#how I met your grandfather
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Image description: Two tweets by @/Coll3eng that read:Â
my grandma just asked me if i had a boyfriend and i was like ânoâ and she was like âwell i went to a random funeral because i was bored and thatâs how i met your grandfatherâ ??????
apparently the random funeral was my grandpaâs dadâs funeral. my grandma went to a funeral and picked up the dead guyâs son. i aspire to be her.
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#cool story#funny story#how i met your grandfather story#she went to see what loot the dead guy dropped and found a husband :P
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Yall wanna hear a kinda funny, kinda sad story about my grandmother and hetero-normativity?
Ok, so... when my grandmother was in her 50s (I was an infant), she met a woman at the Unitarian Church. And, as can happen when you meet your soul mate, this event made it impossible for her to deny parts of herself that she had fiercely hidden her whole life.
All the drama- their affair being found out, the divorce with my grandfather, the court battle over who got the house, happened while I was a baby. Even in my earliest memories, it's just Mama Jo and Oma, and my grandfather lived elsewhere (first his own apartment, then a nursing home, then with us.)
But here's the thing- no one ever explained any of this to me. No one ever sat down and was like "hey, Rosie, so do you know what a lesbian is?" It was the 90s. It was Texas. I think my mom was still kinda processing all this, and just assumed that like... I was gonna figure it out. Don't mention it, let it just be normal. Like I think my mom thought that if she explained the situation, she would be making it weird? I dunno.
But like. In the 90s, in all the movies I had seen and books I had read, do you know how many same sex couples I had seen? Like. 0. Do you know how many "platonic best friend/roommates" I had seen? A lot. I had no context, is what I'm saying.
I literally thought this was a Golden Girls, roommates, besties situation until I was like...I dunno, 11? 12?
It was actually their parrot, an African Grey named Spike, imitating my grandmothers voice saying "Johanna, honey, it's getting late", that triggered the MIND BLOWN moment as I realized that *there's only one master bedroom and it only has 1 waterbed* when all the pieces finally clicked.
Anyway. I think it's a real important thing for kids to know queer people exist, for a lot of reasons, but also because kids can be clueless and it's embarrassing to have your grandmother be outted by a parrot because everyone just thought you'd figure it out on your own.
Anyway, here is my grandma and her wife, my Oma, after they moved to Albuquerque to be artsy gay cowboys and live their best life. They helped run a "Lesbian Dude Ranch" out there (basically just with funding and financial support. As Oma has explained "traditionally, most lesbians don't have a lot of money" so they wrote the checks and let the younger ladies actually run the ranch.)
#this is the grandmother who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month#she was so cool yall#and so weird#they got married twice by the way once when Massachusetts legalized it and once when New Mexico did#they hiked the grand canyon together#they had a european river cruise planned for this fall#she was 89 and she wanted to see the whole world with her wife#and they were working on it#literally i thought they were roommates#and there was only one bed
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Sometimes I feel like us as the bat family fandom forget how starry eyed people get about Nightwing canonically.
Because with the exception of early era Tim most of the Batkids are like. lol thatâs my loser older brother or some variation of yeahâŚheâs some guy I guess? He helps me with homework?
And Nightwing is the canonically a center of multiversal light.
When Heroes meet Nightwing they do the vigorous handshake and the âitâs an honor to meet you sir, I have heard so much about you oh my godâ
There are so many character where they are literally shown giggling and kicking their feet whenever Nightwing talks to them.
Even the people who donât have the celebrity level worship of him respect the hell out of him and call him as soon as they need help.
From raven to Starfire to Superman to Superboy to all or the flashes there is so much respect and awe given to this one dude.
And it is deserved
But imagine you are Damian Wayne and youâve been working with what 90% of the people youâve met (all bats) have been calling an embarrassment to your fatherâs legacy.
Your mother hates him and your Grandfather doesnât feel that strongly about him.
The red hood calls him an embarrassment and a coward and he couldnât even keep Red Robin from running away.
Your father tells him that he never should have been Batman
And youâve worked with him and you know what you think everyone is full of shit about him and you and him the new Batman and Robin are the best no matter what anyone says.
And fuck it the fact he keeps going in a suit that everyone tells him heâs not good enough for is scratching something in your brain that youâre refusing to acknowledge because why would you feel that way? You are the circus freak have nothing in common (shut up)
And then you meet the justice league and all the extended teams.
