#his own emotional distress over losing his team

[solargeist]

/ wild life spoilers ?

grian becoming more unhinged and desperate as WLsmp goes on bc he’s starving and no one is giving him the reactions he wants to eat

[scarluna]

Y/N, a gifted but self-conscious graphic designer, lands a job at Jeon Enterprises, a powerhouse ruled by the sharp and controlling Jeon Jungkook, whose ruthless perfectionism hides behind an enigmatic façade. Though admired and feared, Jungkook targets Y/N’s insecurities, using them as weapons against her.

Beside him stands his best friend, Min Yoongi, a sly and unpredictable force whose hot-and-cold behavior leaves Y/N questioning his motives.

Tangled in a web of cold authority, teasing games, and unspoken desire, Y/N must navigate a dangerous love triangle where ambition and emotion collide, threatening to unravel everything.

Pairing: Jungkook x Fem!Reader x Min Yoongi

Genre/Tags: plus sized reader, enemies to lovers, ceo!jungkook, graphic designer!reader, mafia!yoongi

Link to the other chapters: ACT I / ACT III / ACT IV / ACT V / ACT VI / ACT VII / ACT VIII

Chapters: 2 / ?

Chapter Warnings: mature language, bullying, slow burn, enemies to lovers

ACT II.

The office was a battlefield, and I was the only one unarmed.

Every day felt like a fresh assault. Tina’s barbs were sharper, her voice dripping with fake sympathy as she leaned over my desk. “Oh, Y/N, are you sure you’re comfortable in that chair? It looks like it’s a little… snug.”

I tried to ignore her, my cheeks burning as I focused on the mock-up on my screen. She’d been relentless all week, and every comment felt like a jab to my already low self-esteem. I was keeping quiet, minding my own business but the bullying never seemed to stop. I wanted to be the bigger person, the mature person who doesn't take things to heart. And it seemed like it from outside, but from the inside I was suffering. 

Across the room, Yoongi wasn’t much better. His criticisms were less direct, but no less cutting. He had a way of making me feel incompetent without ever raising his voice. “Y/N, these designs lack creativity,” he’d say, his tone calm but loaded with judgment. “Maybe it’s time you considered a role that’s more… fitting for your skill set. Like data entry.”

I bit my lip, swallowing the lump in my throat. I wasn’t going to cry. Not here, not in front of them.

Jungkook, however, was the worst of all. Every glance he threw my way felt like a judgment, every word like a blow.

“You’re moving too slow,” he snapped one afternoon, slamming a stack of papers onto my desk, leaning over to my face whilst his dark eyes burned into my soul. “Do you even understand deadlines? Or is thinking that fast too much for you?”

The team laughed quietly, but the sound roared in my ears. I felt my hands tremble. I wanted to open my mouth, I wanted to shout and say that I quit this god forsaken place, but I couldn't. Call me weak, call me pushover or whatever, but this job was important to me and I wanted to keep proving my worth.

By the end of the day, I was drained of course. My confidence was in shreds, my energy spent. But the worst moments came when I was alone at home, sitting in my small one-bedroom flat with my dog curled up at my feet and tears streaming down my face.

-

That evening, I sat at the kitchen table, staring at a cold cup of tea in my hands. Hades, my dog, whimpered, sensing my distress, and I reached down to stroke his soft fur.

“I’m fine,” I whispered in a shaky voice, wiping my tears away. It has been like this for weeks. I was at work, bullied, mocked at, then came home and cried my eyes out the entire evening. And then when I opened my eyes in the next morning, the cycle repeated itself.

I thought of my parents, so far away and unaware of the chaos in my life. I couldn’t burden them with this. I thought of my brother in prison, the shame my family carried, and the weight of holding everything together by myself.

And yet, I knew I couldn’t give up. If I lost this job, I’d lose everything. My apartment, my independence, my sense of self. I had to keep going, no matter how much it hurt.

-

The next morning, I dragged myself into the office, my body heavy with exhaustion and my eyes burning from all the crying and lack of sleep. 

The morning passed in a blur of emails, revisions, and pointed comments from Yoongi and Tina which I ignored, I was too lost in thoughts to even listen to them anymore. By lunchtime, my head was pounding, but I pushed through, forcing myself to finish the latest round of edits.

“You look terrible,” Tina said as she passed my desk, her voice dripping with mocking concern. “Maybe you should take a break. But then again, even when you take a break you'd do a shitty job afterward yet again.”

I ignored her, focusing on the screen in front of me. My surroundings were like a blurr. Somewhat, I lost sense of my emotions the moment I focused on my design as this was the only thing helping me out in this moment. 

By the end of the day, my vision was blurring. My body felt like it was on autopilot, moving through tasks without really comprehending what I was doing. Of course I did fuck up a few times, stumbling in my tasks and that did not go unnoticed by my boss.

“Y/N, are you listening?” Jungkook’s voice snapped me out of my daze.

I blinked, realizing I had been staring at my screen without hearing a word of the conversation happening around me.

“Yeah. . . I am listening," I lied lowly, refusing to meet his eyes.

I could practically hear him scoff and probably roll his eyes. “You’re useless. Why are you even here?”

The words hit me like a slap, but I couldn’t muster the strength to respond.

-

It happened that evening at the end of my workday, just as I was finishing the last of my assignments. I stood up from my desk, the world tilting around me and my legs went weak. My vision blurred, and before I could catch myself, everything went black.

-

When I came to my senses, I was lying on the floor, a small crowd gathered around me. Rya’s worried face was the first thing I saw, her hands gently patting my cheeks.

“Y/N! Are you okay?” she asked, her voice filled with panic. "Should we call an ambulance?"

I groaned, my body aching as I tried to sit up. “N-no, i-it's fine. What happened?” I was pulled up gently by Rya as the other colleagues slowly walked away because they saw Rya's murderous glance. This girl was doing everything to protect me and she had no clue how grateful and appreciative I was to her for that.

“You fainted,” Rya said, helping me up. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.” I was also not eating at all, because their jokes about how I looked finally had gotten to me. 

Hoseok appeared, holding a bottle of water. “You need to take care of yourself, Y/N,” he said gently. “This job isn’t worth destroying your health over.”

I felt tears prick at my eyes, but I forced them back, nodding weakly. “I’m fine,” I said, though my voice shook. “I’ll be fine.” I saw Hoseok and Rya look at each other and then back at me. From the corner of my eye I saw Tina stand not too far away, arms crossed against her chest. She huffed and headed down the hallway. This was a lost cause, wasn't it? Working at such a big company, getting paid well, just to be treated like trash...

Deep down, I knew that me saying I was fine was far from the truth. Something had to change soon—because if it didn’t, I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.

-

I didn’t expect the knock on my door that Saturday morning. Weekends were my time to recharge, to hide from the world and the constant judgment I faced at work. I would spend the weekends curled in bed, eating my emotions away and watching crime documentaries while Hades was curled by my side. But when I opened the door and saw whoever was standing there, a small smile on his face and a bouquet of sunflowers in his hands, my heart skipped a beat.

“Taehyung?” I blinked, caught off guard by the sight of my childhood best friend. It had been months since we’d last seen each other, though we’d kept in touch through our parents.

“Surprise,” he said warmly, holding out the flowers. “Thought I’d stop by and say hello. You’re not busy, are you?”

I shook my head, taking the flowers with a smile. “Not at all. Come in!”

He stepped inside, taking in the small space. Hades barked excitedly at the newcomer, running in circles around Taehyung’s legs.

“Hades,” I said with a laugh, scooping up my little dog. “Be nice. This is Taehyung.”

Taehyung grinned, scratching behind Hades’ ears. “You have a dog now? I should’ve brought treats.” "It's okay, he shouldn't eat much or else he'd become pudgy." "But pudgy is cute." he muttered and I giggled. His aura and presense somehow made me feel safe and at ease. I forgot how much of a kind hearted man Tae was. And here he was, dressed casually, hair a cute mess and a lazy smile gracing his features.

We spent a few minutes catching up before Taehyung suggested we take a walk. “It’s been ages since we’ve just hung out,” he said. “Let’s go to the park. Get some fresh air.”

The park was peaceful, the late morning sun casting a golden glow over the trees. We walked along the path, Hades trotting happily beside us on his leash. The park was not filled with many people this early in the morning and I was grateful for that. Somehow a lot of people made me anxious.

“So,” Taehyung said, breaking the comfortable silence, “how’s life in the big city? Still doing graphic design?”

“Yeah,” I said, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I felt. “It’s… a lot. But I’m managing.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Managing, huh? That doesn’t sound like the Y/N I know. You used to dream big. What happened to that spark of yours?”

I shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “Life happened, I guess.”

Taehyung frowned but didn’t press further. Instead, he changed the subject. “Have you heard from your parents recently? My mom mentioned they were planning to visit soon.”

I nodded. “We talk every week. They’re good, keeping busy.”

“And your brother?”

I hesitated, the mention of my brother a sensitive topic, of course. I didn't talk to anyone about him and my parents seemed to be good at avoiding the topic for my own brother as well. They acted as if he was a shame to our family. “He’s… okay. Still in prison, but we’re hopeful he’ll be out sooner than expected. He’s trying to stay positive.”

Taehyung’s expression softened. “If there’s anything I can do to help, you’ll let me know, right? My firm handles cases like his all the time.” Taehyung was a successful lawyer here, he even owned his own law firm and I was so happy for him. Ever since he was a child he was determined and a smooth talker, convincing people with ease. He was also smart and selfless which was one of the things I liked about him.

I smiled, touched by his offer. “Thanks, Tae. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As we continued walking, Taehyung talked about his work and how many weird cases he has been working on recently.

“I still can’t believe you run your own firm,” I said, shaking my head. “You make it sound so easy.”

He laughed. “It’s anything but easy, trust me. But I love what I do. And it doesn’t hurt that my parents are proud of me for once.”

“They’ve always been proud of you,” I said, nudging him playfully. “You’re their golden child.”

“Maybe,” he said, his tone teasing. “But I’ve always cared more about what you thought of me.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his words. Before I could respond, Hades barked, pulling at the leash.

I glanced up to see what had caught his attention—and froze.

My boss was leaning against a dark Mercedez Benz and a cigarette dangled between his lips. He looked so casual. And also there was a man who had his back on me but it did not take me long to realize this was Yoongi.  I was staring for too long. Jungkook's gaze flickered on me and I saw a glint of surprise which made Yoongi turn around as well. My heart stopped.

For a moment, neither of us moved. It was as if the world had stopped, the air thick with tension.

“Y/N?” Taehyung’s voice broke the spell, and I tore my gaze away from Jungkook, my heart pounding.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “What were you saying?”

Taehyung followed my gaze, his brow furrowing as he took in both men's figures. “Is that Jeon Jungkook?” he asked surprised.

I shook my head, the knot in my stomach tightening. “Y-yeah. ” I mumbled and Tae hummed.  "So he is your boss?" I nodded. "Does he give you a hard time? I can give him a piece of my mind." I could hear the annoyance on Taehyung's voice as he spoke about Jungkook. I shook my head and my eyes shifted back on Tae.  "It's fine.Let's just go."

Taehyung didn’t look convinced, but he let it go, steering the conversation back to lighter topics as we slowly walked away.

But even as we continued walking, laughing and reminiscing, I couldn’t shake the image of Jungkook’s piercing gaze—or the way it had made me feel like he could see right through me.

-

Monday arrived far too quickly, and as I walked into the office, I could already feel the tension in the air. The weekend spent with Taehyung had been a rare reprieve, a reminder of the warmth of genuine friendship. But as soon as I entered the workspace, the cruel reality of my job hit me like a cold slap.

The whispers started almost immediately.

“Did you see her at the park?” Tina’s voice carried from the nearby break area, intentionally loud enough for me to hear.

“Oh, yeah,” Yoongi drawled, smirking as he leaned against the counter. “Who’d she pay to walk beside her like that?”

A few chuckles rippled through the room, and I kept my eyes fixed on my desk, willing myself to ignore them.

“Maybe he’s her personal trainer,” Tina continued with a sneer. “Though, let’s be honest, she doesn’t seem like the type who actually listens to advice.”

I gripped the edge of my desk, my knuckles turning white as I fought to keep my composure.

Jungkook’s voice joined the fray, sharp and mocking. “He probably felt bad for her. Sympathy date, maybe.”

Laughter erupted around me, the sound cutting deeper than I cared to admit.

“Morning, Y/N!” Tina’s fake tone made my stomach churn as she approached my desk, her heels clicking against the floor. “Had a good weekend? You seemed… busy.”

I forced a smile, keeping my voice even. “It was fine, thanks.”

Her eyes sparkled with faux curiosity. “Oh, come on, you can tell us. Who was that guy? Friend? Cousin? You’re not seriously trying to say he’s your boyfriend, are you?”

The heat rose to my cheeks, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. “Just an old friend.”

Tina’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, that makes sense. Because, you know, someone like him... with someone like you? Not exactly believable.”

The laughter started up again, and I clenched my fists under the desk, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping back. I shot her a glare however and she did see it. That errupted a chuckle from her and she walked away with graceful steps, shaking her hips because she knew Jungkook was there.  Pathetic bitch.

-

The hours dragged on, each task feeling heavier under the weight of the relentless mockery. By lunchtime, I felt like I was suffocating, the walls of the office closing in around me. I haven't felt like this since I was in damn high school.

“Y/N, you okay?” Rya’s voice was a lifeline, her genuine concern cutting through the fog of humiliation.

I glanced up to see her and Hoseok standing by my desk, their expressions sympathetic.

“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a smile. “I’m fine.”

“Let’s grab lunch,” Hoseok suggested. “Get out of here for a bit.”

I hesitated, but the idea of escaping the toxic atmosphere, even for a little while, was too tempting to pass up.

As we sat in a small café a few blocks away, I felt the tension slowly begin to ease. The warm, comforting smells of coffee and pastries wrapped around me like a blanket, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe again.

“They’re absolute trash,” Rya said bluntly, stirring her latte. “Tina, Yoongi, Jungkook—all of them.”

Hoseok nodded, his eyes serious. “You’re better than all of them combined, Y/N.”

I shrugged, poking at my sandwich with a fork. “It’s just... exhausting. I try to ignore them, but it’s like they go out of their way to tear me down.”

“They’re jealous,” Rya said firmly. “That’s all it is. You have talent, Y/N. They see that, and it scares them.”

I gave her a doubtful look. “They don’t seem scared to me.”

“Well, screw them,” Hoseok said, his tone unusually sharp. “You’ve got people who believe in you, Y/N.” I wish I could believe his words, but deep down I didn't. I was too absorbed in my inner pain to even think someone was believing in me. I wasn't believing in myself in the first place.

-

As I stepped through the doors, Yoongi’s voice rang out, loud and mocking.

“Back from lunch with your friends?” he said, smirking as he leaned against his desk arms crossed against his chest.

The others laughed, their eyes gleaming with amusement as they watched me walk past.

I didn’t respond, didn’t even look at him. But inside, I was crumbling, each cruel word chipping away at the walls I’d built to protect myself.

How much longer could I keep this up? How much more could I take before I broke completely?The answer lingered in the back of my mind, terrifying and inevitable.

-

The rest of the day passed in a haze of barely contained emotions. I kept my head down, focusing on the screen in front of me, even as whispers and snickers floated through the air like poison. Even my team was just as disgusting except Hoseok and Rya. What was wrong with adults acting like children? 

By the time 4 PM rolled around, I was hanging on by a thread. But of course, Tina wasn’t about to let me leave without one final jab.

She sauntered over to my desk, her heels clicking against the floor like a countdown to my inevitable implosion. Today she wore a bright blue pencil skirt, a white blouse that had too much buttons popped off. I could see her cleveage clearly. This was definitely not job appropriate but I knew who she was doing this for.

“Hey, Y/N,” she said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your designs. They’re… fine, I guess. For someone who clearly hasn’t seen the inside of a fashion magazine in, what, years?”

Her laugh was joined by Yoongi’s low chuckle from across the room, and my chest tightened.

“Not everyone can have an eye for detail like I do,” Tina continued, her voice rising so the whole office could hear. “But don’t worry. Maybe if you spent less time stuffing your face with food and more time paying attention to trends, you might actually produce something worth presenting to a client.”

The room fell silent, all eyes on me. My hands trembled, my nails digging into the edge of my desk.

“Enough,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. I could feel the rage bubbling up from deep inside of me. It was getting hard to control myself at this point. All these weeks of bullying and me being silent had to come to an end.

“What was that?” Tina leaned closer, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

“I said enough!” I stood up so quickly my chair toppled over, the loud clatter startling everyone. Tina's expression changed, I could see her blue eyes grow wide as she took a slight step back and her hands fell down her sides.

Tina blinked, clearly not expecting a reaction from me. “Excuse me?”

“You fucking heard me,” I said, my voice shaking but growing stronger with every word. “I’ve had it with your constant shitty bullying. Every day, you find some new way to tear me down, and for what? To make yourself feel better? To prove you’re better than me?”

She scoffed, crossing her arms. “Oh, please. Don’t be so dramatic.” she tried to look disinterested but I could see the surprise in her eyes from my outburst. Somehow I couldn't keep my mouth shut anymore. The words kept spilling out.

“Dramatic?” I laughed bitterly. “You’ve been treating me like garbage since the day I got here. Mocking my work, my weight, the way I dress, the way I look. And for what? Because you’re insecure? Because you can’t stand the idea of someone else succeeding? Someone else that is plain looking? Or should I say, someone that is different looking?”

The color drained from her face, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“And let’s not even start on the way you constantly throw yourself at the boss, who mind you, is just as shitty as you are.” I added, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “The way you bat your lashes, lean into him, practically cling to his arm whenever he’s in the room... everyone sees it, Jungkook especially. And guess what, he is not interested. Pathetic, isn't it?” I took a step toward her. She was taller than me wearing those heels, but I didn't gave a fuck. I was full with rage.

Gasps rippled through the office, and Tina’s cheeks turned crimson. From the corner of my eyes I could see Yoongi lean back on his chair and stare at us in pure silence.

“You want to act like you’re above me, Tina? Fine. But don’t think for a second we don’t all see how desperate you are to get his attention—and how he couldn’t care less. And you trying to bring me down by being a shitty Direct Manager does nothing to make the boss notice you.”

Her jaw dropped, her confidence visibly crumbling. “You—”

“What?” I snapped, cutting her off. “You don’t like hearing the truth? He doesn’t want you. He never will. So maybe, instead of tearing other people down to make yourself feel important, you should take a good, long look in the mirror.”

The room was deathly quiet, every pair of eyes glued to the unfolding scene.

“I-I will have you fired for this!" she stuttered, her face red with embarrassment.

I stared at her, my chest heaving, and for the first time, I saw her for what she really was: small, scared, and desperately clinging to the illusion of power.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice steady. “Do it, maybe I will finally get the mental break I deserve.”

Without another word, I grabbed my bag and walked out of the office, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the silence.

I didn’t make it far before the tears started falling. I ducked into the stairwell, sinking onto the cold concrete steps as the weight of the confrontation hit me. My shoulders shook with sobs, the release of weeks—months—of pent-up frustration and pain. Fucking hell, was I going to get fired for this? Fuck fuck fuck.

The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Rya standing there, her expression a mix of concern and pride.

“That was epic,” she said, sitting down beside me.

I laughed weakly, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. “It didn’t feel epic. It felt terrifying.”

“Well, it needed to be said,” she said firmly. “And you said it. You stood up for yourself, Y/N. That takes a lot of guts.”

I nodded, my tears slowing as her words sank in. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a spark of something I hadn’t felt in a long time: pride.

“Thanks, Rya,” I said softly.

She smiled, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Anytime. And just so you know, you’re not alone in this. We’ve got your back. And don't worry about getting fired, Jungkook can't afford to look for another candidate right now besides, deep down he knows you are brilliant at what you do and that you are a hard worker.”

Her words were like a balm to my wounded spirit, and as I sat there with her, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was stronger than I thought.

-

The office was buzzing with murmurs in the aftermath of my confrontation with Tina, but I tried to focus on my work. My chest was still tight, my emotions raw, but I felt an odd sense of relief. Standing up for myself had been terrifying, yet it also felt strangely empowering.

I barely had time to process the relief before a sharp voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Y/N,” Jungkook called from the doorway of his office, his tone clipped. “My office. Now.”

Every pair of eyes in the room shot to me, their gazes heavy with curiosity and judgment. My stomach sank, but I refused to let the anxiety show. With my head held high, I pushed back from my desk and walked toward him, determined not to let him intimidate me anymore.

The door clicked shut behind me, and the room suddenly felt much smaller. Jungkook stood by his desk, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his tattooed forearms, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath hitch. I saw him wearing a dark suit. However, his jacket was gone and he had his shirt on, black slacks and his tattoos complimented him perfectly. If he wasn't such an ass, I'd have been secretly attracted to him. 

“What’s this I hear about you causing a scene?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. He was definitely annoyed with me.

I crossed my arms, meeting his gaze head-on. “You mean standing up for myself? Sorry if that doesn’t fit your idea of acceptable behavior.”

His jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, the space between us shrinking. “This isn’t about acceptable behavior. It’s about keeping your head down and doing your job without making a spectacle of yourself.”

A laugh escaped me, bitter and unrestrained. “Oh, you mean like the way you and your little entourage make a spectacle out of humiliating me every chance you get?”

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, the tension in the room shifted, charged with something electric and unspoken.

“Careful, Y/N,” he said, his voice dropping an octave. “You’re treading on thin ice.”

I took a step closer, closing the distance between us until I could feel the heat radiating from his body. And his cologne intoxicated me. “And you know what? I don’t care anymore. I’ve had enough of your condescending remarks, your bullying, and your constant need to remind me that I don’t fit into your little world.”

His gaze flicked to my lips, just for a second, but it was enough to make my heart race.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice rough."I have done no such thing. It was to push you so you can get better."

“Are you kidding me?!” I shot back, my voice trembling with anger. “I see the way you look at me, Jungkook. The way you go out of your way to make my life miserable. What is it? Does it make you feel powerful? Or are you just trying to cover up whatever it is you’re really feeling?”

