty thud and laughing.

“What would y’all do without us, huh?!” He cried with a voice louder than any of the others Jess had heard so far. From his body language and his attitude, she could tell this one was going to be trouble.

Jess saw Shane get to his feet and whisper to the man to keep the noise down, but he was met with nothing but a snarl. The man with the squirrels was already stalking over in the direction of Jess’s tent, suddenly veering off and slamming the dead animals onto a makeshift table and propping his crossbow against the structure at his feet.

“Merle, get ya ugly ass over here. I’ma get to skinnin’ these.” He announced.

Jess retreated back into her tent in an attempt to stay out of the sightline of both men, judging them both to be the kind of people she would have steered well clear of before she found herself running through the woods for her life.

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In the time it had taken for Carol to persuade Jess to emerge from her tent and meet some of the others, her presence at the camp was now being noticed by just about everyone. She had briefly conversed with the younger members of the group; Carl, who was Rick and Lori’s son and Sophia, Carol and Ed’s daughter. Children were altogether less intimidating and energy draining than adults could be to Jess, especially in such a setting, where noise and rigorous activity needed to be kept to a minimum, as were the rules.

There were two other girls of Jess’s age which she deliberately steered clear of without hesitation, Sarah and Jodie. Initially met with outwardly false smiles and raised eyebrows, the transparency of the two females that peered back at her was evident and enough to make sure she knew her place was not with them. Her history with female friends not being one to shout about, other women never seemed to take to her due to her obscure and nerdy interests and quiet nature. Constantly a source of ridicule at high schools she'd attended, she kept herself to herself and spent her free time at comic book stores and conventions with her handful of close, male friends she would undoubtedly make eventually. All of which were now dead.

The loud man from the previous night, whose name she had learned was Merle, had already proved that her suspicions about him being trouble were correct. Jess always knew to trust her gut; it hadn’t let her down yet. Walking past her as she hurried along behind Carol, he slowly looked her up and down, running his tongue along his bottom lip and rubbing his chin. Beside him, was the other man in the leather vest, his younger brother; Daryl.

“Ain't she a meaty one? Lil’ more cushin’ for the pushin’, huh, Daryl?” He sneered.

His brother merely glanced up and caught Jess’s eye as she passed, his blue irises flashing before her. She had never seen such icy blue eyes before.

“Shut up, Merle” She heard him mutter in response.

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Since arriving at the camp, Jess hadn’t seen any of the dead ones. She figured she’d wandered so far up the mountain, that hardly anyone alive, let alone dead would be likely to follow her. She noticed that they had coined the name ‘Walkers’ by those around her and felt safe in the knowledge that no one had seen one enter the camp for weeks due to the surrounding makeshift alarms comprised of tin cans and other noisy materials. Whispers around the campfire had indicated that the city was full of them and they were now starting to run out of food and disperse into the surrounding areas.

Sat in her usual spot just inside her tent, she jotted down what she thought was the date at the top of the next page of her journal, although she couldn’t be sure if it was correct or not. Giggling in the distance caused her to look up, where she clocked the unmistakable sight of Sarah and Jodie making fun of her from across the clearing. Jess couldn’t help but lift an eyebrow in disgust at the typical nature of their body language. Hands deliberately blocking mouths as they spoke, eyes intermittently locking on her and childish giggling that she expected from the likes of Sophia or Carl, but not from two women in their twenties. She shook her head and sighed, turning her attention back to finishing the date on the page when her eyes lowered further, to the extra flesh around her middle, her thicker thighs than the other girls, even her fingers. Bigger, softer. She flattened her hand on the page and sighed. Then, screaming rang out across the camp.

Everyone seemed to move simultaneously, grabbing at everything that could be used as a weapon. Jess froze to the spot until she saw Carol making her way towards the children with several others and whisking them away. Curiosity fueled her to move and find out how high the threat was, knowing she needed to keep a safe distance but still get close enough to see what the fuss was about.