And people are falling over themselves to listen to a word out of your brothers, your Batmanâs mouth. They wait for a nod or headshake and dictate decades worth of planning on it.
Both Drake and Toddâs hero teams ask him for advice with or without their designated bats presence.
The man of steel asks for child rearing advice and wonder woman cracks a joke about a spar
Newer heroes whisper about him in the halls
Heâs literally your favorite heroâs favorite hero
And itâs breaking Damianâs Brain
Because well⌠he kinda gets slapped around in Gotham. Heâs the butt of half the jokes the other Batkids make and Dick just smiles and takes it.
The rogues have a bounty on nightwings ass and he gets leered at by goons, rogues, civilians and anti-heroâs alike and he doesnât say anything.
He lets oracle crack jokes about a pretty face and having to do everything herself
Letâs Jason run the alley despite the fact that apparently he knows how to take it back
Apparently heâs had 12 people tailing Drake since Paris and despite being the man Raâs Al Ghul calls detective has yet to notice. (Because you canât tell me Dick was just magically at the right place to catch Tim falling to his death on coincidence)
And necessary to peace talks because heâs the best they have at deescalation
Like imagine you are a child who was raised to believe power is this obvious, all consuming thing. That the ones who control the board are visibly larger than life figures who fought their way to the top and cling to power by even the thinnest hangnail if they had to.
People who ignore simpler morals or an overall greater goal or good
And then youâre taken in by the man who whispers the correct answers into the larger than life figures ear.
Like I feel like that would have such an impact because Dick didnât take power from anyone to reach his goals, itâs why his siblings donât really defer to him unless in crisis.
Dick didnât take power, no people just looked at him and decided he was the best option to give it to.
Everyone basically looked at this kid and went, yeah youâre the future of all heroism.
And if that dude canât even get Bruce Wayneâs respect what chance does Damian Wayne have
#dick grayson#nightwing#batman#batfam#damian wayne#Bruce inside his head: wow I love you Iâm so proud of your achievements#Bruce externally: hmmm you were sloppy#tim drake#jason todd#batfamily#comics#bruce wayne#manipulative dick grayson#nightwing is your favorite heroâs favorite hero#donât try me
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â đđđđđđ đ
đđđđđ â
â WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO YAKUZA HEIRS ARE FIGHTING OVER WHO GETS TO MARRY YOU ?? â
⧠pairing: yakuza!satoru gojo x f!reader x yakuza!suguru geto
⧠summary: you had no patience for the yakuza lifestyle your grandfather had -- you wanted to live a normal life, but when it leaks that your grandfather is in talks to have you engaged to one of two yakuza heirs -- you realize you're in deeper than you thought -- especially when they both fall in love with you.
⧠warnings: 18+, nsfw, smut, fluff, inspired / dialogue / scene concepts taken from the manga âyakuza fiance,â (which the fic is named after), reader's age is ambiguous, but all are 20s+, violence (as expected from mafia / yakuza stories), blood, stsg have tattoos, implied satosugu (just a passing mention of dating briefly), stsg have sadomasochistic tendencies, a little ooc, switch! gojo (very sub gojo), switch! geto, oral (f + m), deepthroating, handjob (m), fingering (f! receiving), double penetration, sex (p in v), creampie, poly relationship implied ending,
⧠wc: 18,476
âI donât want to marry either of you,âÂ
And your statement is met with confused stares â and normally stares like this wouldnât be terrifying to the average person, but these were not average men you were dealing with.Â
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto were anything but average â in many ways.Â
Both were incredibly handsome â Satoru was blessed with a piercing blue gaze of the heavens and snow white locks that could stun any person into silence, and Suguru was no slouch either â with long inky black locks tied into a neat bun and his sharp features and his almost all too alluring smile â the two of them looked like they belonged to a modeling agency. Both were also brilliant, attending one of the best high schools in Tokyo, before going to the best university, leading in their respective specialities (Satoru studying physics, while Suguru chose literature).Â
And, the two were both the heirs to two of the most dangerous Yakuza families in all of Japan.Â
But right now, they are your biggest problems, personified.Â
Their families were both vying for your hand in marriage â thanks to your meddling grandfather who shipped you off to Tokyo to get a would-be Yakuza husband â your yakuza family hoping to broker peace after decades upon decades of fighting with one of the other two biggest yakuza families around â the Gojo and Geto families respectively.Â