His hand flexed at his side, and for a moment, I thought he might reach for me. But instead, he took a step back, his expression unreadable.

“You’re crossing a line,” he said, his voice tight.

“No,” I said firmly. “I’m finally drawing one.”

The room was silent except for the sound of my own breathing, ragged and uneven. I could feel the weight of his gaze, heavy and unrelenting, but I refused to back down.

“Is that all, Mr. Jeon?” I asked, my voice cold and formal.

His jaw clenched, but he nodded. “Get out.”

I turned on my heel and walked out of the office, my heart pounding in my chest. As the door closed behind me, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of triumph and dread.

Whatever was brewing between Jungkook and me, it was far from over. And something told me it was only going to get more complicated.

I left Jungkook’s office with my heart pounding and my hands trembling. I didn’t know if I felt victorious or terrified, but I couldn’t afford to overanalyze it right now. I just needed to keep my head down and survive the rest of the day.

-

On my way back to my desk after my lunch break, I ducked into the break room to grab a glass of water. I needed at least a second to breathe before I faced the curious stares of my coworkers.

That’s when I heard voices drifting in from the slightly ajar door from one of the closest meeting rooms.

“Man, she really snapped at Tina...” Yoongi’s familiar voice was laced with amusement.

I froze.

“She didn’t just snap,” Yoongi continued with a low chuckle. “She obliterated her. And the best part? She called out Tina’s ridiculous crush on you. In front of everyone. Priceless.”

“Shut up, Yoongi,” Jungkook snapped, his tone sharp.

“Why? It’s true.” Yoongi’s voice grew more teasing. “I’ve never seen Tina look so humiliated. It was a masterpiece, honestly. Someone had to put her in her place eventually.”

“She was out of line,” Jungkook growled.

I inched closer to the door, my heart racing. Were they talking about me?

“Out of line?” Yoongi scoffed. “You’re kidding, right? Tina’s been terrorizing her for weeks. Y/N finally decided she wasn’t going to take it anymore. Honestly, I respect her for it.”

“It’s not her job to cause scenes in the office, besides, you have terrorizing her as well.” Jungkook shot back, his tone cold.

Yoongi laughed, the sound dry and mocking. “Oh, please. Don’t act like you’re mad about the professionalism or whatever excuse you’re clinging to. You’re mad because she stood up to you too. Admit it, Jeon—she caught you off guard. And you hate not being in control. And you also terrorized her. Is that apropriate for a CEO to do?”

There was a brief silence, and then Jungkook’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Careful, Yoongi.”

“Why?” Yoongi said, unfazed. “Let’s be real, Jungkook. You’ve been riding her harder than anyone else in this office. And for what? Because she’s not your type? Because she’s not like the other girls who throw themselves at you? Or because she is fat?” Fat. This word made my hands shake. I hated it so much. It was a reminder.

“That’s enough,” Jungkook growled, the edge in his voice enough to make me hold my breath.

“Or maybe,” Yoongi continued, clearly enjoying pushing Jungkook’s buttons, “it’s because she doesn’t give a damn about you? She doesn’t hang on your every word or bat her lashes at you like Tina. She’s not afraid to tell you off, and it’s driving you crazy. She is not attractive at all and you cannot comprehend how come someone who is not pretty not into you?”

“I said that’s enough!” Jungkook’s voice echoed through the room, loud and commanding.

The sudden outburst made me flinch, and I stepped back, my foot scuffing against the floor.

The noise was subtle, but in the silence that followed Jungkook’s shout, it was loud enough to draw attention.

“What was that?” Jungkook’s voice was sharp.

I turned and bolted before either of them could investigate, my heart racing as I slipped back into the main office.

My mind was spinning, replaying the conversation I’d just overheard. Yoongi’s words lingered in my mind, poking at emotions I wasn’t ready to confront.

Jungkook wasn’t mad about professionalism. He wasn’t mad about Tina. He was mad about me.

And that terrified me more than anything else.

-

A few hours after overhearing the heated conversation between Jungkook and Yoongi, my head was a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't focus on my work at all. I needed air—fresh, cool air that wasn’t tainted by the stifling tension of the office.

The rooftop seemed like the perfect escape. I’d been there once before during lunch, and it was usually deserted.

Pushing open the heavy door, I stepped out into the open, letting the crisp breeze wash over me. The city stretched out in every direction, its sounds muted by the height.

But my solitude was short-lived.

A familiar figure leaned against the railing, a cigarette between his fingers. Yoongi.

He glanced at me over his shoulder, one brow quirking in surprise. “Didn’t think you’d be the rooftop type.”

I crossed my arms, irritation bubbling to the surface. “And I didn’t think you’d be the smoking type. Guess we’re both full of surprises.”

He smirked, taking a long drag of his cigarette before exhaling a plume of smoke into the air. “Touché. So, what brings you up here? Trying to escape the circus downstairs?”

I took a few steps closer, my frustration from earlier finding a new target. “If by circus you mean you and Jungkook, then yeah. Congratulations, you two are the ringleaders.”

Yoongi let out a low chuckle, the sound grating against my nerves. “Ah, so you heard us.”

“Hard not to when you’re practically shouting,” I snapped. “Though I’m sure you both figured no one would dare eavesdrop on the great CEO and his sidekick.”

He turned to face me fully, leaning back against the railing. His sharp features were illuminated by the city lights, giving him an almost ethereal, dangerous look. “Careful, Y/N. You’re sounding pretty bold for someone who usually keeps her head down.”

I took another step closer, my anger pushing me forward. “Bold? You think this is bold? No, Yoongi. Bold is bullying someone for no good reason. Bold is turning the office into a soap opera just because you can’t act like an adult.”

His smirk faltered, replaced by a flash of something darker. He took a step toward me, closing the distance between us.

“You don’t know me,” he said, his voice low and cutting.

“And I don’t care to,” I shot back, though my voice wavered slightly.

We were close now, too close. The air between us was charged, a volatile mix of anger and something unspoken. His gaze locked onto mine, unyielding and intense, and I refused to back down.

“Let me guess,” I continued, my voice shaking with both rage and nerves. “You’re just another overgrown man-child who thinks the world owes him something. Smoking on the rooftop, making snarky comments—what’s next? Brooding poetry about how misunderstood you are?”

He tilted his head, his smirk returning, though it carried a dangerous edge. “You’ve got a mouth on you, Y/N. Didn’t think you had it in you to snap twice in one day.”

“Yeah, well, you and your buddy Jungkook seem to bring out the worst in me,” I bit out.

Yoongi stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But don’t think for a second that you can figure me out with your little insults. You should look at yourself in the mirror.”

“Figure you out?” I laughed bitterly. “I don’t want to figure you out, Yoongi. Trust me, I know who I am, I look at myself in the mirror everyday. What about you? Do you know who you are?" there was a pause." Leave me the hell alone.”

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Then why are you still standing here?”

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. His words hung in the air, heavy and taunting. I hated the way he got under my skin, the way his presence seemed to pull at something deep and unwanted inside me.

“Because someone needs to tell you off as well,” I said finally, though my voice lacked the conviction it had moments ago.

He chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re cute when you’re mad, Y/N. But if you think you can scare me off, you’re in for a rude awakening.”

I glared at him, refusing to let him see how his words affected me. “Enjoy your rooftop melodrama.”

I turned on my heel, marching back toward the door. But as I reached for the handle, his voice stopped me.

“Y/N.”

I glanced back, my hand hovering over the door.

“You’re stronger than you think,” he said, his tone softer, almost contemplative.

I didn’t know how to respond, so I said nothing. Instead, I pushed open the door and walked back into the stairwell, his words following me like a shadow.

[tsukumomei]

AFTER ASHES 2 | Itoshi Sae

Alice in Borderland AU | PART 2

A/n: You asked for part two, and here it is. Tags; •fem + afab!reader, •forced proximity (friends to lovers-ish) CW: •wc; 16k •MDNI •aged-up•violence •gore •murder •death games •psychological distress •depictions of survival scenarios •betrayal and manipulation •themes of isolation and despair •graphic injuries •implied shower sex •coercion and power dynamics PART 1 | PART 3

Sae couldn’t remember the last time he'd woken up as well-rested as he did now. 

In this shitty world, sleep was usually restless. 

This morning, however, the room was quiet, the air warm and still, save for the gentle rise and fall of your figure nestled against him. 

Your head rested against his chest, your breath soft and steady, and your legs were tangled with his beneath the soft covers. 

He barely moved, careful not to disturb you as you shifted slightly in your sleep. His arm tightened around you instinctively, a motion so natural it surprised even him. His mind replaying the events of the night prior. Every word, every tear, every ounce of vulnerability that had passed between the two of you lingered heavily in his mind. 

Of course he’d been in his fair share of arguments before. Ex-girlfriends walking out on him, shouting matches that left him feeling nothing but irritation or relief. But last night was different.

The anguish that he knew was to come if he had let you walk out those doors wasn’t something he was used to. It had clawed at his chest, an unfamiliar ache that he couldn’t ignore, no matter how much he wanted to. For the first time, he felt the weight of what it would mean to lose someone. Not an inconvenience, but as a wound that might not heal. 

The thought of you leaving, of your presence disappearing from his life, had been unbearable in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

Closing his eyes briefly, his jaw tightened as the memory washed over him. Sae wasn’t one for grand gestures or emotional declarations. He prided himself on his reservation, his ability to remain neutral in any situation. 

But with you, that facade had disappeared, exposing something unpolished beneath.

Now, in the quiet stillness of the morning, he felt an odd sense of calm. The world outside was still as cruel and chaotic as ever, but for this moment, he could pretend it wasn’t. He could focus on the sound of your breathing, the warmth of your body against his, and the quiet realization that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t want to face this world without you by his side.

He looked down at you, his teal eyes softening as he watched the way your lashes fluttered slightly, still lost in sleep. His hand hesitated for a moment before brushing a strand of hair from your face, the motion so gentle it barely registered.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Almost the entirety of his life, Sae had only ever cared about soccer. 

From a young age, he has been deemed a genius, a prodigy. It was a gift bestowed upon him by whatever god that decided to favor him. He knew it, he embraced it. 

He is fully aware that he did not excel at much else, except maybe having a sharp mind, but beyond that, his skill set was singularly focused.

For the majority of the human population, that kind of limitation would be–daunting, terrible even. A singular skill with nothing to fall back on might leave most people feeling hollow or unfulfilled. But Sae isn’t like most people. Since he was exceptional at the sport, his talent had paved the way for a lavish lifestyle. He’d been scouted by prestigious teams, earned endorsements worth millions, and enjoyed a level of admiration that bordered on worship.

What Sae couldn’t seem to manage, however, was maintaining relationships. 

Take his family, for example. While he was certain his parents adored him, they had never been particularly close. Then there was Rin, his younger brother, a soccer prodigy in his own right but estranged from Sae for reasons he didn’t dwell on often. At first, he thought his brother was simply going through a rebellious teenage phase, but Rin is 24 now, so clearly that was not the case. Their relationship was strained to the point of silence, a rift that neither of them seemed willing to mend.

When it came to romance, he was even more detached. 

Marriage wasn’t entirely off the table. He had thought about it a few times—but only as a practical obligation, to please his mother. Something that might happen someday,  but if it didn’t, he wouldn’t lose sleep over it. 

He figured he’d look for someone pleasant to live with, someone who wouldn’t irritate him, but love? That wasn’t a factor.

Over the years, he had cycled through multiple partners, though he wouldn’t consider most of them relationships. Maybe one or two had been serious enough to linger in his mind briefly, but they never lasted long. The truth was simple: he lacked any real interest in them. They were distractions, comforts, and once their novelty wore off, he found himself bored and ready to move on. He knew it was cold, but he also knew himself too well to pretend otherwise.

To Sae, love was subjective. A concept that held different meanings for different people. For him, it was fleeting and unnecessary. He wasn’t searching for fulfillment in a partner or expecting some grand romantic epiphany, because none of that mattered.

After all, being the best midfielder in the world was the only thing that did.

His thoughts about love had become exceedingly rare—if not nonexistent—since ending up in the Borderlands. 

Never in a million years did he think he’d find love in a place like this.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

In all honesty, Sae initially thought his first game was some prank orchestrated by his teammates. It was the first time he’d humored their suggestion to wander around Shinjuku—just a typical boys' hangout. He’d stepped away to the bathroom for less than five minutes and returned to find the café completely deserted, save for one teammate who was just as confused as he was.

Sure, he’d trash-talked amateur players, even his own brother on the field with lines like, “You should’ve just stayed home and died a peaceful death.” 

But nothing could have prepared him for the sight of his teammate’s lifeless body hanging on barbed wire, mangled and bloody. The sheer brutality of it sickened him. 

Gruesome and disgusting, the image was seared into his memory. That was the moment it hit him—this wasn’t some elaborate joke. 

This was real life, and it was merciless.

Damn, he wished he had answers. A scientific explanation for why he was suddenly trapped in a twisted place where survival hinged on playing cruel and absurd games.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Ironically, his reputation as Japan’s greatest treasure had proven unexpectedly useful. It exceeded his expectations when a tall man with a bowl-cut hairstyle approached him one day, extending an offer to join a "utopia" he was building. The man—Ego Jinpachi—knew Sae’s value. With his athletic physique, quick decision-making, and calculated nature, Ego claimed Sae would be a perfect candidate for an executive role.

Sae hated false facades, but Ego’s proposal piqued his interest. The man claimed he knew how to escape this nightmare: collect every card in a standard deck—all numbers, all suits. It seemed plausible, and as much as Sae preferred being a lone wolf, he needed a secure place to stay. Reluctantly, he took the bait.

Life as an executive was decent. Sae was primarily tasked with analyzing the members. Their strengths, weaknesses, and potential. He liked doing that; it appealed to his love of logic, seeing everything reduced to clean, measurable numbers. 

It was a simple system: play the games, follow the rules, and the lower-ranked members would serve him like the prince he knew he was. But as days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, the reality began to weigh on him. The time it would take to return to his usual life seemed agonizingly long, each passing day dragging him further from the world he knew. 

And with that time came a mounting toll.

A growing number of corpses he’d stumble upon, the sight of lifeless eyes becoming routine. Some of them, he realized, were casualties of his own hand. The weight of survival was a constant, gnawing burden, one he carried without complaint but could never entirely shrug off.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Being an executive came with additional rules, separate from the ones announced to the general population. 

First and foremost, they weren’t allowed to monopolize one member all the time; executives had to rotate their focus to prevent alliances and, in turn, reduce the likelihood of betrayal. 

Secondly, they cannot leave the Beach. Loyalty to the Beach is absolute, and those who will attempt to abandon the group would be hunted down and executed without mercy.

Thirdly—and most critically—don’t get attached. Ego could care less if they indulged in flings for personal pleasure, but genuine, meaningful attachments were strictly forbidden. Relationships were distractions, he believed, and could easily compromise the integrity of the group in critical situations where one might prioritize their partner's safety over the team’s survival.

Sae found none of those rules inconvenient—the third one, unnecessary, maybe. After all, who in their right mind would think about such things in a place like this? 

These regulations were strictly for the Beach’s top-ranking members, and he had no issue adhering to them. Sae ranked number four among them, just beneath Loki and the enigmatic leaders whose motives were as unreadable as their plans were precise.

He assumed his high rank was due to his discipline and ability to follow the rules without question. Completing his assigned tasks efficiently and without unnecessary drama, he had earned the trust of the leadership. 

Sae had no interest in the Beach’s politics or the power struggles that seemed to consume some of the other executives. While others schemed and whispered in the shadows, he kept his head down and focused on what mattered most to him—survival and a possible return to the real world.

The environment was tense, but the rules? They were simple to him. He didn’t understand how the previous executives—those who had held his position before—had struggled to follow such basic guidelines. Their inability to abide by them had cost them their lives, and Sae found it both baffling and pathetic.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Sae didn’t care much about the newcomers arriving at the Beach, but you caught his eye on your first day—though not in the way you might think. 

You were staring at him while he sat on the corner of the stage. It irritated him. He figured you were probably one of those annoying fans from the real world. He didn’t care how pretty Kaiser had claimed you were; he dismissed you outright.

Typically, new members were covertly monitored by an executive of Ego’s choosing to ensure they weren’t planning any treacherous actions. For you and Kaede, that responsibility had been assigned to Aiku. But, of course, your restless, adventurous nature had other plans. Sneaking out like a little rat in the dead of night, you wandered far from the Beach, forcing Ego to redirect Sae to follow you.

That’s how he found you by the riverside that night, skipping stones under the moonlight. It wasn’t the first time someone caused trouble, but for some reason, this encounter felt different. Maybe it was the serenity of the scene—or the way you looked so carefree, a rare sight to him.

That was the night Sae discovered that you only knew him as Sae Itoshi, the beach executive—not the famous soccer player. He liked that. It meant you wouldn’t treat him like an idol, something most people failed to understand about him. He had been testing you that evening, gauging your character with every word exchanged. 

Usually, such conversations would have dragged on longer, but you struck him as the honest and righteous girl he had presumed you to be, with a solid athletic background to match. So when he reported back to Ego later that night, he made a request—an unusual move on his part. He had asked for you to be assigned to him the following morning.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

He had been right, of course—you did pull through that game, proving yourself to be competent. 

But there was one glaring flaw he couldn't overlook: your tendency to care for the other players.

Sae was convinced that one day, your misguided compassion would lead you to waste your potential. Precisely why he had pulled you out of the water during the plunge. Yet, at breakfast the following morning, despite the fresh injury you bore, that familiar glint of hope still sparkled in your eyes, unwavering and infuriatingly resilient.

Capable, impulsive, overly optimistic—was his conclusion after spending some time observing you. The trifecta of traits of a person that he couldn’t stand.

Yet, Sae decided he’d humor your antics. At least for the remainder of your time off. You were, without a doubt, the most peculiar and ridiculous person he’d encountered in this hellish world, and that said a lot considering how long he’d been here. 

No one else dared to talk to him so casually, yet there you were, barging into his personal space like it was second nature, and, before he realized it, into his life entirely.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

With no games to participate in, you were still expected to contribute to the Beach. For you, that meant looting abandoned grocery stores for supplies. Going around town with him to complete the task should have taken all of 30 minutes, but it stretched into five hours because of a crying child you found in a narrow alley. While Sae stood off to the side, you spent those hours keeping the child company, sharing your loot, and telling hopeful stories to ease his fears until his battered and exhausted mother finally returned.

On the walk back, you ranted about the cruelty of a god who would send a child to suffer in such a desolate place. Sae didn’t interrupt; he just listened, silently observing the strange contradiction of a person so compassionate in a world that rewarded nothing but survival.

Capable, impulsive, overly optimistic. The same initial words he’d used to describe you the other day.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The more time Sae spent with you, the more obvious it became that his original intentions had shifted. At first, it was purely observational. But now? Now, spending time with you had become something he simply wanted to do. He didn’t just tolerate your presence; he found himself enjoying it. 

Your ideas of a “hangout” grew increasingly absurd, yet Sae found himself indulging you every single time. Late-night expeditions to the rooftops to count stars you could barely see, or raiding old convenience stores for snacks long past their expiration date—it was ridiculous. He knew it was ridiculous. But there he was, letting you drag him along, unable to say no to you, even when it meant doing things he normally wouldn’t.

Like the time you had insisted on climbing a rusty playground slide you’d found during one of your outings. “For nostalgia,” you’d said with that mischievous grin of yours. He’d rolled his eyes but helped stabilize the structure anyway, grumbling about how dangerous it was, even as you laughed your way down the crooked metal.

Even the touchiest subjects with you came surprisingly easy. When you had asked him about his brother, his first instinct was to shut it down. But you’d been quick to assure him that he didn’t have to talk if he didn’t want to. Somehow, the sincerity in your voice had melted the usual barrier he kept firmly in place. Before he knew it, the words were spilling out. Stories of Rin, of soccer, of the rift that had grown between them. He told you more than he’d told anyone else, and for once, it didn’t feel like a burden.

You smiled at him then, though it carried a hint of sadness. “You must really love your brother, don’t you?”

Of course, he did. He just didn’t know how to fix their fractured relationship. You shared your own experience, telling him about your younger sister studying abroad, the distance between you since your parents passed, and how you’d only been able to connect through brief FaceTime calls.

“When do you think things started going south between you two?” you asked gently.

Sae hesitated before recounting the snowy day on the soccer field, his words to Rin cutting sharper than any blade, and how everything had spiraled out of control from there. By the time he finished, he glanced at you, found your face expressionless, your eyes narrowing slightly as though you were meticulously processing every detail.

You finally broke the silence. “Well, that explains a lot,” you said dryly. “I can’t believe you said those things to him. Seriously, Sae, what did you expect? Of course, Rin’s holding a grudge. You basically handed it to him on a silver platter.”

His brow furrowed, clearly annoyed. “What was I supposed to do? Lie?”

“No, not lie,” you shot back, crossing your arms. “But maybe not crush his dreams and insult him in the same breath. Just a thought.”

Sae’s lips tightened. “It’s not that simple.”

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. “What’s not simple about apologizing? You’re the older brother, Sae. Take some responsibility for once in your life.”

He scowled, clearly not a fan of your bluntness. “Apologizing isn’t going to magically fix everything.”

You gave him a pointed look. “Maybe not, but it’s a start. And let’s face it, you owe him that much.”

Sae scoffed. “Easier said than done.”

You leaned forward, resting your elbows on your knees as you tilted your head at him. “Look,” you continued, softening your tone. “Maybe you can start by telling Rin how you actually feel. Not the cold, calculated Sae stuff you feed everyone else. Be honest. That’s probably what he’s wanted from you all along.”

Sae didn’t respond right away, but the faint crease between his brows and the faraway look in his eyes told you your words had struck a chord.

You leaned back, letting the silence settle. “For what it’s worth, Sae,” you said after a moment, “it’s never too late to fix things. But you actually have to try.”