Just inside the tree line, Dale, owner of the groups RV and resident, straw hat lookout was busy beating the hell out of a single Walker with Rick and some of the others with blunt objects, bats and even a broom. Jess looked on in disbelief at the Walker that had eventually fallen to the floor and quietened, beside it, lay a deer with an arrow in its rear end and a myriad of bite marks taken out of its side. The small huddle of people exchanged glances, their chests all rising and falling.

“Never seen them this far up the mountain before” Dale commented.

“Well, they’re running out of food in the city” Carol remarked to the cluster of concerned and sweaty faces.

“Son of a bitch!” Came another, angry voice from further back. “That’s my deer!”

Daryl emerged from the bushes, crossbow in hand, sweat beaded on his chest and forehead, yet more dead squirrels thrown over his shoulder and ripped the crossbow bolt from the deer’s rump with one swift movement.

“Look at it, all gnawed on by this filthy, disease-bearin’, motherless, poxy, bastard!”

With each new word, his boot collided with the Walkers body on the floor, Jess sidestepped slightly to gain herself a better view of him in his entirety through the bushes.

“Calm down, Son. That’s not helping” Dale scolded.

“And what do you know ‘bout it, ol’ man?! Why don’t you take that stupid hat and go back to ‘on golden pond’? I been trackin’ this deer for miles!”

As he finished his sentence, the Walker at his feet began to writhe and gnash its jaws. Jess felt her throat constrict at the thought of it not being dead and wondered just how the hell they were meant to be stopped if gunfire emitted too much noise.

“Oh my god” Glenn groaned as he resumed beating the corpse with a stick.

“C’mon, people! What the hell?!” Daryl exclaimed as he aimed at the Walkers head with his crossbow and pulled the trigger. A neon bolt embedded in its skull and instantly, the threat was eliminated. “It’s gotta be the brain. Don’t y’all know nothin’?”

Retrieving his bolt from between the Walkers eyes, he huffed and threw everyone an exasperated look. Before she could even think, Jess found herself face to face with him as he stormed through the brush, unexpectedly running into her. She quickly stepped back and tried to drop her gaze, but his stare was so intense that she found herself rooted to the spot while he paused to take in the view of her. She swallowed hard and finally managed to step aside and let him pass. When he did so without a word, she almost tried to blink the shock from her eyes as she turned on her heels and made her way back to her tent.

That night she braved sitting around the campfire with everyone else at dinner, although she sat further back than the rest. Nibbling on strips of squirrel, Jess didn’t follow any conversations that were taking place. Opposite her, sat even further back than her in the shadows, was Daryl, who had just finished up licking excess meat from his fingers and was now watching her over the flames, his arms draped over his bent legs. She was aware that his attention was firmly fixed on her and grew increasingly uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Why was he looking at her like that? Why was he looking at her at all?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

After another two days, Jess was still finding it hard to settle in amongst the masses at the camp. Only speaking briefly to a handful of people, she decided that Carol was the easiest person to converse with, except Rick, who never seemed to give her a choice but to answer when he asked after her welfare. Her days were spent reading, writing or tagging along with Carol by the water and helping with the laundry. Her knowledge of certain historical periods meant she knew how to wash clothes without the aid of a washer dryer and was able to lend a hand in getting through the huge piles of dirty clothes that appeared in the crate at the start of each day.

Carol wasn’t shy about encouraging Jess to learn new skills and on one particular occasion, caused a great deal of anxiety when she handed her a knife and a pile of dead squirrels and told her to start skinning them. Before Jess could protest or express her ignorance on such a subject, Carol had vanished from sight, summoned by her aggressive and overbearing husband, Ed. Her hand shook as she looked down at her fingers clutching the knife, Daryl’s presence on a rock behind her niggling away in her mind. If anyone knew how to skin squirrels, it would be him. She turned her body slightly so as to block his view and began prodding one of the small animals with the sharp end of the knife.