âExcuse me?â Suguru speaks first, a single eyebrow raised, arms crossed over his crisp white button up.Â
âIâm not here for this yakuza bullshit. Iâm trying to live my own life â and Iâm not in the mood to get swept along in my grandfatherâs wishes for me to get married,â your hand is in your bag, fingers curled around your collapsible metal pole, âand I donât care to know either of you, I donât really care to stick around you â especially because all its earned me is the disdain of all the other students who have crushes on you â so how about we simply tolerate each other for this year?âÂ
Satoru whistles, âhow disappointing,â his eyes raking over you from head to toe, âyouâre worse than your reputation â we heard you were a stuck-up, spoiled rich girl that would do anything to get her way, but turns out youâre just normal,â he sticks out his tongue and makes a gagging noise, âhow boring,âÂ
âTruly tiresome,â Suguru hums, his bangs falling in his dark gaze, âI was looking forward to a woman who could match up to us â maybe fuck me up, punish me, and strip away my dignity â type of girl whoâd ruin my life, do you understand?âÂ
You stare at him, lips parted, brow furrowed, âWhat?âÂ
âIn other words, we were hoping you were much more interesting than you were â as you are now, youâre just useless,â Satoru sighs dramatically, his pink lips curled in a smile, âbor-inggggg,âÂ
âYou might as well go back to Osaka, or wherever it was you came from,â Suguru shrugs, hands in his pockets, as he pulls a cigarette and a lighter, âyou could stay, but as it stands, you would be better off back home â maybe it would even start a war â that could be fun, Satoru,â he remarks, his grin growing more sinister by the minute, as he places the cigarette between his lips, and lighting it.Â
âLetâs actually not be so hasty, Suguru. She could have some use,â he holds out his fingers to frame you between them, âcould be worth something if we have her work at one of our families clubs â selling her body. She could make some use for us,â he says cruelly, âOtherwise, go back home, and let them know weâre the ones not interested in you,â he says, brushing past you along with Suguru.Â
And you couldnât decide which one of their smiles were the most bone chilling â and why you couldnât quite find your voice in that moment. And you didnât â not until you finally reached home, your phone ringing.Â
âHowâs it going, dear granddaughter?â you could hear the grin of the old coot even over the phone â and how could you tell him you wanted to go home now? You had hoped to go there to give two rejections â not earn two of your own. You hoped to stick out the year before leaving this place behind, if only to appease your grandfather.Â
âIâm fine, but I thinkâŚI think Iâm homesick,â you sit on the edge of your bed, hunched over, hand holding your head up, propped against your knee.Â
âWhyâs that? Did something happen?âÂ
âNothing, I justââÂ
âYouâre not coming back home,â and your hopes fall, âone year, you have to stay one year no matter what. Donât care if you have to fight with every bone in your body and fiber of your being â last a year,âÂ
âBut whyââÂ
âMake those boys fall for you, and then break their hearts, heh â your grandfather is a heartbreaker and I know you can do the same,â and you know his lips are curled in a smile not too dissimilar to the two men you met today, âdonât forget where you come from â and what youâre worth,â and he cuts the line, as you stare at your phone, before tossing it away and lying back.Â
Well, you know what you had to do.Â
~~~
âMorning,â you know whereâd they be â the only free period they had together that they spent in the dining hall with their entourage â including some girls who had been harassing you about how you knew the pair â ones you had suspected in fucking with your locker, smearing mud all over your shoes. A small retaliation for capturing their precious crushesâ attention.
The two heirs only stare for a moment â it had been two weeks since they had seen you, âthought I had gone home?âÂ
âSurprised you didnât,â Suguru remarks, utterly disinterested from the look in his eyes, despite the smile plastered on his lips, âguess I lost the bet, Satoru,âÂ
You raise an eyebrow at Satoru, âyou thought Iâd stay?âÂ
âThought you'd stay to take me up on my offer to sell your body,â he holds out his hand as Suguru slaps a stack of bills in his palm, âdid you?âÂ
âI did actually,â your lips curl, as their gazes slide to one another, before you drop a bag on their table, âone kidney, 5,000,000 yen,â and you take delight in the smiles that slide off their expressions, as they stare at you, Satoru looking over the lip of the bag before you knocked it over and let the stacks of money spill over the table, âit took two weeks since it took a while to arrange and recover, but it was well worth it,âÂ
The pair only can stare â expression unreadable and words seemingly stolen from their mouths, as you only smiled down at them, your gaze digging into their faces like daggers.