That was the day it hit him—how beautiful you really were. It wasn’t a grand revelation, just a quiet moment when you turned to look at him, laughing at something trivial, and the light caught your face in just the right way. He was stunned by the sound of your laughter, the way it seemed to echo in his chest. 

He didn’t say anything, of course. He wasn’t sure he could without making it obvious.

The time you found a two-piece swimsuit in one of the mall’s abandoned stores was a whole other ordeal. You had held it up triumphantly, inspecting the fabric and twirling it with a teasing smile before disappearing into the dressing room to try it on. When you re-emerged, you were grinning, hands on your hips, the swimsuit hugging your figure perfectly.

“What do you think?” you asked, playful mischief in your tone. “Does this suit me?”

Sae barely spared you a glance, his scowl deepening as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It doesn’t suit you. Put it back.” 

You tilted your head at him, a mock pout forming on your lips. “You didn’t even look properly!”

“I looked enough,” he shot back, turning away and feigning disinterest as he busied himself with an imaginary task on a nearby shelf.

After a moment of your dramatic sighing, you relented, changing back into your usual attire. What you didn’t know was how fast his heart was racing in defiance of his usual calm.

The truth was, he had looked, and the sight of you had made his throat tighten. 

It wasn’t that it didn’t suit you—it suited you far too well. Too perfect. As if your usual wasn’t already revealing, you’d want to turn it up a notch? And the idea of anyone else seeing you like that, of their eyes lingering where it shouldn’t, ignited a possessiveness he wasn’t ready to confront.

As you rejoined him, tossing the swimsuit aside with a little shrug, he muttered under his breath, “Good. It didn’t look comfortable anyway.” You rolled your eyes at his grumpy demeanor, blissfully unaware of the turmoil you’d left in his chest.

But, of course, he wasn’t about to tell you that.

In quieter moments, the changes in him became even more apparent. He started looking forward to the little routines you’d established like the shared breakfasts where you always tried to sneak some of his food onto your plate despite his half-hearted protests. It was annoying, but not enough for him to actually stop you.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

On the eve of your last day off, Sae had no idea what compelled him to knock on your door. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself as he stood there in the dimly lit hallway. Seeking out others’ company wasn’t something he ever did, least of all yours. He had spent most of his life avoiding attachments, yet here he was, knuckles hovering above the wood, heart beating just a little faster than it should.

Before he could talk himself out of it, the door swung open, and there you were, standing in the doorway, just as surprised to see him as he was to find himself there. For a moment, neither of you spoke. His gaze flicked down to the soft creases on your shirt, evidence of someone who had spent most of the day in bed. 

You broke the silence first, your lips curling into a teasing smile. “Missed me?”

He had, though he’d never admit it. You hadn’t shown up for breakfast, and despite telling himself it wasn’t a big deal, concern had gnawed at him all day.

He scoffed, muttering something about you being an idiot getting flushed in the toilet, but before he could retreat and pretend he hadn’t come all this way to check on you, your hand shot out, grabbing his wrist with a warmth that momentarily froze him in place.

“Come on,” you said, your tone light and full of intrigue as you began pulling him down the hall. “I want to show you something.”

To his surprise, you led him to the same riverside where he had first met you skipping stones. It was quieter now, the world around you blanketed in the soft hues of dusk. You picked up a stone and tossed it, the ripple patterns breaking the stillness of the water.

You cried that night. Not the quiet, dignified kind of crying he’d seen before, but the raw, unrestrained sobs of someone who had been holding it together for far too long. It felt like the world had cracked open in that moment, leaving nothing but you and the sound of your pain.

Sae froze, unsure of what to do. He wasn’t used to this. He didn’t know how to comfort someone, especially someone like you, who always seemed so unshakable. But as your tears kept falling, he couldn’t just stand there. Before he knew it, he had stepped forward, brushing the tears from your cheeks with the back of his hand.

And then, almost instinctively, he pulled you into a hug. It was awkward at first—Sae wasn’t the kind of man who offered affection easily—but as you buried your face into his chest, his arms tightened around you. 

It was in that moment, holding you close as your emotions poured out, that something shifted inside him. He couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but the feeling was undeniable. 

For the first time in what felt like forever, Sae found himself thinking about love—not as some abstract concept or fleeting notion, but as something tangible, something that terrified him because it might actually exist between the two of you.

Of course, it wasn’t that

He told himself it wasn’t that. 

It couldn’t be that. 

He couldn’t allow it to be that. 

But the truth lingered in the quiet between you.

The second he tried to deny that he loved you was the moment he knew he did, 

And he knew you loved him too.

He realized just then that he’d been dancing on the line bordering the executive rules he once claimed were basic, easy, and simple to follow. 

The very rules that once felt like an immovable framework for survival now seemed frustratingly fragile under the weight of your presence in his life. 

Rules were meant to be a lifeline in this chaotic world, something to keep him focused on the goal of getting out alive.

But with you, things were different. The boundaries he had drawn so clearly for himself blurred every time you smiled at him or pulled him into your harebrained schemes.

And as he stood there, he felt that line beneath his feet, thin and frayed. The rules had seemed so black-and-white before, but now they loomed over him like a quiet warning. Relationships were forbidden for a reason—attachments made people vulnerable. 

And yet, there he was, realizing that his resolve had already cracked, his intentions no longer as detached as they once were. 

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The Beach harbored countless secrets—disgusting, gruesome, and morally irredeemable—but Sae chose to keep them from you. He wanted to protect your optimism, that rare light in his dark, unrelenting world. 

He had no desire to tarnish your spirit, especially not with the controversies that surrounded Kaede’s death.

You didn’t know, of course, and he wasn’t going to burden you with the knowledge. Kaede’s death was complicated, far more than the simple loss of a life. 

The rule at the Beach had always been clear in situations like hers: one must die for the welfare of the group. Sacrifice was the cornerstone of survival, even when it meant making decisions no one wanted to make. But your lovely best friend had managed to captivate Oliver Aiku, the mismatched-eyed executive.

Aiku had broken every rule to save her. During that game, he killed multiple Beach members, jeopardizing the very survival of the group, all in a futile attempt to protect her. The game was almost lost because of his actions. And though Aiku ended up in a coma, the Beach leaders had made it clear: the moment he woke, his life would be forfeit. 

Romantic attachments were forbidden for a reason, and Aiku’s defiance was the perfect example of why.

Sae thought about this often, about what he would do if it ever came to that for him. 

The rules were designed to execute the executive in question, it wouldn’t be you, and for him, that was enough. He could endure the consequences so long as you were safe. But then, during one emergency meeting, everything changed.

The meeting was called late that night while you were asleep in his bed. He’d slipped out as quietly as possible, careful not to wake you. In the dimly lit gathering, the upper brass announced a new, stricter enforcement of the third rule. 

Attachments were no longer just discouraged—they were deemed a direct threat to the Beach’s stability. If any member, not just an executive, they would be executed without warning. The change wasn’t meant to be announced, only silently enforced.

Sae thought the storm had passed after the meeting adjourned. He had resigned himself to maintaining his distance, believing he could keep you safe by hiding the depth of his feelings. 

But then, Julian Loki—a fellow executive—nudged him sharply as they exited the room.

“I know everything,” Loki whispered, his tone laced with venom. “You’ve got a week to drop her, or I’ll report it to the upper brass.”

He hated this—hated the helplessness that clung to him in this wretched place. If only he’d met you in the real world, somewhere untouched by the despair of the Borderlands. There, things could have been different. He would have wrapped the world in a neat ribbon and offered it to you without hesitation, but here? Here, he couldn’t.

That’s when Sae began to avoid you, distancing himself bit by bit. He reduced the time he spent with you, leaving conversations unfinished and giving excuses to sidestep your invitations. He hoped you wouldn’t notice, hoped you’d chalk it up to his usual aloofness.

But every moment spent away from you felt like a betrayal. Each time he turned his back, he could see the confusion in your eyes, the flicker of hurt you tried so hard to hide. And though he hated himself for it, Sae pressed on. Because no matter how much it tore him apart, he couldn’t let you become another casualty of the Beach’s unrelenting cruelty.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

By the end of the week Loki had given him, the Beach's darkness weighed heavier than ever. That day, whispers had circulated about a horrific incident—some girls had been raped and killed. As always, Lorenzo was tasked with the grim cleanup job. His faction, the only one with access to the Beach’s weapons, also handled the disposal of traitors' bodies, making the task both routine and sickeningly familiar.

Sae had overheard the grim details from a hushed conversation among the other members, and though he hadn’t been directly involved, he understood what it was. 

That incident pushed him to your door that night. Sae told himself it was just to catch a glimpse of you, to reassure himself. To know that you were safe, alive, and breathing. He needed that confirmation, even if it was for the last time. You opened the door almost immediately, surprised to see him standing there in the dim hallway, his face shadowed by the flickering fluorescent lights above.

Before he could stop himself, he stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him. He didn’t think, didn’t weigh the consequences—his body acted on its own. Sae leaned down, cupping your face gently, and kissed you.

The world seemed to pause, the tension in his chest melting away for the briefest of moments. This was everything he’d been holding back, everything he’d refused to admit, spilling out in one act.

It took everything for him to finally pull away, it felt like ripping himself apart. Your wide-eyed expression, the way your lips parted as if to say something, nearly broke him. 

He wanted nothing more than to stay, to hold you and let the world outside cease to exist. But he couldn’t.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

During the time Sae spent apart from you, a certain blonde-haired idiot with pink, antenna-like strands framing his face had wormed his way into his orbit. The guy introduced himself as Shidou, but Sae decided that “demon” was a more fitting nickname. 

Eccentric, violent, and disturbingly enthusiastic about his bizarre ideas of “passing on his genes,” Shidou was nothing short of a chaotic force. Despite Sae’s initial irritation, Shidou had an uncanny way of sticking around.

It didn’t take long for Sae to realize that Shidou had a connection to you. Apparently, he’d been part of your team before Aiku scouted you for the Beach’s ranks. For all his oddities, Shidou seemed to genuinely respect you—perhaps even adore you . He had once made a bold statement about you being “explosive” and “his type of person,” much to Sae’s annoyance.

Sae felt a faint prickle of threat in the air, but Shidou had assured him in his usual chaotic tone, “Relax, man, it’s just platonic. She’s like a firecracker—you don’t wanna get too close, or you’ll burn your face off. 

To Sae’s surprise, he found Shidou’s presence tolerable, even useful at times. Shidou’s energy had a way of distracting other Beach members, creating just enough chaos to keep prying eyes off Sae’s dealings.

Shidou had somehow managed to introduce Sae to you and his former team, all of whom were now part of the Beach. 

The Beach, once seen as a refuge of order amidst chaos, was beginning to show cracks in its foundation. The top brass had been making increasingly questionable decisions, ones that left even the most loyal members uneasy. Sae, ever perceptive, recognized the signs of an inevitable collapse.

Determined to stay ahead of the chaos, Sae decided to take a calculated risk. He shared the extensive information he had collected about the upper brass with the team, a move that was uncharacteristic for someone as guarded as him. Yet, watching how the team operated and seeing their dedication, Sae felt an unfamiliar sense of confidence in them.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

One day, while patrolling the grounds together, Shidou casually brought up a topic that made Sae’s blood run cold.

“You really think no one notices?” Shidou said, his sharp grin as infuriating as always.

“Notices what?” 

“Oh come on mr. prodigy, the way you bribe players to keep an eye on y/n during games? Or how you threaten them if they're dumb enough to slack off? You’re basically her guardian angel, and it’s hilarious.”

Sae shot him a withering glare. “You’ve got a big mouth for someone who should be staying out of my business.”

“Hey, hey, relax!” Shidou laughed, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m not ratting you out. If anything, I respect it. Kind of romantic in a creepy, stalker-ish way. I dig the commitment.”

Sae rolled his eyes and kept walking, but Shidou wasn’t done.

“Just saying, though, if you’re gonna go all knight-in-shining-armor, you might as well do it right. Want me to keep an eye on her too?”

Sae didn’t answer, but his silence was enough of an answer for Shidou. From then on, the demon became an unspoken ally of sorts. Whenever Sae couldn’t watch over you himself, Shidou had a way of stepping in, sometimes with his usual chaos and sometimes with a surprising amount of subtlety.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

There was one time Shidou went overboard, though. During a high-stakes game, he had taken it upon himself to “eliminate” a player who had been overly confrontational toward you. Sae had confronted him about it later, furious.

“I told you to watch her, not go on a killing spree,” Sae hissed.

Shidou shrugged, looking entirely unapologetic. “What can I say? The guy was bad vibes. Don’t worry, though, your princess is safe, and isn’t that what matters?”

Sae let out a frustrated sigh, knowing there was no reasoning with Shidou. Still, despite his irritation, there was a small, grudging sense of relief. For whatever reason, the demon was loyal to both of you.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

After the grueling spade game that left Sae with a deep gash on his upper arm, it was Shidou who suggested he seek you out.

“You look like hell,” Shidou commented, leaning casually against the wall. His grin was sharp, but there was a hint of something almost genuine in his tone. “You should go find y/n. I’ll make sure Loki doesn’t catch wind of it.”

Sae hesitated, brushing a hand over his wound. It wasn’t like him to need anyone, but the ache in his arm was nothing compared to the dull emptiness that had settled in his chest. Shidou’s smirk widened as if reading his mind.

“Don’t kid yourself, man,” Shidou added, a mocking lilt in his voice. “You miss her. I’ll cover for you.”

Sae scoffed, muttering something about Shidou needing to mind his own business, but his feet were already moving. Despite himself, he knew Shidou was right. He missed you—more than he cared to admit.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Thinking about all that now, makes him realize just how fucked he is. He was supposed to visit you, not spend the night with you. Then again, he’d never been good at sticking to his plans when it came to you.

Your eyes fluttered open, your hand instinctively rubbing at them as you adjusted to the soft morning light filtering into the room. It wasn’t until a moment later that your cheeks flushed, the realization dawning on you—you were bare beneath the covers. 

Flustered, you shifted slightly away from him, your embarrassment evident in every movement. 

Sae noticed. It was amusing, really—how shy you were now, as if he hadn’t seen every part of you the night before. Still, he didn’t mind. He found your bashfulness endearing, a trait that only made you more captivating in his eyes.

You quickly regained your composure, straightened your posture, and locked eyes with him, your gaze unwavering.

The intensity of your stare made his chest tighten. He knew exactly what you were asking, even though the words hadn’t left your lips. 

You wanted the truth.

With a deep sigh, he leaned back slightly, running a hand through his hair as if bracing himself.

“Alright,” he murmured, his voice low and steady, as he tossed you a clean shirt from his drawer.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

After you finished listening to everything Sae had kept from you, you had a deadpan expression —he couldn’t quite place. He wondered if you were about to swoon or lash out at him for being so stupid.

Before he could figure it out, you slapped him. 

“I deserve that,” he muttered, surrendering without resistance, holding his hands above his head slightly, despite feeling the slight sting on his right cheek..

But what came next threw him off more than anything. 

You leaned toward him and pulled him into a kiss—soft and sweet, yet enough to knock the breath out of him.

When you pulled away, your gaze softened, though determination burned brightly in your eyes. “I know you were trying to protect me, but you should’ve just told me. I don’t care about the threat, Sae. As long as we’re together, we can figure it out.”

He felt like an idiot. No—he was an idiot. An idiot for doubting you, for keeping you in the dark, for forgetting how strong and capable you truly were. Deep down, he knew he wanted to shoulder everything alone to protect your optimism, your joy—but that had been the wrong choice.

Without a word, he reached out, his hands cupping your face tenderly. “I’ll never keep something from you again,” he murmured before pressing his lips to yours once more, this time with a deeper intensity.

The moment was perfect until the door swung open, and a familiar voice broke the silence.

“Woah, you guys made up!”

You and Sae sprang apart, both whipping around to find Shidou grinning like he’d just walked in on something far juicier than it was.

“There’s a thing called knocking, you know,” you said, glaring at him in irritation.

“Tch,” was Sae’s only response, his mood visibly soured by the interruption.

Shidou ignored both of you, stepping inside and flopping onto a nearby chair as if he owned the place. “Anyway, I gotta tell you guys what I overheard this morning.” He paused dramatically, letting the tension build. “There’s only one number card left—the 10 of Hearts.”

You frowned. “Just one? And no one’s come across a face card yet?”

Shidou nodded, leaning forward, his usual grin fading into something more serious. “Not just that. There’s a rumor going around. Something about a traitor among the executives. Isagi’s the one who figured it out, but he doesn’t know who it is yet.”

Sae’s jaw tightened, and you could practically see the wheels turning in his head. “A traitor?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.

You exchanged a tense glance with Sae, the weight of Shidou’s revelation settling over both of you like a storm cloud. The knock on the door shattered the silence, making everyone in the room flinch.

You turned to Shidou with an irritated glare. “Who else did you tell?”

Shidou threw his hands up defensively, his usual smirk absent for once. “No one, I swear. Chill.” He got up and strode to the door, muttering, “Let me handle it.”

The moment he opened the door, his cocky demeanor shifted to one of surprise. “Chigiri?” he asked, stepping aside as the red-haired man entered hurriedly, his expression grim.

Chigiri’s sharp eyes darted around the room, meeting yours with a silent understanding that seemed to say, Glad to have you back, Y/N. Then he spoke, his voice low and urgent. “We have a problem. Isagi’s been taken.”

Your heart sank, and Sae tensed beside you. “Taken? By who?” Sae demanded, his tone sharp.

“Ness,” Chigiri answered grimly. “He’s got Isagi tied up in some room, but we don’t know where. The leaders didn’t like the anxiousness from other players due to his speculations about the traitor and... they think he might be the one. They’re torturing him. God knows how far they’ve gone by now.”

Your fists clenched at the thought. “We have to rescue him,” you said firmly, looking at each of them.

Shidou raised a brow, his grin creeping back. “Oh, I’m in. Sounds like fun.”

Sae shot him a glare before turning to you. “We’ll need a plan.”

Chigiri nodded, stepping closer, his expression tense. “Yukki and Reo are already searching the grounds, but we need more people if we’re going to find him before it’s too late—”

He was abruptly cut off by the sound of screaming and the thunder of rushing footsteps echoing from the main hall. The tension in the room spiked as everyone froze, listening. The door burst open, and Bachira stormed in, his face pale but his eyes gleaming with discovery.

“There’s chaos in the hall,” Bachira said breathlessly. “You might wanna check it out.”

Everyone exchanged wary glances before immediately rushing down the main hall.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

All the Beach members were gathered, including the executives—everyone except the leaders, Ness, and Isagi. Blood was splattered across one of the walls, so much that it nearly covered the entire surface. The sight had everyone on edge, fear and confusion rippling through the crowd.

At the center of the room lay a pile of phones, next to a small sign that read: One per person. Even from a distance, you knew exactly what this meant. A game. And this time, everyone at the Beach was a player.

Your heart raced as you quickly grabbed a phone, joining the others in tense anticipation. Suddenly, the mechanical voice emanated from every device simultaneously, cold and unfeeling:

“Game Rules: 10 of Hearts: Bloodbound

Then came a riddle:

"In shadow, I watch and consume. My speech deceives. Set me free or strike me down, and the blood recedes."

The voice paused before delivering its final chilling instruction:

“Accomplish the riddle within 3 hours, and you win. Failure to do so results in death. Good luck.”

The crowd grew restless, their faces marked by confusion and fear. The riddle had left them baffled—no clear instructions, no obvious solution. The blood on the wall served as an ominous reminder of what failure might mean, and no one wanted to be the next victim.

 Kaiser stepped forward, grabbing the arm of a random girl who had been seen alone in the hall earlier, her face pale with terror.

“What if I throw you out the window right now, hmm?” he said, his voice sharp and mocking.

The girl thrashed in his grip, tears streaming down her face. A few onlookers exchanged uneasy glances before nodding in agreement with Kaiser’s words, their own fear driving them to desperation. Together, they began dragging the girl toward the window as she screamed and fought against them.

“Enough.”

Loki’s voice cut through the chaos like a knife, his calm, almost friendly tone somehow more unsettling than the violence. “Let her go,” he said, stepping into the center of the crowd.

For a moment, the group hesitated. Then, slowly, they released the girl, who fell to the floor, trembling and sobbing.

Loki smiled faintly, his composure unshaken. “Everyone, return to your rooms. The executives will review the surveillance cameras to determine who set this game in motion. We’ll handle it.”

The reaction was immediate and volatile.

“That’ll take too long!” someone shouted.“There’s a time limit! We’ll all die!” another cried.A few people sank to their knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

Where are Ego and Anri? Why aren’t they here now?” a voice rang out.

Before the chaos could escalate further, you felt Sae’s hand wrap around your wrist. “Come on,” he murmured, dragging you through the crowd. His grip was firm but not unkind, a silent insistence that you trust him. Shidou, Bachira, and Chigiri slipped away with you, the six of you retreating into an office at the back of the building.

The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the distant hum of panic from the hall.

Shidou’s laugh came first—low, unhinged, and far too amused for the circumstances. “So...someone’s playing a nasty little game,” he said, his grin wide and predatory. “Who’s the rat?”

“Shut up,” Chigiri snapped, his voice icy, though his composure was clearly fraying. “This isn’t a joke, Shidou. If this is the 10 of Hearts, then the whole Beach is a trap. We’re all in danger.”

Sae crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he repeated the riddle aloud:

"In shadow, I watch and consume. My speech deceives. Set me free or strike me down, and the blood recedes."

“What the hell does that even mean?” Shidou muttered, spinning a small knife idly in his hand, his usual smirk replaced by something almost serious.

He let the words hang in the air, their weight pressing down on all of you. “It’s clear what this means,” he said. “Someone has to die—the person described in the riddle.”

“Everyone’s gonna think it’s Ego,” you murmured, your stomach churning. “The way the Beach runs, how cold and calculated he is...he’s the obvious suspect.”

“That’s the point,” Sae said flatly, his tone razor-sharp. “It’s too obvious. Whoever set this up wants us to waste time going after him while they sit back and watch.”