Daryl, able to see over her shoulder from his higher vantage point, furrowed his brow and threw his smoke away. He climbed down from the rock and approached her.

“Kinda shit show is that? Give it here.” He snapped, reaching for her knife. She stilled, wide eyed and tried to focus on what she should say.

She slowly looked sideways at him with the squirrel in her hand. She still gripped the knife and he beckoned with his fingers for her to pass it to him along with the dead animal. She gingerly handed him him both and stepped aside, letting him take up her spot. Before he set to work, he noticed her discomfort and awkward expression.

“She uh-she left before I could tell her I have no idea what I’m doing.” She said quickly.  

He grunted and turned his head to see Carol with Ed, whose voice was raised and echoing around the quarry. Shane stood nearby, arms crossed, keeping a very close eye on the arguing couple. Ed’s arms were flailing in the air as Carol stood meekly in front of him. Daryl bit his bottom lip for a second and decided to leave them to it, getting involved in other people’s drama wasn’t something he made a habit of. He turned his attention back to Jess.

“What exactly do ya do around here?” He asked her.

It was a good question and one she didn’t have much of an answer to. Since she’d arrived, she slinked about in the shadows, folding her collectible superhero T-shirts that she happened to have bought on the day the world went awry and scribbling in her journal. She’d only recently started to lend a hand with the laundry but other than that, she could honestly say she’d been nothing but a leech.

“Um… I got a pretty loud scream. It’s like a…Walker alarm. Just haven’t used it yet.” She said with a small smile.

He huffed, unimpressed and figured she would be even more useless unless he showed her what to do with the knife and the squirrel.

“Pay attention.” He mumbled, motioning to the animal with the knife. “Gotta start right here, cut up to the tailbone”

As he spoke, he physically showed her what to do, pointing out each part and showing her exactly how to angle the knife in the process. Jess winced at the sound of the knife slicing through the flesh and tried to act as though the blood didn’t bother her. But she was never a good liar and her stomach flipped at the sight. Her face paled and she took a deep breath.

“Then, down each leg. Gotta make a flap of skin on each. Can grab it and yank it right off, cut as ya go.” He explained, focused on his task and missing Jess’s pained expression. He ripped the skin from the animal and tossed it aside before holding the bloodied knife out to her and finally noticing her pallid skin and sweaty forehead.

“R-right.” She stammered, slowly taking the knife from him.

“Practice. Make ya self useful.” He said, his tone now less antagonistic and more akin to someone with a helpful suggestion.

“Right. Yeah.” She mumbled, taking the knife back and dragging the back of her wrist across her forehead.

Relief washed over her when he finally departed, leaving her to her task. While it took her probably double the time it would have taken Daryl, she eventually finished it and cleaned up with a sense of pride and accomplishment welling in her chest.

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'I'm not entirely sure I’ll ever fit in with this group. I know I don’t really fit in anywhere else either, but no matter how hard I try, I always seem to get left behind. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been thinking a lot about mom and dad and my asshole brother who I miss so much. Seeing people that still have their families, I hope they know how lucky they are. I know I never really fit in with them either, but they were my blood.

It’s a miracle I survived on my own, I see that even more now I’m around people with actual survival skills. There are fighters, hunters, people that are good with weapons, even people that think more strategically than me. I feel kind of useless. I’m slower and a liability compared to these people. A guy called Daryl had to teach me how to skin a squirrel today. I almost hurled on the table in front of him and I felt like an idiot at first but at least he took the time to show me instead of making fun of me. If I’m honest, I was really expecting the latter.'  

She closed the journal. Shoved it back in her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Then, she picked up the bunch of skinned squirrels and made her way to the top of the hill. The heat from the sun was starting to lessen and she was grateful for it, she wasn’t used to building up much of a sweat, so her new surroundings up in the sky, a top a mountain had been a shock to the system. People wandered about the camp and children played quietly as the fire in the middle started to intensify, ready to provide warmth from the sudden cold snap that came as soon as the sun vanished below the horizon.