Suguruâs eyebrows knit together, âHow did youââÂ
âFriend of a friend,â you shrug, âIâll have to be on a low sodium diet and probably do blood work a little more frequently but you were right about one thing â I was being weak,â you lift up your shirt to show the bandage on your side, their eyes wide, as they can only stare, âI wonât be making that mistake again,âÂ
And you place your foot up on their table, leaning in, as the mask slips from your face, and your anger surges forth, âlisten here, you masochistic fuckers, Iâm not scared of either one of you. I donât care if I have to crawl home choking on my own blood, Iâll be sure youâre choking on each otherâs as I drag you both to hell. Iâm staying here, whether either of you like it or not,âÂ
âYou canât talk to them like thatââ one of the girls pipes up, her lips twisted in a frown.Â
âI can talk to them however I want - do you know who I am? I come from a family just like thereâs but we actually know how to cover up our crimes,â you chuckle, head tilting, âdo you know how easy itâd be to get rid of you two?â Your gaze slides to the other girl, âitâd be all too simple â and trust me, Iâd get my hands dirty if itâs the two of you,â your lips curl into a wide grin as you add, âafter all, you guys did me the favor of dirtying my shoes already,âÂ
And the two blanch white, all indignance replaced with genuine fear â and you had never known someone could look at you as someone to be feared.Â
And you didnât know you would like it so much.Â
You staple the smile on your face again, as the two heirs still sit speechless in their seats, eyes glued to you, âWell thatâs all,â you slide back, âI have to head to classââÂ
But then your wrists are caught â pulling you back, as you find yourself pinned on either side by the two heirs, your body tense, before your gaze slides between them, âWhat?âÂ
âMarry me,â they both say simultaneously â and you gape at them.Â
You are pushing them back, palms pressed against their chests, but find yourself met with two immovable objects, instead trying to squirm out of their grips. âWhat?â And their grips loosen enough for you to take a step back, but their hands remain around your wrists.Â
âI have to have you,â Suguru presses a chaste kiss to the back of your hand, dark gaze lidded as he looks up at you, and a shiver climbs up your spine, âIâve never been so terrified or turned on in my life â it must be love,âÂ
Satoru is the same, mesmerized with eager words, âI want you to do what you promised, Princess â ruin my life,â Satoruâs lips curled in a wide grin, âwant you to completely fuck me up, dominate my entire life â and thereâs only one way to do that, marry me,âÂ
Suguru only scowls at Satoru, âYou know Satoru, itâs very rude to propose after your best friend does,â Suguruâs gaze slides to him, âsheâs mine,â and his other hand finds your shoulder, pulling you against his chest, even as you struggle against their grips, âher family reached out to mine first,âÂ
âFuckers, I swear to god, let me goââ but they act as if they canât hear you, a current of possessiveness sweeping their thoughts away.Â
âSo what? Her family decided to ask for my hand â looks like yours wasnât good enough,â Satoru only grins, pulling you against him instead, his breath warming your flushed skin, as you grimace, âand Iâd make her happier than you ever would.âÂ
âWant to take this outside, Satoru?â Suguruâs glare sent chills down your spine, but Satoruâs lips split into a smile so wide, you were afraid his head would crack in two.Â
âWhy? Feeling lonely? Go by yourself,â
And finally you stomp on Satoruâs foot before elbowing Suguru in the stomach, drawing groans from both boys, as you stumble away from them, whirling to face them, âDonât treat me like your goddamn property or that Iâm a prize to be won,â your words slip like venom from your lips, âdonât ever fucking touch me without asking,âÂ
âOf course, weâre sorry,â Suguru only grins after, holding his stomach, but he still looks all too delighted, âyou should reprimand us like the scum we are, isnât that right Satoru?âÂ
Satoru nods, pouting, âYeah we deserve more of a punishment,â and your skin crawls at their eagerness.Â
âI donât know what the fuck is wrong with you two, but I donât want anything to do with it,â you walk away, hiding your dumbstruck expression, but the two only followed you.Â
âYou canât just walk away from us, you have to decide who you want,â Suguru calls after you, their long strides meant they caught up all too fast, and youâre armed with your collapsible pole now, pointing it at both of them.Â