“And what if it really is him?” Chigiri countered, his voice low and tense. 

A beat of silence passed, heavy with the weight of unspoken fears.

“Then let’s find him,” you said firmly, already moving toward the door. “We can figure this out, but we need confirmation.”

Sae opened the top drawer of a heavy metal cabinet, retrieving several radios and handguns. His movements were swift and deliberate, the weight of the situation clear in his tense posture. 

He tossed a radio and a gun to each of you.

There was no time to argue. Sae gave his orders with the efficiency of a commander: “Chigiri, Bachira—find Isagi. We’ll handle Ego. Stay sharp.”

You nodded, adrenaline surging through you as the group split up. Racing down the dimly lit hall with Sae and Shidou, every creak and distant sound made your heart pound. The air grew heavier the closer you got to Ego’s quarters, an unsettling chill settling in your stomach.

When you reached the room, you froze. The door hung slightly ajar, swinging faintly on its hinges. Sae pushed it open with his gun raised, and what you saw made your blood run cold. Ego sat slumped in his chair, a gunshot wound squarely in the forehead. Blood pooled beneath him, stark against the sterile floor.

Shidou broke the silence first, grabbing his walkie-talkie. “Ego’s dead. I repeat, Ego is dead,” he said grimly, his usual eccentricity replaced with an uncharacteristic seriousness.

Sae crouched beside Ego, checking his phone. His expression darkened. “The timer’s still running,” he muttered. “This game isn’t over.”

The radio crackled to life, Chigiri’s voice cutting through the tension. “Negative. We’ve checked the third and fourth floors—no sign of Isagi. But the main hall is a mess. Lorenzo’s faction went rogue. He’s given the order to kill everyone.”

“Damn it,” Sae hissed, standing abruptly.

Shidou cursed under his breath. “Of course that freak Lorenzo would pull something like this. It’s going to be a bloodbath.”

You clenched your fists, trying to focus. Panic threatened to overwhelm you, but then your thoughts turned to the riddle. You turned it over in your mind, piecing it together.

“It’s not Ego,” you said aloud, your voice trembling with urgency. “It’s not about him. The answer—”

Sae looked at you sharply. “What is it?”

Your heart dropped as realization struck you like a bolt of lightning. “Anri’s the next target. She’s in danger.”

Without waiting for their responses, you turned and bolted down the hall, sprinting toward Anri’s quarters. Sae swore under his breath but immediately followed.

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” he snapped, grabbing your wrist to stop you.

You looked at him, eyes blazing with determination. “I do. Trust me.”

Sae studied you for a beat before nodding. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Shidou trailed behind, muttering, “This better not be a wild goose chase, princess, or we’re all screwed.”

As you neared Anri’s room, you heard muffled voices and the sound of something heavy being dragged. Your pulse raced. You pushed yourself harder, desperate to reach her before it was too late.

“Stay behind me,” Sae ordered, raising his gun as he moved to kick the door open.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The room was silent except for the muffled sounds of Anri’s panicked breaths behind the cloth tied over her mouth. Kaito, the man you remembered from the high-diving game, stood in front of her, his gun trained on her trembling form. His hand was steady, but his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

You stepped forward, your hand outstretched, trying to stop him. “Kaito, don’t do this,” you said firmly, your voice steady despite the racing of your heart.

He glanced at you, his expression one of recognition. “I’m grateful for what you do for us y/n-san,” he said, his voice strained. “If she's not the answer to the riddle then she's the traitor. If I don’t do this, I’ll die. You know how this works.”

“That’s not true,” you argued. “Anri isn’t the traitor, Kaito. She’s not the threat. Don’t pull the trigger.”

Kaito hesitated, his grip faltering for a fraction of a second. “Then who is it?” he snapped. “Who else could it be?”

I don’t know. Your mind raced. You had to make up an excuse. “The traitor,” you said, your voice low but steady, “is one of the executives.”

Kaito froze, his eyes narrowing as he turned to look at Sae. “One of the executives, huh? Like him?” He raised the gun and pointed it directly at Sae.

Sae didn’t flinch, his expression cold and calculating as always. “If you think I’m the traitor, you’re even more delusional than I thought,” he said flatly.

Kaito’s face twisted in rage. “Shut up! You’ve been quiet this whole time, haven’t you? Acting like you’re above all this. You’re the one pulling the strings!”

“Kaito, stop!” you shouted, your voice shaking now. “Don’t do this!”

But Kaito wasn’t listening. His finger inched toward the trigger, and your heart stopped. 

Time seemed to stretch and distort, every second dragging on as though the world itself was holding its breath. The faint hum of adrenaline coursing through your veins drowned out every other sound. 

All that existed was the cold metal glinting in Kaito’s hand and the terrifying inevitability of his finger curling on the trigger.

You didn’t think—you just moved.

Your hand flew up, gripping the cold steel of your gun. The weight felt heavier than ever, the gravity of what you were about to do threatening to crush you. But there was no room for hesitation. A single thought pulsed in your mind: Stop him.

Kaito’s eyes flicked toward you, his finger tightening on the trigger. Time froze.

Then, in an instant, the deafening crack of your gunshot tore through the air. The recoil surged through your arm, the force jolting you backward as your ears rang with the violent noise. You couldn’t hear anything but that ringing, couldn’t see anything but the bullet’s merciless trajectory as it sliced through the space between you and him.

The impact was instantaneous. The bullet struck Kaito dead center, between his eyebrows. His expression froze in shock, the light in his eyes extinguished before he even realized what had happened.

There was no scream, no final word. Just the dull thud of his body hitting the floor. Blood spilled out in a dark, growing pool beneath him, staining the cold, hard ground.

Your breath caught, your chest heaving as if trying to force air into lungs that had forgotten how to function. The gun trembled in your grip, your arm still extended, fingers frozen in place.

This isn’t real. Right?. But the scent of gunpowder lingered, the blood creeping toward your feet.

Your hand dropped to your side, the gun slipping from your grip and clattering against the floor. It echoed loudly in the oppressive silence, jolting you back to the present.

You trembled as you lowered your arm, breath coming in shallow gasps. 

Sae was the first to react, stepping forward. “You okay?” he asked, his voice unusually soft, though his face was a mix of shock and something you couldn’t quite place.

“I…” You swallowed hard, trying to find your voice. 

Shidou moved quickly to Anri, pulling the cloth from her mouth and untying her. “Damn,” he muttered, giving a low whistle as he glanced at Kaito’s lifeless body. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

Anri gasped for air, Her tear-streaked face crumpled as she gasped for air.

You turned to her, your legs feeling like jelly. “Anri, what’s going on? Tell us everything.”

She nodded weakly, but her tearful eyes locked onto you with desperation. “You don’t understand,” she choked out. 

“What are you talking about?” Sae demanded, his tone sharp but not entirely unkind.

Anri’s voice trembled as she continued, “The whole thing about collecting the entire deck—it was all a lie. Ego made it up. He wanted to give the survivors hope, something to fight for, even if it wasn’t real.”

The room fell into a stunned silence.

“He lied?” you repeated, your voice barely above a whisper.

Anri nodded, her tears falling freely. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell anyone. He thought it was the only way to keep everyone from falling apart. I wanted to believe in him...”

Sae’s jaw clenched as he looked away, his hands curling into fists. Shidou let out a low whistle, breaking the heavy quiet.

“Well, that’s one way to turn the world upside down,” Shidou said, his usual smirk absent, replaced by a grim expression.

You stood up, your legs feeling unsteady beneath you. “Then what’s the point of all this?” you asked, more to yourself than anyone else.

“The point,” Sae said, his voice cold, “is that we’ve all been pawns in a game we don’t even understand.”

At that moment, Chigiri’s voice crackled through the radio. “We found Isagi,” he said, his tone urgent but slightly muffled by the static. “He’s wounded but alive. Right now, he’s unconscious, but stable. We’re bringing him back.”

You barely registered the words. Your gaze was locked on Kaito’s lifeless body sprawled across the floor, the pool of blood beneath him staining the stark white tiles. The weight of your actions pressed down on you like a crushing tide, threatening to drown you in guilt and doubt. You’d pulled the trigger to save Sae, to stop Kaito from making a fatal mistake—but the cost was written in red right before your eyes.

Anri’s confession still echoed in your mind. Ego had lied. Everything you’d fought for, every sacrifice made, was built on a foundation of false hope. The thought made your stomach churn.

Sae’s voice cut through the silence, firm and unyielding. “This changes everything,” he said, his tone dark and heavy with resolve. “But it doesn’t mean we stop. We’ll figure this out, with or without Ego.”

You tore your eyes away from Kaito’s body and met Sae’s gaze. His expression was cold and unreadable, but beneath it, you sensed an unspoken determination. He wasn’t going to let this break him, and neither could you.

“I know the answer to the riddle,” you said suddenly, your voice steadier than you expected.

Everyone turned to you, their expressions a mixture of confusion and anticipation.

“It’s not a person,” you continued. “It never was. The riddle—it’s been misleading us this entire time. We’ve been looking at each other when we should’ve been looking at something else.”

“What are you saying?” Shidou asked, his brow furrowed as he glanced between you and the others.

You clenched your fists, the pieces in your mind clicking together like a puzzle finally coming into focus. Just as you opened your mouth to say something, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall—heavy, numerous, and fast approaching.

Your stomach sank. It had to be members of Lorenzo’s faction. Without hesitation, you turned to Sae and Shidou. “I need to get to the control room and use the intercom to call everyone. We need to stop this madness before it’s too late.”

Shidou cracked his knuckles, an eager grin spreading across his face as he stepped forward. “You go do your thing. I’ll handle this group.”

You paused, concerned, flickering across your face. “you sure you’ll be okay?”

He scoffed, his voice brimming with overconfidence. “Please, those small fries don’t stand a chance against my explosion.” His pink eyes gleamed with wild excitement, his smirk widening.

Despite yourself, you laughed, the tension in your chest loosening slightly. “we're counting on you.”

Sae stepped beside you, his expression calm but resolute. He glanced at Shidou with a small nod. “Go wild little demon.”

With a final smirk, Shidou turned towards the oncoming footsteps, his posture loose but ready. “Don’t worry, I’ll make this quick. Go save the day or whatever.”

As you hurried toward the control room, the sound of Shidou’s mocking laughter and the crash of chaos behind you reminded you of the high stakes ahead—but you didn’t look back.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The control room was eerily silent as your voice rang out through the intercom. “Everyone, stop the killings! I’ve figured out the riddle—it’s not what we thought. I need everyone to go to the rooftop. Trust me, this will all make sense soon.”

Your plea was met with hesitant murmurs from those still alive, but eventually, the survivors began making their way to the rooftop. When you arrived, the scene was sobering. The crowd had thinned drastically—only about 20% of the Beach’s original population remained. Some faces were etched with suspicion, others with grim resignation.

They watched you with a mixture of reluctance and curiosity as you stepped forward, stopping beside a large, cloth-covered crate.

“This game tricked us,” you began, your voice steady but tinged with emotion. “It turned us against each other. It made us think that to survive, we had to kill.”

You gripped the edge of the cloth, pausing for a moment to steel yourself. Then, with a sharp tug, you pulled it down, revealing the gruesome contents of the crate.

Gasps and cries of horror erupted from the crowd as they saw the pile of corpses—some old and decayed, with maggots writhing in the flesh, others desecrated beyond recognition. The freshest bodies looked like they’d been killed only hours ago.

But what drew everyone’s attention was the black crow perched atop the heap, pecking at the flesh. Its beak pierced the skin, causing fresh blood to drip through the cracks in the crate, mirroring the blood that had been seeping through the walls of the main hall.

You gestured to the crate, your voice rising to be heard over the murmurs and gasps. “This is the truth of the riddle. ‘Set me free or strike me down.’ It wasn’t about a person. It was about this.” You pointed at the crow, its black eyes glinting as it cocked its head toward you.

Sae stepped forward, his expression grim but focused. “The blood on the walls, the chaos—it all led back to this.”

You nodded. “This crow has been feeding on the bodies, causing the blood to drip. The riddle wasn’t about anyone from the beach. It was about freeing this creature—or ending its life.”

One of the survivors, trembling, stepped forward. “You mean...we didn’t have to kill anyone?”

You took a deep breath, the stench of the corpses threatening to overwhelm you, and shook your head. “No. This entire game has been a manipulation. We could’ve won without spilling any blood.”

Ignoring the bile rising in your throat, you reached into the crate and carefully grabbed the crow. It cawed loudly, its wings flapping wildly in protest. You turned to the crowd. “We end this now.”

You threw the crow into the air. It soared upward, its black wings cutting through the sky.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, a series of simultaneous chimes rang out from the phones of the survivors. The word “CONGRATULATIONS” appeared on every screen, accompanied by a message:

GAME CLEAR.

Relief and disbelief washed over the crowd. Some fell to their knees, others clung to each other, tears streaming down their faces.

You turned to face Sae, your expression heavy with guilt and uncertainty. The chaos was over, the game cleared, but the aftermath left you feeling lost. Sae, standing a step away, could see the turmoil written all over your face. He crossed his arms, his piercing gaze locking onto yours.

Your mind felt like it was fracturing, every thought fragmented and scattered. You struggled to meet Sae’s eyes. “The Beach is done,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. “It’s disbanded. And with everything that’s happened here... this place isn’t safe anymore.”

Sae stepped closer, his presence steady and grounding amidst the chaos swirling in your head. He leaned in, his voice low and calm as he whispered in your ear, “Let’s get out of here.”

Nothing more needed to be said. He reached for your hand, his grip firm and reassuring, and gently pulled you forward, away from the ruin and bloodshed behind you.

“Okay,” you said softly, your voice trembling as you squeezed his hand, nodding as you allowed yourself to follow him. 

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The group found refuge in a high-rise building nestled in the heart of Shibuya. It wasn’t ideal, but the third floor had a pipe leaking clean water, and in this world, that was more than enough to make it a good spot to rest for the night. As you stood by the window, your gaze wandered to the streets below. Vegetation had begun to creep across the asphalt and even the walls of some buildings. It was subtle but unnatural, the way the greenery seemed to grow faster than it should. The sight made your stomach churn with unease.

Right now, everyone else was scattered—some searching for food and supplies, others scouting for vehicles, and a few simply wandering to clear their heads after the chaos. Whatever the reason, it left you alone with Isagi, who was still unconscious on a makeshift bed.

You glanced around the dimly lit room, noticing Sae’s absence. He had disappeared somewhere, as he often did when things were too quiet. 

The grime and sweat from the 10 of Hearts game clung to your skin, a constant reminder of the horrors you’d faced. The discomfort was unbearable, and the idea of washing it all away was tempting.

Deciding to take a moment for yourself, you wandered to the bathroom. As you opened the door, the sound of water cascading from the shower greeted you. You froze, realizing someone was already inside. The faint outline of a figure behind the fogged-up glass made it clear.

Your face heated in embarrassment. “Oh, sorry.” you blurted, your voice cracking slightly.

You were about to turn away when you felt yourself suddenly tugged back, your breath catching in surprise as your back pressed against his bare chest. His arm slid securely around your waist, pulling you closer. You froze as his free hand gently tilted your chin to the side, exposing the curve of your neck.

His lips brushed softly against your skin, trailing up until they reached the shell of your ear. His voice was low, almost a whisper, and it sent a shiver down your spine.

“Just join me,” he murmured, his tone laced with teasing warmth. “We might as well save water.”

Your heart skipped a beat, heat rushing to your face as you tried to find the words to respond. The playful smirk in his voice made it clear he was enjoying your reaction.

You felt his hands gently caressing your sides, his touch tentative yet steady. When you tried to pull away, whispering something about Isagi not having anyone to watch him, he leaned in closer, his voice low and reassuring.

“Isagi’ll be fine for a while,” he murmured, his tone steady but soft. “It’s not like he’s awake right now.”

You hesitated, caught in the moment, every muscle in your body tense. But his words and presence seemed to melt some of the heaviness in your chest. Maybe, just maybe, he was right. Maybe you needed to forget, even for a moment, all the horrible things that had happened.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened between you two. 

The others didn’t press on it but they gave you knowing glances.

Behind you, Isagi stirred, a low groan escaping him as he finally woke up. His face was a mess of cuts and bruises, the pain evident in his every movement. You quickly handed him a bottle of water, kneeling beside him as he struggled to sit up. He took a shaky sip, coughing a little as the water soothed his parched throat.

“You’re awake,” you said softly, relief in your voice.

He nodded weakly, his voice raspy. “Yeah... barely.” He took another sip, his eyes scanning the group before settling on you. “But I need to tell you... what I know.”

Everyone turned to him, the room falling silent as they waited. Sae leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Isagi’s hands trembled slightly as he held the water bottle. “Ness wasn’t the traitor,” he began, his voice hoarse but steady. “He was being used... by the real culprit. I didn’t see them, but by the time everything went to hell, someone came into the room. I couldn’t see their face, and their voice... I can’t place it. Something about the second stage starting tomorrow morning.”

The air in the room grew heavy with tension.

“What second stage?” Chigiri asked, his voice sharp.

Isagi shook his head. “I don’t know. They didn’t say anything else. Just... ‘the second stage will commence.’” He paused, his gaze dropping to his hands. “Whatever it means, it can’t be good.”

Bachira let out a low whistle, trying to mask the unease in his voice. “Tomorrow, huh? Guess we’re in for another surprise.”

You glanced out the window again, the vegetation catching your eye once more. Something about it felt connected, like a silent omen of what was to come. “We need to rest and prepare. Whatever the second stage is, we’ll face it together.”

The group murmured their agreement, though the unease lingered like a shadow in the room. You couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Waking up to the sound of an explosion, you bolted upright, heart pounding. You rushed to the window and froze. Blimps with massive face cards attached to them hovered ominously in the sky, their shadows looming over the city. The King of Spades blimp was the most menacing of all, dropping bombs indiscriminately across Shibuya.

Panic surged through you as you turned and shook everyone awake. “We have to move—now! The next stage is starting, and we could get bombed!”

Everyone scrambled to their feet, groggy but alarmed, quickly grabbing whatever they could carry. You led them to the window, pointing at the chaos unfolding outside. Smoke billowed from the streets, and the screams of people echoed faintly through the air.

As you made your way toward the center of Shibuya, the mechanical billboard flickered to life. In bold, glowing letters, it displayed: Next Stage. Good Luck.

The words burned in your mind as the screen abruptly went dark, and then came the unmistakable sound of rapid gunfire—an automatic rifle tearing through the air like thunder.

You whipped around to see people dropping to the ground, some screaming, others eerily silent. The King of Spades blimp rained down death with relentless precision, armed with weapons that could mow down entire crowds.

“Run!” you shouted, voice cracking as chaos erupted. The survivors scattered in all directions, terror painting their faces.

Sae’s firm grip on your arm pulled you back to focus. He dragged you behind the shell of a car, shielding you as bullets ricocheted off the metal frame. His voice was sharp and steady. “Stay low. Follow me when I move.”

You nodded, adrenaline surging. The gunfire didn’t let up, the deafening noise pounding in your ears. As Sae led the way, darting from cover to cover, you suddenly pulled him toward a nearby construction site.

“This way!” you urged, pointing toward the half-finished building just beneath the blimp marked with the Jack of Spades.

He didn’t argue, following your lead as the two of you weaved through debris and chaos. The shelter of the construction site offered temporary relief from the relentless assault, but the tension in the air remained palpable. Both of you leaned against a wall, chests heaving as you tried to catch your breath.

Ahead, you spotted a small group of players gathering under the half-collapsed scaffolding, their faces etched with fear and exhaustion. But it wasn’t them that caught your attention. Off to the side, huddled beneath a scrap piece of corrugated metal, was an old man.

His frail frame trembled, and his hollow eyes darted around as though searching for something—or someone. He clutched his stomach, his thin fingers shaking from either hunger or fear.

“Wait here,” you said to Sae, stepping toward the man.

Sae grabbed your wrist, his sharp gaze narrowing. “Don’t. You don’t know who he is or what he wants.”

You glanced back at him, your jaw tightening. “He needs help, Sae. Look at him.”

Sae didn’t reply but his expression spoke volumes. He didn’t trust the man, but he knew better than to try to stop you.

You knelt in front of the old man, careful to keep your guard up. “Are you okay?” you asked softly.

The man flinched at first, his hollow eyes darting between you and Sae before slowly reaching out. His cold, bony hand trembled as it grabbed your arm. His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, cracking under the weight of his fear. “Today... today’s the last day on my visa. I—I’m scared. I don’t want to die here.”

Your heart clenched at the desperation in his voice. His frail figure seemed impossibly small under the weight of his fear.

You knelt beside him, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. “Don’t worry, sir. I’m good at spade games. Maybe I can help you.”

The old man’s lips quivered, and he shook his head frantically, as though unable to believe what he was hearing. “You’d... you’d do that? For me?” His voice broke, tears welling in his sunken eyes. “Thank you... thank you.”

Behind you, Sae leaned against the nearest beam, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the interaction. His expression remained impassive, but his silence carried unspoken skepticism.

When the game was announced, the rules rang clearly through the air:

Jack of Spades: Runner’s Gambit

Objective: Locate and deactivate the "key bomb" among several identical decoys before the timer expires.

Time Limit: 2 hours.

Conditions: Randomly detonating bombs will keep players on the move, and traps are scattered throughout the site, with some hidden under debris or disguised as safe areas. Failure to disarm the key bomb triggers a massive chain reaction, destroying everything within a wide radius.

The holographic instructions faded, and the timer began. 

2:00:00.

The first explosion echoed through the site, deafening and close. Dust and debris erupted from a distant corridor, and you could hear the panicked screams of players scrambling to safety. You watched in horror as one unlucky man sprinted into a patch of seemingly stable ground—only for the tiles to collapse beneath him, impaling him on steel bars below.

“This isn’t even a game,” you muttered, your grip tightening on the old man’s hand. “It’s a death trap.”

“Stay sharp,” Sae warned, stepping over rubble as his eyes scanned for hidden triggers.