Jess spotted Merle on the outskirts of the group. He sat with a tree stump in front of him and a large knife, dissecting meat and driving it onto skewers for cooking. Jess took a deep breath and made tracks towards him, passing the RV in the process, where Daryl sat on the roof, watching her. She kept her head up when passing Sarah and Jodie, Sarah brushing through her blonde hair with her fingers as they ambled along.

“Better get in quick before she eats every scrap. Girl definitely isn’t starving.” Jodie whispered to her friend.

The comment hit Jess’s chest like a bulldozer but outwardly, her reaction was minimal. She carried on walking and handed the squirrels to Merle wordlessly before turning on her heel and stalked off back to her tent. She could hear Merle chuckle to himself behind her but paid him no mind. He wasn’t the one that could stamp on her feelings so easily. It was other girls. Always other girls.

Daryl was noisily chewing on some beef jerky when he heard Jodie’s scathing comment and saw Jess hesitate as she walked, her head dropping and her shoulders slumping. Sarah and Jodie rounded the RV on their random path and as Daryl looked down at them, his eyes fell on a cup of water set down on the roof of the RV, near to the edge. The temptation proved too great to ignore. Dale must have left it there. Convenient. He kicked the cup, sending water flying over the edge and onto the heads of the two girls below.

“Hey! Watch it, Redneck!” Sarah shrieked as she flicked her hands out, ridding herself of any water droplets. Jodie merely stood there and seethed, her jaw clamped shut and her eyes narrowed up at Daryl. Her sweater was splattered with a dark and no doubt, cold stain.

“Sorry” He smirked.

Rudely awoken by a cooking pot being thrown against the side of her tent just before sunrise, Jess startled and considered herself lucky the foreign object that had collided with the canvas had missed her head by inches. She crawled out of her sleeping bag and poked her head out of the zipper to the sounds of Merle and T-dog shouting obscenities to each other and brawling in the middle of the clearing. Curse words were yelled and a plethora of racist remarks left Merle’s mouth as he swung another punch in T-dogs direction. Jess winced at the sound of some of his comments and thought herself grateful she’d been brought up in an accepting and open-minded family and didn’t have to endure the seething hatred Merle seemed to feel every time he set eyes on someone that didn’t share his skin color.

The two men wrestled on the ground, dust kicking up and clouding their air as more and more people filtered out from their tents to observe the spectacle. Jess could hear the moment T-dog’s fist collided with Merles face, a kind of sickening thud followed by a loud grunt and a roar as Merle launched himself up and ran at his assailant. Bowls and utensils flew through the air as they thundered through a nearby table and took out the peg of a tent in the process. The shelter sagged and Jess felt a stab of panic as they neared her. She stepped back in an attempt to put some space between her and the fight as Daryl shot out of nowhere and drove himself between them, taking a hard right hook from Merle that made Jess jump with the loud crack that it made. But Daryl simply emitted a loud grunt and shook it off and she suspected that this was far from the first time he’d been punched in the face.

“Back up! C’mon! Back up, Man!” He instructed, hovering in front of his brother with his hands on his chest. Shane arrived seconds later, just in time to catch T-Dog and pull his hands behind his back in true cop style. Jess raised an eyebrow.

So much drama. She thought.

“Leave it. Just leave it. What the hell is wrong with you?!” Daryl was now hissing at Merle, who was desperately trying to skirt around him. But wherever Merle was, Daryl was firmly in front of him. “Let it go, Merle.”

She bit her lip as she witnessed Daryl manage to de-escalate his brothers rage and she knew that no one else in the entire group would have been able to handle him in quite the same way. His leather vest flapped at his sides in response to him shifting all of his weight into his muscular arms in order to hold his brother still. With one leg placed in front of the other, he leaned forwards, a stable grip on each of Merle’s shoulders. Shane was busy dragging T-dog off and whispering in his ear when Glenn’s voice startled her, snapping her away from an image that had suddenly become a little easier to look at.