âTwo minutes ago, both of you thought I was normal and boring,â your eyes narrow â was this another plot to just sell you to some club?Â
âAnd Iâm sorry about that sweetheart,â Satoruâs arm is around your waist again, while Suguruâs fingers intertwined with yours, âwe were clearly wrong â and you have to take responsibility,âÂ
You stare at them, âfor what?âÂ
And heâs leaning to whisper in your ear, âIâm so hard for you right now,â And youâre whirling on them with the pole, but they both expertly dodge your assault, before youâre hurrying away. But they let you go, watching after you with a grin.Â
âThis is going to be fun,â Suguru remarks, looking at his best friend, âI canât guarantee I wonât kill you for her hand,âÂ
Satoru only smirks in reply, âYou stole the words out of my mouth, Suguru.âÂ
~~~
It had been a week â a week of you trying skillfully to evade the two yakuza heirs.Â
And you had failed. No matter how fast you left your classes, where you hid, where you sat â the two always found you. And now you have resorted to sitting outside to eat your lunch, being careful to avoid any stray glance of your presence. You sat, back against the building, as you held your head, bento box in your lap â how long until they would get the message? How long until they figured out you wanted nothing to do with them?Â
Your grandpa had told you to make them fall for you, but you didnât think you had too much more to do with how the two were following you around, dogging your every step.Â
How would you last another year?Â
You opened your bento â at least for once, you could enjoy your lunch without one of themâÂ
âThere you are,â and your lunch nearly goes tumbling out of your lap, but you grasp it, keeping your food from spilling out of your bento, and you turn to meet the gaze of Suguru, leaning against the windowsill, âyouâre a fast one, sweetheart,â his head tilted and lips curled in his signature smile.Â
âHow the fuck did you find me so fast?â you stare at him, brow furrowed, âitâs barely been five minutes, and this campus is huge,âÂ
âItâs the power of love, of course,â you cringe, and he laughs, bringing his knuckles to his lips, âoh rather, itâs the power of the tracking device I slipped in your bag,âÂ
And you blink, âYou what?âÂ
He shrugs, âWell how else would I have found you so quickly? Iâll slip it in your shoe next time,â and he sighs, as you dig through your bag, before turning it upside down and letting your things spill out on the grass, âbesides, thereâs a good reason Iâm tracking you,â and you find the tracker before stomping on it, digging your heel into it, crushing it into the dirt, âthereâs been a kidnapping of another Yakuza heiress,âÂ
And your eyes flit to him, and heâs still smiling at you, âWho?â you continue to collect your things, shaking out textbooks and examining your things for any other hidden trackers.Â
âYouâll learn tonight â come to the compound tonight â youâve been formally invited by both my father and Satoruâs father,â and heâs hopping out of the window, fingers brushing yours as he hands you your pencil case, and heâs all too close now, his warm breath warming your lips.Â
âAnd if I refuse?â and his lips curl in a smirk.Â
âYouâd be offending not only my family, but Satoruâs as wellââ and heâs rising to his feet, offering you a hand, âand it might end in an all out war, but that would be just fine for us â would it for you?âÂ
You glare at him, taking his hand reluctantly, as he helps you to your feet, and you brush the dirt from your skirt and legs, âFine, what time?âÂ
âAfter school, Satoru will be waiting by the gates for you,â he smiles, as he settles next to you, pulling out his own lunch, and you tilt your head, âoh are you curious about me? I have my own business to attend to,âÂ
âIs that what the other bastard is up to?â and he chuckles at that, taking a bite of his food.Â
âSomething like that.âÂ
~~~~
âTook you long enough, pretty,â the Gojo heirâs eyes drag over you like spotlights as he leans against the gate outside, the other students staring as you two speak, whispering as they walk by, slowing down to either catch a longer glance at Satoru or hear a bit of your conversation, âwith being so quick to leave for lunch, I thought youâd be just as quick leaving the building,â and heâs offering you a drink from the vending machine that you reluctantly take.Â
âWell, I wasnât exactly looking forward to being a spectacle,â you grumble, as you power walk away from the burgeoning traffic jam that Satoru was causing, and he follows behind, âwhy do they all stare anyway? They know you're a yakuza, donât they?âÂ