A woman ahead reached for a suspicious box tucked under a steel beam. The moment she opened it, a smaller bomb detonated, flinging her backward into a concrete wall. Her lifeless body slid to the ground, smoke rising from her charred hands.

You averted your eyes, unable to stomach the sight of another corpse. The scene was all too familiar now, but it never got easier. Just then, the old man brushed his hand against the wall, and a faint click echoed ominously. Your instincts kicked in as you grabbed him and pulled him into the nearest empty room.

Behind you, Sae slammed the door shut just as the explosion roared through the hallway, the force rattling the walls and sending dust cascading from the ceiling. The sound of shrapnel tearing through the air was deafening.

“Don’t touch anything unless you’re absolutely sure,” Sae said firmly, his voice cutting through the ringing in your ears. His gaze darted to the old man, who looked shaken and pale, clutching his chest as he gasped for air. “We’ll stay here for a bit and figure out a plan. No more mistakes.”

The old man sat on the floor, his frail body trembling. He muttered an apology, his voice barely audible over the sound of your own racing heartbeat. “I—I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay sir,” you said softly, crouching next to him. You could see the guilt etched into his weathered face, and something about it tugged at your heart.

“I wasn’t always like this, you know,” he began suddenly, his voice carrying a melancholic weight. “I used to have a garden. My wife loved dandelions... She used to plant them everywhere. Said they were weeds, but beautiful ones. She always found beauty in the things other people overlooked.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt shift in conversation. The room fell quiet except for the distant echoes of chaos outside. Your gaze shifted to Sae. He was leaning slightly toward the door, head tilted as if trying to catch any sound that might signal danger. Yet, it was clear from the subtle flicker of his eyes when they met yours that he was listening too.

“She used to hum this silly tune while she worked in the garden,” he continued, a faint smile tugging at his lips before it quickly faded. “I haven’t heard it in years, maybe—” He stopped.

Your chest tightened. It felt like one of those moments where words weren’t necessary—where just listening was enough. Still, you found yourself reaching out, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at you, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears, searching for something—comfort, understanding, or perhaps just someone to hear him.

“I wish I wasn’t sick,” he said suddenly, his voice trembling.”

“Sick?” you asked gently, though your throat felt dry.

He nodded, his gaze distant. “The doctors said it’s only a matter of time... I’ve been running on borrowed time for years now.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that.

You stayed in that room a little longer, the tension easing just slightly as the old man’s story settled over you like a fragile peace.

1:07:00The old man, who had introduced himself as Seiichi Suzuki, kept talking about his life as you sat together in the dusty, dimly lit room. His voice was soft and unhurried, weaving tales of his late wife who used to plant dandelions in their garden and the quiet nights they spent watching old movies. His words warmed your heart, but they also stirred bitter memories of your grandmother and little sister—memories you’d tried to bury.

Sae leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his sharp eyes flickering between you and Seiichi. He didn’t say much, simply observing as you listened intently, caught in the old man’s melancholy nostalgia.

00:21:00

You bolted out of the room, leaving the bittersweet stories behind. Your heart raced as you sprinted through the treacherous maze of the unfinished building, desperately trying to find the central bomb. Traps were everywhere—loose floor panels, nearly invisible tripwires, pressure-sensitive tiles. Each step felt like a coin flip against death.

The timer ticked down mercilessly, its digits glowing ominously. 

00:05:00.

As you scanned the area, the old man suddenly tugged at your sleeve.

You turned, breathless and confused. “What is it?”

Seiichi hesitated, his frail frame trembling, his eyes swimming with guilt. His voice cracked as he spoke. “I have to tell you something.”

You frowned, dread coiling in your stomach. “What do you mean?”

He took a shaky breath, his hollow gaze locking with yours. “In this place... you can live forever. The illness doesn’t bother me here. I can eat, sleep, and breathe without pain. It’s a paradise compared to what I left behind.”

“What are you talking about?” you whispered, your voice barely audible.

He lowered his gaze. “I’m the Jack of Spades.”

The world seemed to stop. His words hit you like a physical blow. “No…” you breathed, shaking your head. “No, that can’t be true.”

He nodded slowly, his voice trembling. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I swear. I—I just wanted to survive. But this game…” He gestured to the bomb strapped to his chest, the blinking red light a cruel reminder of the stakes. “This bomb is the key. It’s the one you need to disarm. If you don’t, everyone dies.”

Your voice cracked as you shouted, “There has to be another way! We can’t do this!”

Sae stepped forward, his face set in grim determination. “The rules are clear. There isn’t another way.”

The old man’s lips quivered as he forced a weak smile. “You’ve been so kind to me. Kinder than anyone has been in years. That’s why I’ll let you disarm it. At least I can do one good thing before it’s over.”

Your eyes burned with unshed tears as you clenched your fists. “But why? Why are you doing this? Why would you stay here? The real world—”

“The real world?” Seiichi cut you off, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “The real world threw me away. I worked my whole life, gave everything I had, only to be left with nothing. My wife’s gone. My body’s falling apart, and I couldn’t even afford to die in peace. Here…” He gestured around the building. “Here, I’m somebody. I’m alive. I’m... free.”

You stared at him, your chest tight. “What happens if we win? If we beat all the games? Do we just… replace the game masters?”

Seiichi’s smile faltered, his expression unreadable. “You’ll find out after you beat the last game.”

“That’s not an answer,” you whispered, your voice breaking.

“It’s the only one I can give,” he said softly.

With trembling hands, you reached for the bomb strapped to his chest. Seiichi remained eerily still, his weary eyes watching your every move. You could feel Sae’s tense presence behind you, his unspoken support grounding you as you worked to disarm the device.

Finally, with a soft click, the main bomb’s timer froze. 

00:00:15 

You let out a shuddering breath, relief washing over you.

But Seiichi wasn’t smiling. He looked down at his abdomen and then back at you, tears brimming in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you everything.”

“What?” Your stomach dropped as he pulled his shirt up, revealing a smaller bomb strapped to his stomach. The timer blinked rapidly. 

00:00:01

“No,” you whispered, shaking your head. “No, we can stop this! There has to be a way!”

“It’s too late,” he murmured, his voice steady now. “This is my punishment for losing, for trying to survive as the Jack. But... thank you. You gave me something I hadn’t felt in years—kindness.”

The timer reached zero before you could say another word. 

A deafening explosion rocked the room, and blood and viscera splattered everywhere. You felt warm droplets hit your face and arms, your vision blurring as the horror unfolded.

Sae grabbed your arm, pulling you back as the shock set in. His voice was distant, his words muffled by the ringing in your ears. All you could do was stare at the spot where Seiichi had been standing, now reduced to nothing but a memory and a pool of blood.

Sae knelt beside you, his face grim but calm. “It’s over,” he said, pulling you to your feet.

You couldn’t speak. The weight of what had just happened pressed down on you, suffocating. As the congratulations chimed on the surviving players’ phones, you realized there was no victory here.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The memory haunted you, a weight you carried but rarely spoke of. You were just 12 years old when your world began to crumble. It started with a phone call—a desperate call for help as your grandmother gasped for air, her frail body struggling to keep going. You’d fumbled with the phone, trembling as you dialed 911, your heart pounding in your chest.

The ambulance came quickly, sirens screaming through the quiet neighborhood as it whisked her away. You clutched your little sister’s hand tightly, her 8-year-old face pale with fear. “She’ll be okay,” you whispered, trying to sound sure for her sake. But deep down, you weren’t.

At the hospital, they admitted your grandmother immediately. The doctors spoke in hurried voices, throwing around words you didn’t fully understand: “surgery,” “critical condition,” “insurance.”

Insurance.

The word stuck in your mind like a thorn when the hospital administrator pulled you aside, explaining in the coldest, most detached tone that without insurance or the ability to pay, the surgery couldn’t happen.

You pleaded, tears streaming down your face as you begged them to save her. “Please! She’s all we have!”

But they shook their heads, their sympathy overshadowed by policy. They told you to take her home.

At just 12, you became the caretaker. You and your sister tried to make sense of medicine schedules and meals. Your hands, still clumsy and small, learned how to hold a damp cloth against your grandmother’s feverish forehead. You watched her grow weaker with every passing day, her once-strong voice now barely a whisper.

Your sister would cry herself to sleep most nights, and you’d sit beside her, stroking her hair and promising her that you’d figure something out. But you didn’t know how.

Eventually, your grandmother passed away in her sleep, leaving a void that nothing could fill. 

The system stepped in after that, deciding you and your sister were too young to stay together. Despite your protests, your pleas, they separated you—sent you to different foster homes.

You were shattered, but you refused to give up. You clung to the one thing you could control: your education. You threw yourself into school, finding solace in textbooks and the hope of a future where you could take back the reins of your life.

Every scholarship application was a lifeline, every exam a stepping stone. You worked tirelessly, fueled by the memory of your grandmother’s love and your sister’s smile.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The night was suffocating, heavy with silence that stretched endlessly between you and Sae. Your legs moved mechanically, one foot in front of the other, but your mind was somewhere far away, buried under the weight of the last game. 

Blood clung to you, drying into your clothes, your skin, your hair. You looked like you bathed in it, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care.

Sae walked a step ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the area until they landed on a building with a generator buzzing faintly outside. He stopped, glancing back at you, his brow furrowed with concern.

“We’ll check here,” he said, his voice low but firm. “There might be water inside.”

You didn’t answer. You didn’t even look at him. Your legs continued moving only because his hand wrapped around your wrist, guiding you forward when you stopped. His touch was gentle, yet firm enough to pull you out of your daze, if only for a second.

The generator buzzed faintly as Sae pushed open the door. Inside, dim lights flickered to life, revealing an old but functioning water system. He walked over, testing the tap. Clear water poured out, and he exhaled softly, satisfied.

“Sit,” he said, glancing at you. His tone wasn’t sharp, but it left no room for argument.

You obeyed mechanically, sinking onto a low bench nearby. The blood, now sticky and drying, clung to your clothes and skin. Without waiting for you to protest—not that you would—Sae filled a bucket with water, grabbed a nearby cloth, and knelt in front of you.

The first splash of cold water on your hands made you flinch slightly, but you didn’t pull away. Sae worked silently, pouring water over your skin, the dried blood swirling down in faint red spirals. He didn’t look at your face as he rubbed your arms clean, methodically wiping away every trace of the nightmare you’d lived through.

He moved to your face, his touch gentler now as he dabbed the cloth over your cheeks. The coolness of the water stung where your skin was raw, but still, you stayed silent, your gaze fixed somewhere past him.

“You don’t have to talk,” he murmured, dipping the cloth into the water again. “But don’t shut down completely. Not from me.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, but you couldn’t muster a response. He tilted your chin up slightly, washing away the streaks of blood on your neck and jaw. His hand was steady, his movements careful.

You didn’t react, didn’t meet his eyes. Sae worked silently for a while, pouring water over your hair to rinse out the dried blood clinging to it. The water dripped down in rivulets, pooling around your feet, carrying away the evidence of everything you’d endured.

The weight of it all finally crushed you, and the words spilled out before you could stop them. “I can’t do this anymore,” you said, your voice trembling, raw. “I can’t keep going like this. It just—it never ends.”

Sae froze, standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. You felt his eyes on you, but it only made the emotions boil over faster.

“I tried to pretend,” you continued, your voice rising, frantic now. “I thought I could find hope when Anri told us that collecting the deck was a lie. But I can’t—I can’t! What’s the point of all this? Why are we even fighting? The real world isn’t any better than this place!”

Your chest heaved as you fought for breath, your hands gesturing wildly, aimlessly. You paced the small space, unable to stay still, as if movement could somehow release the storm raging inside you.

“Just relax,” Sae said quietly, his voice calm but firm, trying to anchor you. 

“Relax?” you snapped, turning on him, your voice sharp with desperation. “How am I supposed to relax, Sae? Every day, it’s another game, another death, another reason to keep losing pieces of myself. And for what? To go back to a world that’s just as cruel? Tell me how that’s worth it!”

Sae stepped closer, his expression softening in a way that caught you off guard. But the weight of everything—the games, the deaths, the lies—was too much to bear. You backed away, your hands trembling. “Let’s just get out of here,” you muttered, your voice cracking under the strain.

You weren’t lying—you were grateful for him. But gratitude couldn’t stop the mental exhaustion tearing you apart. Your legs carried you down the empty streets, Sae keeping pace a few steps behind, his silence unnerving yet oddly comforting.

Then, it happened.

A sack was suddenly thrown over your head, rough hands yanking you backward before you could scream. You felt yourself being shoved into a car, the cold press of a gun barrel against your temple freezing your blood.

Your mind raced, but your body stayed limp, unresponsive. You were too drained, too dead inside to even react. It was as if your spirit had been snuffed out, leaving only a shell to endure whatever came next.

The car sped off, the rough motion making you dizzy. The sack over your head limited the already stifling air, and you began to feel the sharp pangs of oxygen deprivation. Each breath grew shallower, your lungs straining against the suffocating fabric. Your heart pounded in your ears, but even fear felt distant—a dull ache compared to everything else you’d been through.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang. The car jerked violently, the tires screeching as it swerved out of control. You felt the rear tires pop, the vehicle lurching to one side before skidding to a halt.

Before you could process what was happening, chaos erupted. Gunshots rang out, deafening and sharp, followed by sounds of shouting. Then, you felt hands grabbing you and pulling you out of the car.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

You awoke to the sensation of cold water splashing onto your face. Gasping, you bolted upright, disoriented and panicked. Your heart raced as you muttered under your breath, “Sae….”

Your eyes darted around the dimly lit room. It was small and barren, with a few scattered supplies and a faint smell of smoke in the air. Then, you noticed him—a man with spiky, dark purple hair, a teasing smile playing on his lips. .

“Oi, relax, princess,” he drawled, his thick accent making the words sound both casual and cutting. “Yer not dead… yet.” He chuckled, his teasing tone laced with something almost mocking. “Though with that panicked look on yer face, maybe ya wish ya were.”

You scowled and backed away, only to notice another man lounging nearby. His hair was short and flat, mostly white except for a strand in the middle that was dark green, matching the underside of his hair. He leaned against the wall, smirking at you, his posture lazy yet somehow predatory.

“You’ve got quite the voice when you’re panicking,” he quipped, his tone smooth and flirtatious. “Almost makes me want to hear you scream again—though maybe for a different reason.” His dark green eyes sparkled with mischief as he winked.

Your skin crawled, and you instinctively put more distance between yourself and the two strangers. “Who the hell are you? And why did you save me?”

The purple-haired man snorted. “Save ya? Don’t flatter yourself, sweetheart. We didn’t save you.” He jerked his thumb toward the other side of the room. “He did.”

Confused, you followed his gesture to see a figure crouched by a campfire at the far end of the room. The man wasn’t facing you, his broad shoulders illuminated by the flickering flames. He seemed focused, stirring something in a pot over the fire.

“Barou?” The name left your lips in disbelief as he turned slightly, the light catching his unmistakable bloodshot eyes.

For a moment, you almost didn’t recognize him. His usual spiked hair was down, framing his face in a disheveled mess. The harsh lines of his features looked softer, though his intense gaze remained as sharp as ever.

“You’re finally awake,” Barou said gruffly, his voice low and steady. He turned back to the fire, dismissing your shock like it was nothing.

You blinked in surprise. “So, you were the one who saved me?” you asked, your voice soft but edged with curiosity.

Barou didn’t look up from the fire. He didn’t even acknowledge the question. His focus remained on the pot as he stirred its contents, the quiet crackle of the flames filling the silence.

You hesitated, then pressed further. “What happened to you after the bombing? Where did you go?”

He didn’t respond. Not even a glance in your direction. Instead, he grabbed a metal bowl, poured some soup into it, and handed it to you without ceremony.

“Eat,” he grunted. His tone left no room for argument.

You frowned, taking the bowl but still pressing. “Barou, you can’t just show up out of nowhere and expect me to—”

“I need your help to take down the King of Spades.” His sharp voice cut through your protest like a blade.

Your jaw tightened. “Barou, I can’t just—”

“Eat,” he repeated, already turning to leave. “You’ll need your strength. I’m not wasting time on your whining.”

And with that, he walked out, leaving you in stunned silence.

You stared after him for a moment, then looked down at the steaming bowl in your hands. Despite your frustration, you took a sip of the soup. The rich, savory flavor hit your tongue, warming you from the inside. Typical Barou. Even in a world like this, he somehow made the best food.

As you ate, the two other men—Otoya and Karasu, as they had introduced themselves earlier—approached and settled nearby.

“So, what’s your deal?” Otoya asked, leaning back against the wall with a casual smirk.

You glanced up at him, unsure of how much to say. “I can’t help you. I need to find Sae,” you admitted, your voice firm.

Otoya raised an eyebrow at that. “Itoshi Sae? That’s who you’re looking for?”

Your eyes widened slightly, surprised he knew the name. “Yeah... wait, do you know him?”

Karasu laughed, the sound low and amused. “Do we know him?” He exchanged a look with Otoya, who chuckled as well.

You tilted your head, confused. “What? Why is that funny?”

Otoya leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You really don’t know what he did before he came here?”

You frowned, your gaze flickering between the two of them. “I do know. He’s a soccer player. Why? Was he famous or something?”

Both men froze, staring at you in disbelief. Otoya blinked, his expression somewhere between shock and exasperation. “Was he famous?” he repeated, his voice tinged with incredulity. “You really don’t know who you’ve been hanging around with, do you?”

Your cheeks flushed slightly, but you straightened your back. “I knew he was good at soccer, okay? He told me. I just didn’t realize he was... that famous.”

Karasu smirked, leaning back again. “Well, now you do. You’re rolling with someone who’s been in the spotlight his whole life. No wonder you’re trying to find him—he probably makes a great bodyguard.”

You opened your mouth to retort, but decided not to.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

You really wanted to escape that day. Just give your thanks and run away to find Sae. But your body was too worn down, your mind too frazzled. If you tried to leave, you’d probably collapse somewhere along the way. Staying with Barou and the others felt like your only option, even if it gnawed at your pride.

The more time you spent with the trio, the heavier the weight of your insecurities became. Watching Otoya and Karasu move with precision and ease while Barou commanded the group with unshakable authority only served to remind you of how useless you felt. Every task Barou gave you seemed to highlight your flaws, but you couldn’t bring yourself to argue. Guilt gripped you tightly, reminding you how much of a burden you must have been to Sae—yet he never once complained.

Over time, you pieced together the answers to the questions you’d asked Barou before. After the bombing of your previous shelter and before being scouted to the Beach, Barou had established a sort of trailer park community in the outskirts. He still carried himself like the all-powerful king, but to his credit, he worked just as hard as anyone else. He protected the residents, shared resources, and upheld a semblance of order. His gruff demeanor remained, but there was an undeniable sense of responsibility behind it.

For reasons you couldn’t entirely explain, you began following Barou’s orders without question. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was the desperate need to keep moving, to keep your mind occupied. Whatever the reason, you found yourself falling into a rhythm, no matter how uncomfortable it made you feel.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and cast the trailer park in a warm, orange glow, you sat by yourself, staring at the skyline. Exhaustion seeped into your bones, but the stillness gave you space to reflect.

Barou’s voice broke the silence. “Still sitting there like a lump?”

You turned to see him standing a few feet away, his arms crossed and his usual scowl in place.

“I’m not a lump,” you muttered, but the fight in your voice was weak.

He stepped closer, his towering figure casting a long shadow over you. “You’ve been moping around long enough. Either do something useful or stop wasting everyone’s time.”

Your lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m trying, okay? I’m just—” You stopped yourself, unsure of what to say.

Barou huffed, his gaze softening ever so slightly. “Trying doesn’t cut it in this place.”

His words stung, but deep down, you knew he was right.

You looked up at him, determination flickering in your eyes. “Then give me something to do. Something real. I’ll pull my weight.”

Barou smirked faintly, his sharp eyes gleaming in the fading light. “Good. Don’t make me regret saving your sorry ass.”

As he walked away, you felt a strange sense of resolve settle over you. You weren’t sure if you’d ever stop feeling like a burden, but for now, you’d keep moving forward. And when you found Sae again, you’d make sure to thank him properly—for everything.

if you enjoyed my work please consider donating on ko-fi ^^

[thefrontmanscockwarmer]

I Wish You Knew…

Player 001 x reader✂️

Masterlist <- comment on this post to be added to the tag list

You sat on the dull bed. Awaiting nightfall to come. You hadn’t eaten, the games made you so distraught you couldn’t bother to work up an appetite.

“(Y/n)? What’s wrong?” Young il asks you. Breaking you from your dead stare.

“I hate this place. I wanna go home” you look up at him with big, teary eyes.

“Baby girl” he said sweetly, sitting at your side. “It’s gonna be okay” he wrapped you in a hug.

“It’s not okay!” You cried loudly. “I’m stuck here. I hate it, there’s nothing here for me. I don’t even want the stupid money”

“Im here.” He says calmly. His heart took a hit, you said there was ‘nothing’ here, what was he then? Nothing? Or was he the exception? He ruled it as you were just emotionally distressed.

“Well, yeah. You. But nothing else. I miss my bed, I miss home”

“(Y/n)…” he sat pensively, what do I say? He thought. Do I tell her? What if she hates me, I’ll lose her forever… how the fuck do I make this better? Think, In Ho, THINK. He argued with his thought for too long. He sensed your emotions shift.

“Whatever” you say. “I don’t expect you to understand, you’re home anyways” his eyes widened. Did you know my secret? What do you mean “I’m home anyways” ? (Y/n) what the fuck do you know.

“(Y/n), I feel the same as you. I just don’t know what to say to make you feel better.” Young il replied. “I just don’t know -“

“You don’t know what to say. Yeah, I know. Same as every boyfriend I’ve had before” you roll your eyes gingerly as you lay back. Your stomach growling loudly.

“Pretty girl, have you eaten at all?”

“No. I’m not hungry” you turn away from him. “I just want to go home” he sighs, standing up and walking into the food line. He awaited his turn, peeking over his shoulder to check on you. He felt miserable… maybe getting you out was a good idea… you’re not eating, who knows if you’re really sleeping.