“You alright?” He asked. If he’d been there the entire time, she had no idea after having completely missed his presence. “Thought you might have gotten hit in your tent.”

“It just missed my head.” Jess replied with a small smile. “Just.”

“Lucky.”

“Yeah. Just glad I wasn’t up and sitting by the fire.” She expressed.

“You and me both. Those two have been gunning for one another for days now.” He told her.

She responded with a thin smile and turned her head back to where Daryl was now shoving Merle towards them. As they passed her tent, Daryl’s eyes managed to meet hers. He looked furious, unsettled. Uncomfortable. Taking it as her cue to make herself scarce, she climbed back into her tent.

It was almost a ritual now, everyone sat down to eat at the same time, like a giant, dysfunctional family. As far as altercations were concerned, everything was usually forgotten about in time for dinner, food being on the top of everyone’s list of priorities. It wasn’t surprising to Jess to see Merle and T-Dog sat in the same vicinity after such a violent fight, both of them seeming content enough with devouring their food than having any more fights. Merle had situated himself slightly further back than everyone else and made a few un-classy remarks under his breath that had so far been ignored by everyone. Jess heard every word but pretended she didn’t as she finished up her meal and made her way back to the cooking pot. Spooning the rest of the stew into a bowl, she dunked a plastic spoon into it and set off to find Daryl, who was the only one absent from the dinnertime ritual.

Sitting far away from the group, on a fallen tree on the edge of the woods, Daryl could hear both Jodie and Sarah making fun of Jess as she passed. Anger simmered in his chest and he grit his teeth at the sound of their incessant, immature and annoying giggling.  

“Here”

Jess’s voice cut through his thoughts and he peered up at her with suspicion. He threw the piece of bark he was picking at on the floor in front of him and locked his gaze on her.  

“You haven’t eaten. Your brother has. So, I took this before he noticed there was seconds.”

“Why?” He grunts.

She licked her lips and exhaled, her shoulders sagging.

“Saved us all from getting caught in the middle of a pretty nasty fight earlier.”

A grunt was all she received in response. Expecting him to react in any other way would have been futile, it was written all over his face that he was not in the mood to socialize.

“How’s your face?” She asked.

His right eye was beginning to swell and she knew that by morning it would be fully blackened. She wished she had a bag of frozen peas or an ice pack to offer, but figured it would only be met with a snappy remark or shrugged off anyway. But Jess wasn’t one to give up easily on something she believed in and in that moment, she believed that Daryl could use a distraction from his bad mood. Shoving away her doubts and shyness, she kept her eyes trained on him.

“Had worse.” He mumbled.

“You should eat, here.” She offered him the bowl again, telling him in no uncertain terms that she was not about to give up. After a small huff, he looked back up at her, slowly dropping his vision to the steaming bowl of food before eventually taking it from her.  

“Thanks.” He grumbled, taking hold of the spoon and shoveling stew into his mouth without any regard for manners or decorum. Jess sat next to him and ripped up a handful of grass from the ground, gradually picking through the blades and discarding them in the breeze.

“Actually, it’s you that deserves the thanks. You hunted the food and then showed me how to skin it instead of just doing it yourself or showing me up in front of the others. So, thanks.”

“Ain’t nothin’.” He dismissed with his mouth full of food.

“Don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Jessica.” She told him.

Why didn’t I just say ‘Jess’? No one calls me Jessica. What am I doing?!

“Jess. You can call me Jess.” She corrected.

He turned his head, quickly scanning her from head to toe and swallowing the contents of his mouth.

“Daryl.” He stated.

“S’nice to meet you. I mean, as nice it can be, What, with corpses wandering around trying to eat us. That’s not exactly nice. But, there’s nothing like an apocalypse to bring out the best in people. But then again I guess some people are just crappy by nature.” She rambled.

He stared at her for a moment before shoving more food into his mouth. He was animalistic, almost feral somehow and he had an aura of unpredictability that made Jess nervous. Like a lion that appeared tame and calm but just below the surface lurked a danger that she didn’t want to see.