“Hey, can I get two of each, please? One of the other players… she isn’t strong enough to stand on her own and she needs to eat.” Young il spoke in a low voice. The masked men bowed quickly and handed him 2 of each item.

When Young il returned you were still in the same position he left you in. Your eyes puffy and red. He looked sadly upon you. Oh (y/n), I wish you knew… he thought to himself. I wish you knew the things I really did.

“Here baby” he passed you water. “You need to drink something, you need strength for the next game” you pushed his hand away.

“I don’t want it.” His shoulders tensed in annoyance.

“If you don’t sit up and drink something water, right this minute, I swear I’m gonna IV your ass and MAKE you drink water” he said sternly. You sat up. Your eyes bloodshot. You took the bottle from his hand, squinting your eyes at him as you did so.

God definitely sent you down as punishment. You were his girl, but you were a pain in his ass since he took you in. A lonely girl, who didn’t have a team. The 6 legged race was stressful, though you saved them time with your amazing gong gi skills as Dae Ho took on Ddajki.

“Now take a bite” he held out a spoon for you. You turned your head. “(Y/n), stop acting like a decrepit child and eat. You will die if you have no strength” he said pressingly.

���Fine.” You snatched the contain out of his hand. Scarfing down your food like you were never going to see it again. You glared at him as you handed the empty tin back to him. “I’m laying down now”

“(Y/n)” Young il said gently. He laid down next to you, his food forgotten on the floor. He held you in his arms. Stroking your hair gently. “I love you” he said.

“I love you too” you sighed gingerly.

Time skip: the middle of the night

“(Y/n)” young il shook you. “(Y/n), wake up”

“Hm- what?” You say tiredly rubbing your eyes.

“Come on, you’re going home.” He said. You stood up and followed as he led you out of the door. “Listen, you’re gonna go home and you’re gonna wait for me” Young il told you.

“How will you find me?” You ask as a pink man grabbed you.

“I will, I promise” young il said as you were being taken away.

“Wait! Young il!” You shouted frantically. “I said “fucking wait”” you punched the guard, forcing him to let you go. You ran to Young il. Jumping into his arms. You kissed him passionately, a tear falling from your eye. “You better get out of here alive.”

“I will. I promise you, I’ll meet you on the outside.” He said, kissing you back. Laying kisses all over your face.

“Meet me at 111 Dokseodang-ro Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04419.” You tell him. “Apartment 206”

“111 Dokseodang-ro Yongsan-gu Seoul 04419. Apartment 206” he repeated. “Got it. I’ll see you in a week at most” he kissed you one final time before letting you go. He smacked your ass as you turned to walk away.

“I love you” you shouted to him from down the hall.

“I love you more (y/n)” he shouted back. “I love you more than anything” he said quietly watching you turn the corner.

Taglist

@christinamadsen @sebbymybaby21 @nakiio5775 @xcinnamonmalfoyx

[fanfictionismyaddiction]

Beneath the Surface

Warnings: Depression, Eating Disorder, Emotional Distress, Mental Health Struggles

Summary: Y/n, struggling with depression and an eating disorder, feels trapped in her own darkness, unable to confide in her husband, Toto Wolff, for fear of burdening him. Despite her attempts to hide her pain, Toto notices the changes in her and becomes increasingly concerned.

Pairing: Toto Wolff x reader

Word count: 869

If you need help please don´t shy away and confide in someone for help. your feelings are valid.

______________________________________________________________

Y/n stared blankly out of the window, her eyes tracing the familiar skyline of England. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden hue over the city, but she felt nothing. The world outside was vibrant, alive with color and energy, but inside, she was a hollow shell, trapped in a gray fog that refused to lift.

Toto had left early that morning, heading to the Mercedes factory for yet another meeting. His life was a whirlwind of decisions, deadlines, and constant pressure. Y/n had always admired his drive and ambition, the way he could juggle a million things at once and still come home to her with a smile. But lately, that smile felt like a spotlight, one she couldn't bear to stand under.

She sighed, her hand drifting to the untouched plate of food in front of her. The thought of eating made her stomach turn, a wave of guilt crashing over her for the third time that day. The food wasn’t the problem—she was. Her mind was a battlefield, a war she had been losing for months now. The depression had crept in slowly, like a shadow lengthening in the afternoon sun, until it swallowed her whole.

And the eating disorder? That was her secret weapon, the twisted coping mechanism she clung to in a desperate attempt to feel some semblance of control. But the control was an illusion, and she knew it. It was a spiral, one that tightened around her like a noose, leaving her breathless and panicked.

She couldn’t tell Toto. The very thought of burdening him with her darkness made her chest ache. He had enough on his plate, running a Formula 1 team and maintaining the image of a calm, collected leader. He didn’t need her problems on top of that.

But Toto noticed. He always did.

He had seen the way her clothes hung a little looser on her frame, the way her smile never quite reached her eyes anymore. He noticed how she pushed food around on her plate, claiming she wasn’t hungry, or that she had eaten earlier. He watched as the light in her eyes dimmed, replaced by a distant, haunted look that broke his heart.

Toto was no stranger to pressure and stress, but the sight of his wife slipping away from him was a different kind of pain, one he didn’t know how to fight. He had tried to bring it up gently, asking if she was okay, if there was anything she wanted to talk about. Each time, she brushed him off with a weak smile and a quick excuse.

But Toto wasn’t fooled. He knew something was terribly wrong, and the longer she kept him at arm’s length, the more desperate he became to help her.

One evening, he came home earlier than usual, hoping to catch her before she retreated into the solitude of their bedroom. He found her sitting at the kitchen table, staring blankly at a cup of tea that had long gone cold.

“Y/n,” he called softly, not wanting to startle her.

She looked up, startled anyway, and quickly forced a smile. “Hey, I didn’t hear you come in. How was your day?”

Toto walked over, pulling out the chair next to her and sitting down. He took her hand in his, noting how thin and cold it felt. “It was fine,” he said, keeping his voice gentle. “But I’m more worried about how your day was.”

Y/n’s smile faltered, and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes. “I’m fine, Toto. Just a little tired, that’s all.”

He squeezed her hand, his heart aching at the way she tried to downplay her struggles. “Y/n, you’re not fine. I can see that something is wrong, and it’s killing me that you won’t let me in.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she quickly blinked them away, shaking her head. “I don’t want to burden you with my problems. You have enough to deal with already.”

Toto’s expression softened, and he reached out to gently cup her cheek, turning her face toward him. “You are never a burden to me, Y/n. You’re my wife, my partner in everything. If you’re hurting, then I’m hurting too. Please, let me help you.”

The dam broke then. The tears she had been holding back for so long spilled over, and she crumpled into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Toto held her tightly, his own eyes damp as he whispered soothing words, promising her that they would get through this together.

“I’m so sorry,” she choked out between sobs. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I feel so lost, so out of control, and I didn’t want to drag you down with me.”

“You don’t have to go through this alone,” Toto murmured, stroking her hair. “We’ll find help, Y/n. We’ll get through this, one step at a time. But you have to trust me, and let me in. We’re a team, remember?”

She nodded against his chest, the weight of her secret finally lifting, if only a little. “I’m scared, Toto.”

“I know,” he whispered. “But we’ll face it together, every step of the way.”

[buckyssoldat]

Chapter 64: 2012

Warnings: major character death, grief and emotional distress, strong language, angst, violence, mild suggestive content, mental anguish

A/N: This is part of my series, Forsaken - The Fallen Soldier. If you wanna be tagged in this, just send me an ask or a message. Feedback is always appreciated, don’t be shy to share your thoughts on this :)

'Cause you brought out the best of me

A part of me I'd never seen

Alice, Steve, Tony, Bruce, and Scott materialized in the middle of a side street, the air thick with the bustling energy of 2012 New York City. As soon as their feet hit the pavement, the chaos of that time came rushing back: the distant sounds of sirens, the screeching of cars, and the hum of a city that hadn’t yet seen the words of the war ahead. Alice’s heart skipped a beat, remembering how much this place had changed – how much they had changed.

Steve’s voice cut through the familiar noise, his voice steady. “All right, we all have our assignments. Two Stones uptown, one Stone, down. Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock.”

Alice stood to the side for a moment, glancing around. She could see the familiar shadows of the city, the parts that hadn’t been scarred by the war, and the ones that had. The streets were full of life, unaware of what was to come. She knew what she had to do, but a nagging thought clung to the back of her mind: Loki.

For a brief moment, Alice though about finding him. It would be easy enough. She knew his tricks, his charm. She knew how to play his games, how to talk him down from the insanity he had planned. A small part of her even wondered if it would be good to see him again, to face the past with him. But then she shook the thought away. Loki wasn’t a part of her life anymore, and she had already accepted that a long time ago.

Her mission was clear, and she couldn’t afford any distractions. Besides, there was something far more important waiting for her. Something she’d already promised herself she wouldn’t lose again.

With a deep breath, she pushed the thought of Loki aside, focusing on the team. Steve was already taking the lead, his eyes scanning the area. Tony was adjusting his suit, a smirk on his face as always, while Scott looked both excited and nervous. Bruce, on the other hand, seemed to shrink a little as the 2012 Hulk rampaged through the city.

“Feel free to smash a few things along the way,” Steve said, giving Bruce a knowing look.

Bruce’s hand came up to his face, a look of embarrassment crossing his features. “I think it’s gratuitous, but whatever.”

Alice let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Well, if anyone deserves to smash things, it’s probably you,” she teased, her voice light but her eyes sharp. “Just make sure you don’t do anything too catastrophic, Bruce. We don’t need another timeline getting messed up.”

Bruce tore his shirt off, walking over to a car as he lightly punched it, making a small dent, all the while making growling noises.

Steve gave a short nod, taking in their banter but staying focused on the task. “Stay low. We’ll cover ground fast. Let’s move.”

As the team split up to cover their respective areas, Alice’s thoughts were momentarily drawn back to Loki, but she immediately pushed them away. She couldn’t afford the distraction. Loki would be there, but she had her own fight to win. And this time, it was for something far more important.

With a final glance at her team, Alice pulled her mind back into the present. She had a mission. And this time, she wasn’t going to let anything get in the way.

The team split quickly, Steve and ALICE heading toward the elevator while Tony kept an eye on the chaos unfolding around them. The weight of the mission was heavy, but Alice couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of nostalgia as they moved through Stark Tower. That place had seen its fair share of battles, but not it felt oddly calm, as if history itself was holding its breath.

As they neared the elevator, Steve’s voice was steady. “Got it, Tony. We’re approaching the elevator now.”

Alice gave him a quick nod, her expression more serious now. She was used to focusing under pressure, but there was something about being there, in that moment, that felt… different. Loki wasn’t the only thing weighing on her mind. She had more to lose now, and she wasn’t going to let any distractions get in her way.

The elevator doors opened, and Alice stepped in right behind Steve, her hand resting on the side as they both prepared for what was to come. The sound of Loki’s voice echoed out just before the doors closed. “If it’s all the same to you… I’ll have that drink now.”

As the elevator ascended, Tony’s voice came through again, his usual teasing tone making Alice roll her eyes. “Uh, Mr Rogers. I almost forgot that that suit did nothing for your ass.”

Alice smirked, glancing sideways at Steve, who kept his eyes forward, his jaw clenching ever so slightly at Tony’s jabs. “No one asked you to look, Tony,” Steve replied, his voice laced with a familiar calm, though Alice could see the faintest blush creeping up on his neck.

Tony’s voice dropped into a whisper. “It’s ridiculous.”

Alice leaned toward Steve, her smile mischievous. “Don’t listen to him, Cap. You’ve got all the assets you need.”

Steve shot her a sidelong glance, shaking his head with a grin. “You’re a menace.”

She shrugged nonchalantly, the tension between them easing for a moment. “I’m just saying,” she teased. “You really have America’s ass, remember?”

A laugh escaped Steve despite himself, but before he could respond, Scott’s voice piped up over the comms. “I think you look great, Cap. As far as I’m concerned, that’s America’s ass,” he said, complete with a patriotic salute.

Alice smirked, her lips curling at the ridiculousness of the moment. “See? You’ve got a fan club, Steve.”

“Stop encouraging him,” Steve muttered, though there was a warmth in his voice. “Focus, please, Alice.”

The tension in the air was thick as Steve and Alice stood in the hallway, waiting for the elevator to arrive with the sceptre. Alice couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu, her mind wandering to moments from her past. It had been a long time since she’d been this close to Hydra agents, but here she was, in a place where everything felt strangely familiar.

As they waited, Steve kept his gaze sharp, assessing every move. Alice, standing slightly behind him, stayed quiet for a moment, her mind racing through the plan. When she spoke, it was in a soft, almost detached tone. “You know, if we don’t get this sceptre, I’m gonna be really disappointed in you,” she muttered, her voice laced with a teasing challenge, though her eyes never wavered.

Steve shot her a glance, a small smirk tugging at his lips, but his focus never wavered from the task at hand. “I’m doing my best to make sure you don’t have to be,” he said, his voice low and steady, just as it always was before a mission.

“All right, Cap, Onyx,” Tony’s voice echoed through the comms. “I got our sceptre in the elevator just passing the 80th floor.”

“We’re on it,” Steve responded while clicking on the elevator button. “Head to the lobby.”

“Alright, I’ll see you there,” Tony answered back.

Then, the elevator doors opened, revealing a group of Hydra agents. Steve stepped forward with an air of confidence, walking into the elevator as if he belonged there. Alice followed him closely, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, scanning each person.

As the door slid shut, Sitwell looked up from his position and immediately furrowed his brow. “Captain, Onyx. I thought you were coordinating search and rescue?”

Steve’s face was unreadable as he responded smoothly, “Change of plans.” He reached out and pressed the button to continue their descent, his body language casual but every muscle tense, prepared for whatever came next.

Rumlow, ever the sceptic, turned his attention to the pair. “Hey, Cap, Onyx.”

Steve’s gaze met his briefly, and Alice could feel the shift in the air as everyone in the elevator grew cautious. “Rumlow,” Steve replied flatly, his tone neutral, but Alice could see the underlying tension beneath it. Alice nodded at Rumlow, trying to look less suspicious. “I just got a call from the Secretary. Onyx and I are gonna be running point on the sceptre.”

Sitwell’s eyes narrowed. “Sir? I don’t understand.”

“We got word there may be an attempt to steal it,” Steve answered.

“I’m gonna have to call the Director,” Sitwell announced as the grabbed his phone from his pocket.

“That’s okay. Trust me,” Steve leaned over Sitwell’s ear. “Hail Hydra.”

Alice, who had been silent the whole trip, leaned forward as well, her voice as cool and calm as it had been all those years ago. Her lips quirked into a brief smile, remembering the words she’d spoken when she’d been in Hydra’s grip, the words she used to repeat with chilling ease – ready to comply.

“я готов отвечать,” she said softly, the words flowing out in Russian, the same way Forsaken used to say them when carrying out orders. Steve turned his head toward her just as she spoke, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he focused back on the situation at hand.

Alice’s heart skipped a beat as she saw the shift in the agents around them, their expressions shifting from suspicion to confusion and fear. After all, being in the same room as Forsaken was scary, even for those who thought had some control over her.

The elevator doors opened, and Steve walked out with the sceptre in hand, a victorious grin on his face. Alice followed close behind, her steps measured, eyes scanning the hallway. She glanced at Steve, a small, almost imperceptible nod of approval. “Well played, Captain.” Her tone was light, but her eyes conveyed the seriousness of their task.

“Thanks, he said, the grin never leaving his face as he looked at her. “Just don’t get used to it.”

Alice smirked, her response quick and playful. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

They headed toward the stairwell, the mission far from over, but for now, they had the sceptre in hand, and that was one step closer to winning the fight of their lives.

The chaos unfolded quickly. Alice and Steve could hear Tony saying something through the comms, but they didn’t understand what was happening.

“Tony, what happened?” Alice asked, but with no answers.

Steve looked up, only to see the one person he was hoping not to encounter – himself. “Oh, you gotta be shitting me.”

“I have eyes on Loki,” 2012 Steve spoke to his comms. “14th floor. And he has kidnapped Onyx.”

“Nope, I’m out of here,” Alice announced as she bolted to try and save the mission. “Going for the Stone, Steve!”

Alice could hear the clanging of shields and the grunts of both Steve Rogers’ as they battled it out in the stairwell. She was momentarily distracted, watching the two versions of Captain America, both locked in a fierce duel. The past and future versions of Steve were relentless, neither willing to give an inch, their fight a mirror of the stubbornness they both shared. She was glad she didn’t find her 2012 self. That would be a nasty fight.

But she had no time to dwell on the fight.

Alice moved swiftly through the corridors of Stark Tower, her heart racing as she tried to find Loki. She wasn’t sure what to expect from if she found him, but she knew she had to be careful. If she was going to retrieve the Tesseract, she had to be convincing – and quick.

As she turned the corner, she spotted him standing in front of a table, staring at the Tesseract. His back was to her, and for a moment, the silence was thick between them. Then, Loki turned his head slightly, as if he had sensed her presence before she even spoke.

He didn’t seem startled. In fact, there was an almost knowing look in his eyes as he studied her.

“You’re not her, are you?” Loki’s voice was calm, almost amused. “Not the Alice I know from this time.”

Alice froze for a split second, her breath catching in her throat. How did he know?

Loki’s smirk was slow, deliberate. He turned fully toward her, his eyes narrowing with an unsettling familiarity.

“You’re not her,” he repeated, his gaze sweeping over her like he was examining a puzzle. “But you are.”

Before Alice could respond, before she could even react, the air around Loki seemed to shimmer, and with a sudden whoosh, he vanished, leaving nothing behind but the faint echo of his laughter.

Alice stood still for a moment, stunned. He had vanished before she could even blink. She cursed under her breath, her frustration building. She had no idea how he knew, but she had lost the opportunity. Loki was gone, and so was the Tesseract.

Turning sharply on her heel, Alice made her way back to the rendezvous point, frustration bubbling within her. She couldn’t waste time. The team needed to regroup, figure out the next step. She couldn’t afford distractions, especially ones like Loki. The mission wasn’t about him, it was about getting back what had been lost.

Once Alice arrived at the rendezvous, Steve, Scott, and Tony were already there, waiting for her.

Steve’s shoulder’s stiffened as he stood tall, the weight of their failure pressing down on him. “Well, what are we gonna go now?”

Tony’s tone was short and strained. “You know what? Give me a break, Steve. I just got hit in the head with the Hulk.”

Scott wasn’t about to let it go. “You said that we had one shot. This-this was our shot. We shot it. It’s shot. Six stones or nothing. Six stones or nothing-”

Tony threw his hands up, exasperated. “You’re repeating yourself, you know that? You’re repeating yourself.”

Scott shot back, equally irritated. “You’re repeating yourself. You know–No.”

Tony sighed. “Dude, come on.”

Scott wasn’t backing down. “You never wanted a time heist, you went on boar with the time heist–”

Tony’s voice rose defensively. “I dropped the ball.”

Scott’s tone dripped with frustration. “You ruined the time heist.”

Tony crossed his arms. “Is that what I did?”

Scott’s glare was unrelenting. “Yeah!”

Steve interjected, trying to find a way forward. “Are there any other options with the Tesseract?”

Scott gestured desperately. “No, no, no. There are no other options. There’s no do-overs. We’re not going anywhere else. We have one particle left. Each. That’s it, alright? We use that – Bye, bye. You’re not going home.”

Alice stepped forward, her voice tense. “Wait, so you’re saying we’re down to our last shots? We can’t screw this up again.”

Steve set his jaw, resolute. “Yeh, well if we don’t try, then no one else is going home, either.”

Tony paused, a spark of an idea forming. “I got it. There’s another way. To retake the Tesseract and acquire new particles. We’ll stroll down memory lane. Military installation, Garden State.”

Alice folded her arms, her brow furrowing. “When were the Tesseract and Pym Particles there?”

Tony’s eyes lit up with hope. “They were there at a–I’ve a vaguely exact idea.”

Steve pressed. “How vague?”

Alice raised an eyebrow, worried about their chances. “You sure you’re not just winging it, Tony?”

Scott was still confused. “What are you talking about? Where are we going?”

Tony started piercing it together. “I know for a fact they were there–”

Scott interrupted, waving his arms. “Who’s they? What are we doing?”

Alice turned to Scott, trying to steady him. “Trust him, it might sound crazy, but when doesn’t it?” she said, adding a touch of humour to ease the tension.

Tony snapped back into the moment. “And I know how I know.”

Scott, clearly still frustrated, demanded, “Guys, what’s up? What is it?”

Tony took a breath. “Well, it looks like we’re improvising.”

Scott threw up his hands. “Right. What are we improvising?”

Tony gave the instruction. “Scott, Alice, get this back to the compound.” He then turned to Steve. “Suit up.”

Alice, angry that she wasn’t included in the plan, insisted, “Wait, why are you two going? I wanna go too!”

Tony started, “0-4,” and Steve picked up, “0-4–”

“Guys, I don’t like this!” Alice exclaimed, annoyed that Tony and Steve were ignoring her plea to go with them.

Tony continued, “0-7,” and Steve echoed, “0-7.”

Scott tried to speak, “Excuse us…”

Tony finished, “1-9-7-0.”

Steve asked, concerned, “Are you sure?”

Scott stepped forward, desperation in his voice. “Cap. Captain. Steve, sorry, America. Rogers. Look, if you do this, and this doesn’t work, you’re not coming back.”

Tony’s voice was dry. “Thanks for the pep talk, pissant.” He looked at Steve, his expression softening. “Do you trust me?”

Steve answered with conviction, “I do.”

Tony nodded. “Your call.”

At that moment, Alice stepped in, her eyes narrowing. “No way. If you’re going back, I’m coming with you.”

Steve shook his head, immediately bracing for the argument. “Alice, you can’t. It’s too risky.”

“Too risky?” she fired back, her voice rising. “Everything about this mission is risky! I’m not just gonna sit here while you two go back to 1970.”

Tony sighed, trying to mediate. “Look, Alice, it’s not about that. It’s about minimizing risk. Two people are easier to manage than three.”

Alice glared at him, then turned her full force on Steve. “You’re really going to leave me behind? After everything?”

Steve’s gaze softened, but he held his ground. “We need someone here. Someone strong. If we don’t make it back, the team needs someone to lead them.”

Her voice broke, but her resolve didn’t. “You think I care about leading a team if it means losing you?”

Steve stepped closer, his expression full of unspoken emotion. “I know you don’t. But if somethings goes wrong… someone has to make sure this isn’t the end. Someone has to keep fighting.”

Alice’s jaw clenched, her hands balling into fists. “That’s not fair, Steve.”

He reached out, touching her arm gently. “I know. But it’s necessary.”

She pulled back, struggling to hold back tears. “Fine. But you two better come back. Or I swear, I will find a way to drag you back from wherever you end up.”

Tony offered her a small, almost affectionate smile. “We’ll do our best, boss.”

Alice shook her head, voice thick with emotion. “You better. Or I’ll never forgive you.”

Steve looked at her one last time, his eyes filled with meaning. “We’ll be back,” he promised.

Alice stepped back, her heart pounding. “You better be.”

“Here we go,” Steve announced before him and Tony disappeared, going back to 1970.

After Tony and Steve vanished into the swirling energy of time, Alice stood there, arms crossed and jaw clenched, trying to swallow the worry knotting her stomach. The emptiness left behind seemed heavier than she expected. Beside her, Scott shuffled awkwardly with Loki’s sceptre on his left hand, tapping his helmed as if trying to make sense of it all.

“So,” Scott began, breaking the silence, “you and Captain America, huh? Makes sense. Two super soldiers and all.”

Alice’s head whipped toward him, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Excuse me?” she asked, her tone hovering between disbelief and irritation.

Scott raised his hands defensively, his eyes wide. “Sorry! It’s just… I mean, that’s what Thor was saying to Rocket. Something about you and Cap having… history? Not that it’s any of my business!” he quickly added, backpedalling. “But, you know, when Thor talks, it’s kinda hard not to hear.”

Alice’s eyes narrowed, and she let out a humourless laugh. “Of course. Thor and Rocket gossiping. That makes sense,” she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Scott grimaced. “Sorry if I overstepped. I wasn’t trying to pry or anything. It’s just-” He shrugged, looking sheepish. “This whole time heist thing is nerve-wracking, and I figured maybe talking would distract us.”

Alice studied him for a moment before her expression softened slightly, though her voice was still weary. “It’s fine, Scott. It’s just… not exactly a topic I wanna discuss right now.”

Scott nodded fervently. “Got it. No more past relationship gossip, promise.”

Alice sighed, the tension in her shoulders not quite easing. “Thanks,” she said quietly, looking back at where Tony and Steve had disappeared. “And for the record… there’s a lot more to that story than just two super soldiers.”

Scott offered her a small, apologetic smile. “Fair enough,” he replied. “If you ever feel like sharing the ‘more’ part… I’ll be right here. Until we, you know, zap back home.”

Alice’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied. “But for now, let’s just focus on getting back in one piece.”

Scott gave a mock salute, trying to lighten the mood. “One piece. Got it.”

A few minutes of awkward silence later, Scott got up from the car he was sitting on. He clapped his hands together, as if shaking off the lingering tension. “Alright, well, it’s time to go back to the present,” he said, turning toward the device that would send them back to their timeline.

Alice let out a deep breath, relief washing over her. “Thank God,” she muttered under her breath, finally feeling the weight of everything start to lift. “I don’t think I could stand much more of this time-travelling chaos.”

Scott chuckled, tapping a few buttons on the device. “Yeah, I’m right there with you. This whole ‘jumping around time’ thing is… a lot.”

Alice gave a wry smile, glancing around one last time at the chaotic remnants of 2012. “Let’s just get back before I lose my mind.”

With that, Scott hit the button, and the world around them started to blur, pulling them back to their present, to their reality.

As the team materialized back in the compound, the first thing Alice did was scan the room, her heart racing as she searched for the familiar faces of Steve and Tony. Her eyes landed on them almost instantly. She smiled, relief flooding her as she took in the sight of them safe and sound, but the smile faltered as she quickly realized there was someone else missing.

Her gaze darted around, a frown starting to tug at her lips. “Wait, where’s Natasha?” she asked, her voice quiet, barely more than a whisper.

Bruce, standing near Clint, looked around as well, his brow furrowing. “Clint, where’s Nat?”

The silence that followed from Clint was enough to make Alice’s stomach drop. She stared at him, waiting for him to say something, anything. But when he didn’t answer, the realization hit like a gut punch. Her breath caught in her throat.

No.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the pieces fell into place. Natasha was gone.

Alice took a step back, her legs trembling beneath her, as the grief began to overwhelm her. Her hands shook, her chest tight, and before she could catch herself, she collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The tears came in waves, each one heavier than the last, each one carrying the weight of the loss she hadn’t expected. Natasha was gone. Her sister. Her friend.

“Alice…” Steve’s voice was soft as he rushed to her sided, dropping to his knees beside her, but Alice barely registered it. Her whole world felt like it was unravelling. She gasped for breath between sobs, trying to cling to something, anything, that would keep her grounded.

Tony was there too, hovering nearby, helpless. Steve, ever the steady presence, gently placed a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “Ali, hey… Look at me,” he urged, his voice low, soothing. “Come on, Ali, you’ve got to breathe.”

But Alice couldn’t stop. Her chest heaved as she struggled to find the words, her mind spinning with memories of Natasha – of the times they’d fought side by side, of the laughs they’d shared, of how she’d always been there for her. Now, she was gone.

Steve gently cupped her face with his hands, his grip firm yet tender. “Alice, look at me,” he said again, his voice a lifeline in the storm. “We’ll get through this. We’ll do it together, okay?”

Alice finally met his gaze, her tear-filled eyes locking with his. “I-I can’t… I can’t lose her, Steve,” she sobbed, her voice breaking with the weight of her grief.

Clint knelt on the other side of her, his expression broken, but his presence comforting in its own way. “We all lost her,” he said quietly. “But we’re still here. And we’ll make sure she’s remembered.”

Steve helped Alice to her feet, his hand steady on her arm as he guided her up. She felt like she was being pulled from a nightmare, but the reality of Natasha’s absence was still there, sharp and cold.

Alice clung to Steve’s arm, her body still shaking, but she tried to steady herself, focusing on the warmth of his touch. She couldn’t bring herself to speak again, not yet, but she nodded slowly, as if to reassure herself that they were all in this together. But deep down, she knew nothing would ever feel the same again.

Steve let Alice back to her room, his presence a steadying force as she walked, still lost in the shock of what had happened. When they reached her door, Steve paused, glancing at her with concern in his eyes.

“Do you need help?” he asked gently, his voice soft.

Alice shook her head, her heart still aching with the weight of Natasha’s death. “No… I just need a few minutes, Steve,” she whispered, her voice raw. “I need to be alone.”

Steve nodded, his expression sympathetic but understanding. “Okay. Take your time,” he said, before turning and leaving her to her space.

Alice stood there for a moment, her hands trembling at her sides as she tried to steady her breath. The tears were still there, waiting just beneath the surface, but she needed this moment. She needed to remember Natasha, to mourn her in her own way.

After a few minutes of silence, Alice changed into her own clothes and made her way to the outside of the compound, her feet carrying her toward the lake. She needed to feel the cool breeze against her skin, to hear the quiet lapping of the water against the shore, to ground herself.

As she neared the lake, she saw Steve, Tony, Thor, Clint, and Bruce were already there. She saw Bruce standing by the edge, his face twisted in rage and grief. Without warning, he grabbed a nearby bench and threw it with all his might across the lake. The sound of it hitting the water was sharp, but it did nothing to quiet the turmoil inside him.

Bruce stood there for a moment, panting, before his shoulders slumped with exhaustion, and the anger drained out of him. He turned to the other, a resigned expression on his face.

“She’s not coming back,” Bruce said, his voice rough. “We have to make it worth it. We have to.”

Steve, standing a few paces aways, gave him a nod. “We will.”

Alice walked toward them, her eyes red and puffy from the tears, but her resolve clear. She took a deep breath, gathering herself, and finally spoke.

“Natasha wasn’t just a teammate,” Alice began, her voice shaking but growing stronger with each word. “She wasn’t just an Avenger. She was my sister. She… she was the one who always had my back. In every fight, in every mission, in every breakdown, she was right there with me, and I knew I could trust her with my life. I remember the first time I met her. I didn’t trust her at all,” Alice continued, her voice thick with emotion as she glanced down at the ground. “I had just escaped Hydra, and I didn’t know who I could trust. Natasha was a mystery to me, and I was wary of everyone. But over time, she proved herself. She showed me what loyalty really meant. She was patient with me, never rushing me to open up, but always there when I needed someone to talk to.”

Alice paused, her tears falling freely now, and she wiped them away quickly, her hands trembling. “Eventually, we became really close. She became my family, in every sense of the word. And now… now she’s gone. And I don’t know how to do this without her.”

Her knees buckled slightly, and Steve was there, his arm around her instantly, steadying her as she clutched his arm for support. Alice rested her forehead against his arm, drawing strength from him as she fought to finish what she started.

“I didn’t get to say goodbye, none of us did,” Alice whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “But she’ll always be with me, with us. We’ll carry her with us every day. And we’ll make it worth it. We’ll make sure her sacrifice meant something. She deserves that.”

Steve squeezed her hand gently, his eyes filled with sympathy and understanding, but he said nothing. No one did. They didn’t need to. The silence between the team spoke volumes, all grieving in their own way, but united in their shared love for Natasha.

Alice pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting Clint’s. “She was my sister,” she repeated, more quietly this time, as if trying to convince herself.

Clint nodded solemnly. “She was,” he said, his voice low but full of emotion.

Alice took another deep breath, her tears slowing but not entirely gone. She knew this pain wouldn’t fade overnight, but standing there, with the team by her side, she felt a little less alone in it. Together, they’d carry Natasha’s memory forward, and that was something. Something to hold onto, at least.

tags: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​@capswife

← previous chapter      next chapter →

masterlist

[mission-light-if]

How would the Ro’s react if they accidentally hurt Mc physically or emotionally in like a heated argument, and how would they react after this all blows over? (wait till Mc approach them or goes to them)

Sinan: Sinan would feel bad instantly because he doesn't want any bad vibes, especially within the team or in general. If the situation is really bad, he might take some time to process it, but usually, he tries to resolve things immediately and apologizes right away. Sinan is very reflective and would take the full blame, even if it's not entirely his fault. He is deeply interested in keeping things harmonious and can't stand to see others in distress.

Nayla: Nayla would feel bad, and it would show on her face. She would apologize immediately after realizing her mistake. She’s very careful and adjusts her behavior based on the other person’s reactions. If someone needs space, she respects that. Nayla would feel bad for a long time and wouldn't easily forget the situation. She might even bring a gift as an apology and reflect on her actions, and try to improve for the future.

Aneka: Aneka would feel really bad and be willing to do anything to apologize. She would ask what the other person (MC) wants to do and put in her best effort to make things right. However, if she senses that nothing is improving despite her efforts, she would start to lose interest in maintaining the relationship. Aneka understands her mistake, but if both sides aren't working together to move forward, she sees no point in continuing.

Miguel: Miguel would avoid the situation, not because he wants to, but because he's awkward and unsure how to respond appropriately. He feels easily attacked, even when he knows the criticism is valid. He overthinks things and fears making more mistakes. Miguel would feel bad about the situation and be sad about potentially losing something important, but he struggles to deal with other people's emotions and communicate his own. Avoidance feels like the easiest solution to him.

Hongyu: Hongyu would accept his mistake and apologize, showing genuine interest in fixing the situation. Internally, he would push away any pain he feels and focus on moving forward. He’s practical and realistic—if he made a mistake, it's his fault, and he feels it's his responsibility to fix it.

Marcos/Maria: Marcos/Maria would likely walk away from the situation initially. It would take them some time to recognize or acknowledge that they did something wrong, especially if it’s not immediately obvious. Even when the mistake is clear, they need time to fully accept it. They might try to ignore it and continue acting as if nothing happened. If the other person (MC) confronts them later, they might finally realize their error and offer an apology.

Min: Min would feel bad and overthink the situation, which would bring their mood down significantly. They tend to hide their emotions, becoming even more sour. Min would genuinely want to apologize, but they’re unsure of how to do it, which causes hesitation. Sometimes, they might impulsively approach the situation, attempting to apologize on the spot, but other times they might wait, unsure of the right timing. If they delay, it could take a while, but eventually, they would still find a way to apologize, even if it takes some time.

(Sorry it took me so long to answer :))

[dontyouworrydaddy]

Can you please write about how the task force 141 + whoever you want react to the reader having asymmetrical breasts (you know when one is bigger than the other)? In fact, I decided to write this request as I have this type of chest myself and I'm a bit insecure about of it :⁠-⁠[

It's totally okay if you not wanting to write it, just ignore my ask!

Yoᥙɾ ᑲoᑯყ ɩ⳽ ᥲɾt

Task Force 141 + fem! Reader

As the title says, your body is art. You are a masterpiece, a work of art that is one of a kind. Your body is a canvas that as shows everyone how unique you are. Be proud of who you are and never let anyone make you feel less than beautiful. Because everyone is unique in their own way.

Remember that your always loved by me and so many people! You’re beautiful ❤️

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

Simon Riley

Simon and you sat together in your shared apartment, laying in each others arms while watching a movie, a timid silence hung between you. Simon noticed a flicker of unease in your eyes and decided to gently inquire about their distress.

"Hey.." he began softly "Is something on your mind? You seem a little distant today."

You shifted uncomfortably, trying to find the right words. "Simon, there's something I've been meaning to tell you, more like show you, something I'm scared you'll find repulsive."

Simon's eyes softened, realizing the depth of your vulnerability. "You can tell or show me anything, love. I promise you won't scare me away."

Taking a deep breath, You hesitated before whispering, "The real real reason why I’m wearing hoodies and refuse to show my chest is because I’m insecure about them. They’re asymmetrical. It's something I've always been insecure about, and I'm afraid you won't find me attractive anymore."

Simon's heart ached for your self-doubt. He gently cupped their face, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "Do you think my scars are beautiful?"

You blinked in surprise, "Of course, Simon. Your scars tell a story of bravery and resilience."

Simon smiled tenderly. "Then you have to find your body even more beautiful. Imperfections make us unique, and they should never overshadow the beauty within."

Overwhelmed with emotion, You felt tears prickling at the corners of their eyes. Simon's unwavering support gave them the strength to embrace their insecurities and trust in his love.

"Baby.." Simon continued, his voice filled with sincerity, "You are extraordinary just as you are. Your beauty goes beyond physical appearances. It resides in your heart, your courage, and your ability to be vulnerable with me."

You couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of acceptance wash over you. Simon's words resonated deeply, helping to shatter the walls of self-doubt that had plagued you for far too long.

John MacTavish

You’re an independent and determined soldier, were a valued member of Task Force 141. You fought alongside the elite team, including the sergeant John MacTavish. Your skills were unmatched and you held your own in the most dangerous missions.

However, there was something that haunted you, casting a shadow over your confidence—the asymmetry of your breasts. It made you uncomfortable and self-conscious, especially when it came to getting close to others. Your insecurity prevented you from being comfortable enough to wear a little tighter shirts.

One evening, after a particularly grueling mission, you found yourself alone in the barracks, trying to hide your feelings from the world. The weight of your insecurity felt unbearable, and tears welled up in your eyes. Just as you were about to lose yourself in self-doubt, a gentle knock on the door caught your attention.

"Hey, it's me, Soap" John's voice called out, warm and comforting.

You opened the door, trying to hide the remnants of your tears, but John's piercing gaze instantly caught on to your emotional state.

"Something bothering you, love?" he asked, concern etched on his rugged face.

Unable to find the words, you nodded, allowing your tears to flow freely. John stepped forward, pulling you into a comforting embrace, his strong arms enveloping you.

"It's okay, lass. We all have our insecurities," he whispered softly, his voice a soothing balm to your troubled heart. "But trust me when I say that your body is a work of art, flaws and all. You're perfect."

John's words reverberated through your soul, bringing forth a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of your self-doubt. He held you tightly, reassuring you that he was there for you, no matter what.

"You don't have to show anyone anything you're not ready for" John said gently. "Your well-being is what matter most."

Through your tear-streaked vision, you saw love in his eyes. In that moment, your heart swelled with a newfound strength. You knew you could trust John and his unwavering support ignited a flicker of courage within you.

"Thank you," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

John's warm smile melted away your fears. With tenderness, he brushed away your tears and pressed a gentle kiss against your forehead.

"Remember, love, you are beautiful just the way you are," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "And your beauty goes far beyond your physical appearance. Your strength, bravery, and compassion are what make you truly extraordinary."

That night, you and John remained locked in an embrace, finding comfort in each other's presence.

John Price

John was walking up the stairs to your shared apartment, feeling exhausted from the recent mission. And tonight, the universe had conspired to bring him face-to-face with a vulnerability he hadn't anticipated. As he stepped into the living room, he saw you, huddled in a corner, tears streaming down your face.

Your distress caught him off guard, and he rushed to your side, concern etched across his weathered features. "What's wrong, love?" he asked softly, his voice filled with genuine worry.

You hiccupped, trying to control your sobs as you looked up at him through teary eyes. "I... I can't do it, John" you managed to say between shaky breaths.

Confusion flickered in his eyes. "Can't do what, love?"

"I... I can't show you" you whispered, your voice barely audible.

His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of your words. Then, his gaze fell upon your trembling hands, clutching at your chest. The realization dawned on him like a punch to the gut. Your insecurity about your asymmetrical breasts.

The room fell into a heavy silence as John's heart ached for you. He had always seen you as the top of beauty. There wasn’t anything or anyone more beautiful than you. But he understood the deep-seated insecurities that could cripple even the strongest soul.

With gentle resolve, John knelt down in front of you, his piercing blue eyes locked with yours. "Listen to me, love," he spoke softly, his voice carrying a warmth that enveloped you. "I've seen the world, been through hell and back. And let me tell you something…you are more beautiful than anything I've ever come across."

You shook your head, the weight of your self-doubt still looming over you. "But, John..."

"No buts, my love" he interrupted, his voice firm but kind. "We all have our imperfections. It's what makes us human. And it's those imperfections that draw us closer, that make us unique."

He reached out and brushed away a tear from your cheek, his touch gentle and comforting. "I love you and you‘re the most beautiful woman that has ever walked on this world."

Your breath hitched as his words seeped into your wounded soul. John's love and acceptance were like a balm, soothing the rawness of your insecurities. Slowly, you felt a flicker of hope ignite within you.

As if reading your mind, John leaned in, his lips barely brushing against yours. It was a tender and sweet kiss.. your very first.

Kyle Garrick

Despite your unwavering strength, there was a deep-seated insecurity that burdened your heart. You struggled with self-acceptance, specifically regarding your asymmetrical breasts. The fear of judgment and rejection prevented you from fully revealing your vulnerable self to Kyle, despite his unwavering affection. And you were always scared because you couldn’t find a way to like them.

One day, as the weight of your insecurities became too heavy to bear alone, tears welled up in your eyes, threatening to spill over. It was during a moment of solitude that Kyle, ever observant, noticed your distress. Without hesitation, he approached you, concern etched across his face.

"Hey" he whispered gently, his voice a soothing balm. "What's troubling you, love? You can tell me anything, you know that."

Your lips quivered as you struggled to find the right words. "Kyle, I... I'm afraid. Afraid you won't see me the same way if I show you. My... chest "

Kyle's warm hand reached out to wipe away your tears, his touch grounding you in the moment. "Baby" he said tenderly, "you're the most beautiful person I've ever met. Your physical appearence is just a fraction of who you are. It's your heart, your soul, your unyielding courage that captivates me."

You tried to speak, but your voice caught in your throat. The fear of rejection still lingered, but Kyle's unwavering support gave you the strength to take a leap of faith.

With a trembling hand, you began to unbutton your shirt, revealing the hidden secret that had kept you shackled for so long. As your heart pounded, you felt Kyle's arms encircle you in a warm, comforting embrace. His presence became a shield against your fears.

"I know it's not easy for you…" Kyle murmured against your ear, his voice filled with empathy. "But believe me when I say that you're more than your physical appearance. You're unique, you're strong, and you're breathtakingly beautiful just the way you are."

"I love you," Kyle whispered, his voice laced with sincerity. "Every part of you, inside and out."

[marcymeow]

Ripper stomps into the confessional, an hour or so after the first challenge was over. He does his business in the outhouse as usual, but while rubbing his head, and gritting his teeth. "Ugh. What the hell happened? What am I?" He mutters to the confessional, forlorn and waving at himself.

He'd instantly correct anybody assuming he was upset from his team losing. He's very confident he's still in, especially from the amount of weak-willed nerds on his team. He is a little upset he lost in specific, but considering the challenge was "dodge balloons from the best pitcher in Woman's Baseball," he has to be humble sometimes and say not even he can fight against Axe Hatchet. No, his distress is from something much more embarrassing. "So, here's the problem." He tries to speak to the audience directly, knowing that Chris has encouraged them all to do so at a meeting off camera. "I came here to win. I came here to crush the competition in a way that I wasn't able to last season! I was too distracted with things like records, which I've already beaten anyway! And nothing else should stop me!" "So why is-! Why-! Axel is-!" He growls, balling his fists. "Why is it so hard to talk about this?! It's muddied up in my head like fog!" "So." He tried to start over, shaking his head. "I hate Axel, yes? I hate her a lot." It was something about Axel, he knows that. The fact that he kept getting pushed around and beaten by Axel. That Axel, who he got out last season for causing his heart to beat in emotion like a crack of thunder, or like the growling of his stomach. Axel made him react, so Ripper reacted back, throwing insults at her like he did to somebody like Millie. No matter how ill-fitting of the label 'Nerd' Axel was, he'd treat her just like he'd treat them. "She's very much like me. We match brains and brawn, we're harsh, we're loners. Neither of us care about anybody but ourselves! We're destined to be rivals, to be opponents! We're enemies!" He, obliviously, smiled. Balling his fist down onto his palm, he continued. "She even tripped me up in today's challenge! I hate her."