Jess was by all accounts, a self-declared introvert that didn’t actively seek out social interaction and felt the need to withdraw from situations or people that sapped her energy. Daryl was obviously not like everyone else and she would have hazarded a guess at him also being introverted, which meant that they possibly had something in common. It was unheard of that she made a marked effort to talk to someone that appeared so outwardly hostile, but the end of the world had brought with it a new found attitude in Jess; Just try it. See what happens. It was a philosophy that had kept her alive so far.

“It’s cold tonight, huh? I mean, I have enough blankets and stuff but it still gets through. It’s like ever since the world went to shit the nights have gotten colder” She expressed.

He finished up his food and dropped the bowl on the ground between his bent knees.

“Ya always talk this much?” He asked.

She wasn’t expecting such a question and didn’t know if she should be offended or amused.

“Uh… yes? No? I’m not sure.”

And she wasn’t. Not anymore. Now everything had changed and apparently so had she. If someone had told her she’d be sat beside a violent redneck and attempting to make nice during the apocalypse, she’d have laughed in their face.

Remaining at his side for half an hour more, she’d refused to move partly out of defiance. She braided grass into patterns and watched Carl and Sophia play at the side of the group while Daryl smoked and sulked, about what, she wasn’t sure. But he hadn’t got up and left, nor did he ask her to leave and she took that a small success.

Since she was a child, Jess always poured her deepest thoughts and feelings into a journal. Each entry left her feeling like she’d been cleansed and was ready for whatever the next day held. Sometimes, if she wasn’t in the mood to write huge paragraphs, she’d write, poetry, haiku’s or draw simple pictures in biro. Even with everything else destroyed and gone, Jess still made sure her journal was not neglected.

That night, in her tent. She opened up the thick, black leather-bound book and began writing.

'Daryl intrigues me. He has a brother that made himself known to me way before Daryl did. In fact, Merle leered at me as I walked by and told me I had ‘more cushin’ for the pushin’.” He’s vulgar and rude. I’m pretty sure he’s a raging racist too from what I’ve seen. I’m not sure Daryl is like that although there is a possibility. He just seems quieter, more thoughtful somehow. He’s kind of cute. In a dangerous kind of way. He broke up a fight between Merle and T-dog today. I have no shame in admitting I was impressed by his courage, even if he did get punched in the eye. I took him some food and tried to talk to him but he now just thinks I talk too much. I don’t think I said too much to him though, he’s just super quiet. Or did I? Oh god. I don’t know.

I’m not sure about everybody else. Rick seems like a nice guy; he’s checked in on me a few times. Shane too, although he’s a little… odd. I think there’s something going on between him and Rick’s wife. I keep catching them whispering to each other. But I shouldn’t make such assumptions. I could be very wrong. I like Carol, she’s the safest person to be around and I think I trust her, when she’s not with Ed. I don’t like him one, little bit. He’s a bad egg. I can tell. Rick’s kid, Carl is pretty cool. He sees a lot more than people give him credit for and he’s smart. He reminds me of me when I was his age.

I’m making an effort to stay away from Sarah and Jodie. They don’t like me and I don’t like them. My fat offends them. Good. I hope it makes their empty heads explode. It seems that no matter what happens in the world, those types of girls are everywhere. Like a disease or a bad smell that won’t go away. When they’re around, I just feel like I’m back in high school and I wouldn’t go back to high school if I was paid.

I could be in worse places. I could be dead. But I can’t shake this overwhelming urge to just be alone. I know it’s not safe and I know it’s not wise. I thought maybe if I talked to someone, tried to gain a friend, it’d help. So, I’m trying with Daryl. Out of everyone, I think he and I might be similar. What am I even talking about? The world ended and here I am, worrying about my social anxiety.

I should sleep. I rarely sleep more than a couple hours at a time now. I can’t stand the nightmares anymore.'

NEXT CHAPTER