"So..." He dropped down. "So why... Um... Ughhhhh! There's-! Something in here that I'm trying to get out but it's muddied up with everything! Why are emotions hard!" He once again grit his teeth, and continued. He's stubborn, he'll do whatever he wants no matter what! If his mind isn't letting him do what he wants, he'll just fight back against his own mind! Come on, Ripper! Take it out! That glistening little sparkle that's covered up! You are upset! And by whatever you can do, Ripper, you will say what is making you upset-! "I liked it when she pushed me down!" It flows out like a waterfall, the dam finally broken and destroying everything in its wake. "And when she tripped me during the challenge! She's so strong and confident and knows what she's doing, that she's decided that I'm a threat against her! Me, somebody whose just as strong as her, she sees me as a threat, like I deserve to be! Being hit, being attacked and pushed down by her, it's me being kicked down and shown who I am! Somebody who's strong enough to matter, that she's strong enough to actually hurt me! And..." ...He crumpled, after everything he bottled up hits him. He looks at the camera. "...I'm not supposed to care about other people. I'm Ripper, the strongest kid in the school, the one whose beaten the record for the longest continuous fart! I'm great! I'm a king! I'm not supposed to be a... lovestruck dweeb." "But I am, now. I see Axel, and I want her to hit me, to show me how much of a badass she is. I wanna be hurt by her, and then make out with her. I'm swooning over a zombie survivalist for gods sake! I'm not nearly as much of a man as I thought I was..." He sighs, and gets up. He likes Axel. He has a crush on her, on the girl who, as far as he can tell, actually genuinely dislikes him. Oh, he'd love to have a girl swoon over him and for him to date her. But this isn't that. This is him getting blushy over a girl because she beats him up sometimes. He's starting to actually care. He exits the confessional, with mixed feelings on if he actually wanted to unearth that buried realization. Well... It's too late now. He knows that he's into her now. The only question is... What now?

[ashtoberr]

Prompts 7, 45 and 48 for the ask game!

oooh ok!! thank u!!! :3

7. Ashuta doesn't have any particular unusual fears, aside from maybe fire if that counts as unusual. Most doesn't bother or scare her since as a vampire she's nearly immortal, but she does fear fire because the one way to take her out permanently is to behead her and then burn the body.

45. Ashuta isn't the best at planning, so she often leaves a member of her team to do it and doesn't plan ahead- but if the planning takes too long, she'll likely jump ahead. She's happy to follow orders, not so keen on giving them out. If she was left to lead a mission she'd likely be winging it.

48. There are few things that can drive Ashuta to go for revenge, and when she does, it's typically a long, drawn out thing for her. She can wait for an opportune time- she has centuries, after all. But there's a particular instance that sets her off in the story to where she feels the need for revenge right there, and I think that's how she's going to lose a life so her friends have to reteach her who she is. More on it below the cut, but it's not officially set in stone yet (PART 1 SPOILERS BELOW):

How the "revenge" and backfiring play out:

So we know already that Makima doesn't give a shit about Ashuta, but Ashuta considers her a close friend, probably up there with Denji and Power or so but not as close as Aki (no one is as close to her as Aki is, over time).

When Aki is killed, Ashuta can't cope and confides in Makima, since she believes Makima has surely lost someone she cares about before, right? She tells Makima how she was closer to him than anyone in the world. How all she wanted was to see him live at peace. How she would have done anything to stop what happened to him. Even feels safe enough to tell Makima that she was in love with him.

Makima, of course, this whole time has seen this as an opportunity to kill Ashuta. She's ripped away Aki already and is about to kill Power, why not take away Ashuta? Better yet, why not teach/control her to hate Denji so Denji has to kill yet another one of his friends?

I haven't planned the dialogue yet, but Makima says something that basically lets Ashuta put two and two together.

Not much bothers Ashuta, but when in extreme emotional distress, she loses her shit and acts more like what you'd see with a horror movie vampire. The wool is ripped off from Ashuta's eyes at once, and she realizes that Makima was never her friend, that she's not what she seems, and that Aki is dead and it's her fault. Makima calmly walks around the room as Ashuta breaks down, becoming more and more dismissive as Ashuta sinks into more and more disbelief.

When Makima turns her back, Ashuta immediately leaps at her in attempt to tear her apart, wanting her to feel every second of it in revenge for Aki. Makima, of course, is not fazed by this at all and immediately beats the shit out of Ashuta within an inch of her life.

As Ashuta's basically choking on her own blood, Makima mocks Ashuta, explaining that she's the Control Devil. Except the sad part is she never even had to use her devil powers on Ashuta- Ashuta was so desperate for love and a friend that all Makima had to do was tolerate her presence to win Ashuta's loyalty.

Makima muses that it was very amusing getting to know Ashuta- that she was such a simple, loyal dog- and it's such a shame that she has to do this.

From here, I can't decide if Makima simply puts Ashuta under her Control Devil powers so she's completely brainwashed, or just fully kills her so Ashuta regenerates comes back as a blank slate.

If I make it so Makima kills Ashuta, that means Ashuta permanently loses her memories and Denji has to reteach her what her life was like before she died after Makima is defeated. She could also try to make a contract with a devil to get her memories back, unsure. HOWEVER, if Makima just controls Ashuta, it makes more sense for her to be so desperate to cling to Aki even after his death (because I have plans for that). I can't decide at this point.

[make-mine-movie]

Make Mine Music (1946)

Make Mine Music is a compilation of animated segments associated with a musical piece reminiscent of Fantasia. Make Mine Music, unlike Fantasia, received a rather low score from Rotten Tomatoes in comparison: 64%.

Make Mine Music is a musical segment film similar to its predecessor Fantasia without all of the classical songs, marvelous storytelling, or breathtaking animation and artwork. It frequently shifts from a positive to gloomy vibe, both in the order of the segments and within the segments themselves. Some of the scenes, such as “Blue Bayou” and “Peter and the Wolf” are wonderful contributions to the entirety of the film, even if they do not seem to coordinate well. Other scenes, like “Casey at the Bat,” have notable connections to Disney even today. However, scenes like “And All the Cats Joined In” and even the once notable “The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met” have lost their spark and influence in this day and age. Additionally, “The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met” presents its own complex issues. Overall, this piece is exceptionally disturbing. Professor Tetti Tatti hunts and murders a community-loved singing whale with very little logical reason, rather being delusional. The final scene, before Willie is seen singing in heaven, his body is tossed about the ocean waves with a harpoon visibly impaled in his abdomen. This segment is rather dark for the rest of the movie and the intended audience with little reason as to why. Additionally, there is a song sung by Willie in this segment that has a racist history. While there are no slurs present in the movie itself, the original lyrics to “Shortnin Bread” and its inclusion in this film is somewhat concerning, especially considering that it involves “Mammy” imagery that was utilized to discriminate against Black women during the time period. Beyond the disturbing scenery and bigoted imagery in the last segment, the entirety of the movie has little issue with these topics. That being said, most of the scenes lack any flavor whatsoever, being conflicted and boring with no distinct emotion or cohesion.

In conclusion, Make Mine Music is a musically-based film reminiscent of Fantasia without the fame, flare, and high-quality emotional storytelling. Overall, Make Mine Music receives 4 out of 10 stars from me. It lost points due to inconsistency, lacking content, and the aforementioned troubles seen in “The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met,” as well as how difficult it was to acquire and watch. Make Mine Music, despite “music” being a key part of the title, was not particularly grand in terms of its musical composition. Therefore, it lost an additional point in this field.

Summary of the film under the cut.

The movie starts with a slow tune titled “Blue Bayou,” opening up with fluorescent pools of water, surrounded by trees and Spanish moss. There is a bright white bird standing on the shoreline. The song follows this bird around the bayou, its feathers standing out against the blue tones. Shortly later another bird joins the first, and the two fly around the bayou together. This segment is followed by quite the opposite vibe — an upbeat jazz piece titled “And All the Cats Joined In.” “And All the Cats Joined In” features a group of either teenagers or young adults dancing about at a soda fountain. It is followed by yet another vibe, “Without You,” a ballad featuring a willow tree about the loss of love. Next up is “Casey at the Bat.” “Casey at the Bat” is one of the more complex pieces from Make Mine Music. It tells of a baseball player named Casey that everyone travels to see. His team is competing and currently not doing very well but everyone has faith that they will persevere with the aid of their best player. When Casey begins to play he has a lot of confidence, but inevitably he strikes out and they lose. Casey suffers great distress due to this and after the game is long over he is still fighting with the baseball on the field in the rain. Afterwards is “Two Silhouettes,” a short depiction of two ballet dancers. Then there is another complex story similar to “Casey at the Bat,” arguably one of three or four segments of real substance, “Peter and the Wolf.” “Peter and the Wolf” tells the story of a young boy, Peter, who wants to hunt a dangerous wolf. His family refuses to let him go but he sneaks out anyways. Along the journey he encounters three other creatures: Sasha the songbird, Sonia the duck, and Ivan the cat. All of the characters in this story are represented by different instruments in order to best encapsulate their personalities and expressions. Peter encounters Wolf who proceeds to try to hunt him and his new friends. It is implied that Wolf manages to kill and eat Sonia, which Sasha seeks revenge for. All the time Peter and Ivan sit in a tree awaiting rescue. Three hunters come along just in time to see that Peter has actually successfully managed to tie Wolf up in the tree. The hunters, Peter, and the rest of the animals (including Sonia, who is confirmed to be alive by the end of the short) parade around town with the body of Wolf. The last insignificant short of this movie is “After You’ve Gone,” where about three to four instruments parade around playing music. This short features a lot of abstract imagery and color but has no distinct plot. The following segment is “Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet,” which is the love story between two hats. The hats lived together in the window of a clothing store before Alice Bluebonnet was bought. Johnnie Fedora was left on his own and he missed her greatly. He was then purchased by another one of the city dwellers. Johnnie still tried his best to look for Alice, leaving behind his owner to search for her. However, he could not find her, being nearly washed down a storm drain. A random person picks up Johnnie before he gets washed away and proceeds to cut holes into him. While it may seem all is lost, the person who found Johnnie actually cut holes in him to place him upon the head of one of their carriage horses. And on the other carriage horse beside Johnnie is Alice, a happy ending concluding this segment. The final scene in Make Mine Music is one of the most notable, confusing, and arguably disturbing. Titled “The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met,” the finale stars a whale named Willie who can sing, and can sing well. Rumors spread about Willie’s dream to sing at the Met. A man named Professor Tetti Tatti believes that Willie swallowed a group of singers, gifting him with his singing ability. Tetti Tatti proceeds to hunt Willie in an attempt to avenge/rescue the assumed singers. The other sailors accompanying Tetti Tatti initially prevent him from harpooning Willie by forcing him to listen to him sing. It is unclear if this is a dream sequence or real life events, but Tetti Tatti then becomes Willie’s manager, and Willie becomes world famous. He performs multiple times at the Met for large crowds. In his final performance he is dressed as Satan or a devil, and Tetti Tatti awaits along the side of the curtain, also dressed in a demonic fashion. The scene cuts back to the professor harpooning Willie, and then his body tosses about in the currents of the waves. The segment closes with Willie singing in heaven.

[topsitesg]

Responsible Gambling for Online Casino Esports Betting

Esports betting has become rapidly popular during the last years, and responsible gambling becomes ever more important. Internet casino esports betting is an excellent way for fans to enjoy their favorite games while probably making some money. Meanwhile, there is a fantastic risk that may be the reason for problematic behaviors in gambling. The current article will be dedicated to the principles of responsible gambling within internet casino esports betting, together with tips about maintaining a healthy relationship with gambling.

Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is described as behaviors that maximize enjoyment of games by players with no negative consequences attached. It promotes effective informed choice, self-control, and awareness of one's gambling behavior. In regards to online casino esports betting, responsible gambling essentially means a potential addiction of addictiveness, responsible handling of finances, and knowledge of odds in the game.

Setting Limits is Important

One of the successful tools for responsible gaming would involve time and monetary bet limits. It is highly important that all bettors come to an agreement on the budgeted amount before starting with the esports betting activities and then try to stay within that budget. It should be an amount the loser will still be able to afford to lose without it making a dent in the money for the bills or groceries.

Additionally, time constraints can prevent over-gambling. A gambler has to allocate some time for gambling and also spend time away from the activity at manageable intervals in order not to feel burnt out and also to get a perspective of their spree. Most online casinos also give the tools through which players can set deposit limits, wager limits, and session time limits. These tools can help encourage responsible gambling.

Getting Familiar with the Games

Understanding the games on which they would be betting is a fundamental requirement of making a smart choice. Better chances of winning depend considerably upon the esports titles' mechanics, team dynamics, player statistics, and format of tournaments. Once informed in this regard, bettors can make sharper choices instead of mere luck.

For instance, knowing the odds for various betting markets is critical. It enlightens a bettor on how to judge the risk and reward prospects of a bet by understanding what odds are and what they represent.

Knowing the Signs of Problem Gambling

A bettor should be cognizant of signs of problem gambling. Among them include:

Chasing Losses: A failure to win back the money which a person lost during gambling.

Neglecting Responsibilities: Inability to focus on work or other family/personal matters due to gambling.

Emotional Distress: Anxiety or depression regarding gambling

Isolation: Alienation from friends or family to the point of avoiding them because of gambling.

If you know someone who has these symptoms, it might be the perfect time to make that call. There are dozens of organizations out there that are supportive of those fighting against their own gambling addiction, resources, and counseling.

Implementing Self-Exclusion Tools

Self-exclusion facilities are available in most trusted online casinos which help players take time off from their gambling activities. This would enable the players to exclude themselves and not allow them access accounts for some time. The use of these tools would make the gambler regain control over his addictive behavior and make proper decisions during marked stressful situations.

Seeking Help

Engagement with such support networks also tends to enhance responsible gambling. Whether it is among friends, family, or professional counseling services, a support system will encourage responsible behavior and account for the individual engaging in any form of gamble. Many organizations often emphasize responsible gambling and offer resources to those who need it.

Conclusion

Responsible gambling is important within this fast-developing world of online casino esports betting. Setting limits about time and money spent on betting activities, educating oneself about the games and the odds by recognizing signs of problem gambling, using tools of self-exclusion and seeking help enable bettors to have the fun and still enjoy it without risking unnecessary problems.

As more people watch and stake on esports, the attitude will definitely see to it that all the stakeholders enjoy the lively business. The online casinos also play a crucial part in promoting such practices through resource and support mechanisms for the users. Through responsible gambling at the forefront, it becomes possible for both players and operators as they strive to promote healthy gaming environments.

Thank you for your reference:

live esports betting singapore

singapore sportsbook online

Singapore Online Casino

[takesumiltd]

Discover the Best Metal Detecting Service in Canada with YourTreasureSeeker.com

Whether it’s a valuable heirloom, a cherished piece of jewelry, or a lost item of significant personal importance, finding lost treasures can seem like an impossible task. However, with the expertise of YourTreasureSeeker.com, Canada’s best metal detecting service, the recovery of your lost items is within reach. Specializing in metal detecting and treasure hunting, YourTreasureSeeker.com offers professional and reliable services across the country.

Why YourTreasureSeeker.com is the Best Metal Detecting Service in Canada

1. Unparalleled Expertise and Experience

Founded by seasoned treasure hunter John Doe, YourTreasureSeeker.com brings over 20 years of experience in metal detecting and treasure hunting. John’s extensive knowledge of Canada’s diverse terrains makes him an expert in locating lost items, whether they are buried in beaches, parks, forests, or urban settings.

2. Advanced Metal Detecting Technology

YourTreasureSeeker.com employs state-of-the-art metal detection equipment to ensure precise and efficient searches. Their cutting-edge technology can detect metal objects buried deep underground, submerged in water, or hidden in challenging environments, increasing the likelihood of successful recoveries.

3. Comprehensive Search Capabilities

From lost rings and jewelry to historical artifacts and buried treasures, YourTreasureSeeker.com is equipped to handle a wide range of search scenarios. Their methodical and thorough approach ensures that every possible location is examined with care and precision.

4. High Success Rate

The numerous success stories at YourTreasureSeeker.com attest to their exceptional skills and dedication. Whether it’s a lost wedding ring, a valuable coin, or a family heirloom, their proven track record showcases their ability to reunite clients with their treasured items.

5. Client-Focused Service

Understanding the emotional and financial value of lost items, YourTreasureSeeker.com prioritizes client satisfaction. Their empathetic and supportive approach ensures that the search process is as stress-free and reassuring as possible for their clients.

Remarkable Recoveries

One notable recovery involved a valuable antique coin lost during a family outing in Quebec. After a meticulous search, John and his team located the coin, much to the delight and relief of its owner. Such stories highlight the exceptional service and expertise of YourTreasureSeeker.com.

How to Get Started with YourTreasureSeeker.com

If you’ve lost a valuable item in Canada, YourTreasureSeeker.com is your best option for recovery. Here’s how to begin:

Visit the Website: Explore YourTreasureSeeker.com to learn more about their services and read testimonials from satisfied clients.

Contact the Team: Use the contact form on the website or call directly to discuss your specific situation and arrange a search.

Schedule a Search: Set up a convenient time for the team to conduct a search tailored to the details of your lost item.

Final Thoughts

Losing a valuable item can be a distressing experience, but with the expertise and advanced technology of YourTreasureSeeker.com, there is hope. Their commitment to finding lost treasures and reuniting them with their owners makes them the best metal detecting service in Canada. Trust YourTreasureSeeker.com to help you recover your precious items and bring closure to your search.

For more insights into their incredible recoveries and to start your own treasure hunt, visit YourTreasureSeeker.com. Begin the journey to rediscovering your lost treasures today!

[augment-techs]

Ollie is evil. Everyone else on the team, except Fizzy, are out of commission. What happens.

(basically i need prompts/ideas/ANYTHING for the fizzy part of the fic. HALP!! Q_Q!!)

Okay, we're gonna bullet and pinpoint little bits and pieces, because I have ideas, but it's your story and I can only give you options:

Izzy takes the route of a true Green and goes into furious Rage Mode; complete with decimating the grunts amongst their enemies to thin the herd

Fern is given the chance to shine in her Orange as caretaker and engineer of fate going forward in taking care of putting away Zayto's body for proper funerary rites, getting Amelia and Javi buffed up as best she can, but more importantly seeing to Aiyon in his time of distress

When Izzy loses steam and momentum, she finally rolls over into her other coping mechanism, which includes acts of service in fortifying the ship and base, making sure any places they need to hide has food and water available for long-term stay, and cooking all manners of food stuffs to shove down her girlfriend's throat and also the others when they're up to it

Good opportunity to see Izzy in just leggings and a tank top with her hair up in a bun to burn off her worries

Fern gets to take on the responsibility of temporary leadership in lieu of anyone more senior available, what with her college ready mind and her sharp insights; granted, Billy is phoning it in from wherever he is to give emotional support, but let this girl have her moment in the sun, please

Doing laundry that is not just their own together in the middle of the night

Possibly the chance to meet fellow Greens and Oranges and getting pep talks individually because, honestly, how great would it be for Izzy to meet Tommy or Adam or Cameron on Billy's recommendation while Fern gets introduced to their mentor's husband and maybe Marah?

[cooledtured]

Brace Your Thumbs: The Most Anticipated Games of 2024

Mark your calendars, dust off your controllers, and prepare to lose yourself in virtual worlds — 2024 is shaping up to be a glorious battlefield of epic adventures and mind-bending narratives. From long-awaited sequels to daring new frontiers, here’s a glimpse at the gaming titans poised to dominate the year:

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — The iconic RPG epic gets a stunning next-gen makeover, whisking us back to Midgar five years after the Nibelheim incident. Cloud and his spiky-haired crew face even greater perils, shrouded in the mystery of Sephiroth’s return. Brace yourself for emotional gut punches, gravity-defying battles, and enough chocobos to fill a Chocobo Farm.

Star Wars Outlaws — Blasters at the ready, bounty hunters! This open-world space Western throws you into the lawless Outer Rim, where you’ll forge your own legend as a gunslinger with a price on your head. Track down outlaws, team up with quirky companions, and navigate the moral gray areas of a galaxy far, far away. Just remember, in the Outlaws’ code, the fastest draw writes the rules.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl — Brace for nightmares and anomalies in this post-apocalyptic trip back to the radioactive wasteland of Chernobyl. Explore a hauntingly atmospheric open world teeming with mutated creatures, hostile factions, and the ever-present threat of radiation. This isn’t just a shooter; it’s a soul-crushing journey into the heart of human desperation and the will to survive.

Tekken 8 — The King of Iron Fist Tournament returns with a vengeance, pitting legendary fighters against each other in a brutal dance of martial arts supremacy. Expect jaw-dropping new characters, bone-crunching combos, and the return of fan favorites like Jin Kazama and Heihachi Mishima. Just remember, in Tekken, victory is measured in broken bones and shattered egos.

Princess Peach: Showtime! — Move over, Mario, it’s Peach’s time to shine! This charming platformer throws the spotlight on the princess herself, as she embarks on a globe-trotting adventure to reclaim her stolen magic wand. Expect dazzling costumes, catchy tunes, and enough girl power to make Bowser quake in his spiked boots. Remember, sometimes, the damsel in distress is the one who kicks the most butt.

This is just a taste of the gaming feast awaiting us in 2024. So, clear your schedule, stock up on snacks, and prepare to be transported to fantastical worlds, thrilling narratives, and heart-pounding adventures. It’s time to level up your life, one controller vibration at a time!

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —  DANIEL SIMMONS | Writer POP-COOLEDTURED SPECIALIST cooledtured.com | GROW YOUR COLLECTION