âPart of the draw,â he shrugs, the hiss of his own soda filling the air as he pops it open, âeveryone wants what they canât have, but donât worry, I only have eyes for you, sweetheart,â you grimace as he sips at his soda, raising an eyebrow, âso what canât you have?âÂ
You both finally reach the heart of the city, bustling with people left and right â the one thing you couldnât get used to from the quieter life you led, âSome peace and quiet, apparently,â you adjust your bag on your shoulder in a tighter grip, if only you could lose him in this crowd and be done with all this shit, but it wasnât that simple, and then it occurs to you, âdid you put a tracker on me as well?âÂ
âNah, I just used Suguruâs,â he smiles, as he downs the rest of his drink with his head thrown back, before crushing the can in his hand and tossing it away in the recycling bin nearby, âplus, I didnât have time, been busy with other things, unfortunately,âÂ
âWhat things have youââÂ
And youâre suddenly tugged into an alleyway, an arm around your neck and a hand clamped over your mouth, âDonât struggle, it will only make it more difficult for you,â the man whispers in your ear, as another two men draw closer to your sides, âweâll kill you if you do,âÂ
You canât scream, but you donât need to â because the man who grabbed you screams first.Â
âWho the fuck areââ and he screams, his hands slipping from your side, the thump of his body against the pavement making you flinch, as you slowly turn to find Gojo, as he only glares at the other men, before his gaze slides to you, softening with a smile.Â
âSweetheart, itâs okay, come here,â and you swallow, before taking shaky steps to his side, and heâs pulling you behind him, âwait here,âÂ
It happens far too quickly.
Or maybe itâs just a blur now. Because now heâs beaten the three men into submission, their scarlet blood splattering against his uniform, the wet squelch of their flesh as he punches and kicks them, his shoe digging into their sides. He winds his fist back again.Â
âThatâs enough,â you say hoarsely, swallowing thickly, âtheyâre barely alive,âÂ
âMore than they deserve,â he mutters, before sighing and grabbing one by his shirt, fabric straining against the dead weight of the man, and pulls him close, his hand connecting with his face as he slaps him awake, âYou hear me? Listen,â he shakes him, until the manâs eyes blink open, bleary, âYou see me? Donât forget my face. You touch her again â and itâs the last thing youâll see before the afterlife, got that?âÂ
âYes,â the man slurs.Â
âThatâs my girl,â he jerks his head at you, âsheâs mine and if you or any of your stupid friends or family see her, donât talk or touch her, much less even look at her,â and his lips curl again, âor I promise my family and the Geto family will slaughter you â until thereâs nothing left.â and he drops the man onto the ground, âletâs go,â he mutters, shaking the blood off his knuckles, before using the inside of his uniform jacket to wipe the rest off.Â
âYour uniform, it'sââ and he glances at the blood seeping into the fabric of his jacket and crisp shirt, and youâre digging through your bag, âI have my hand towel and someââ and heâs shaking his head.Â
âI have a sweatshirt I can wear in my bag,â and heâs tugging off his uniform jacket and unbuttoning his shirt, and you canât look away fast enough â not before seeing the tattoo littering his back.Â
A large lion against his back, seemingly roaring, against a backdrop of bamboo, stared back at you, as your breath catches in your throat â he wasnât just a spoiled heir, he was a real yakuza. And what he did to those men â his eyes met yours again, as he tugged the sweatshirt on, lips still in that ridiculous smile â it was likely the least of what he could really do to them.Â
âOh, sorry, guess I never told ya,â he pulls the orange sweatshirt down, pulling a pair of sunglasses on, and your horrified expression in the circular black rims stare back at you, âsorry for scaring you, sweetheart,âÂ
âYouâre reallyââ you cut off, heart caught in your throat. Yeah, you had spent too much of your life surrounded by men covered in tattoos, but these two â their auras â were on another level that was simply â terrifying.Â
âA yakuza?â he finishes, peering at you over the rim of his sunglasses, âSurprised it took you this long to figure out â thought you had that pieced together a while ago â what? I assume your family shielded you from that kind of violence â probably had guards on you 24/7 so no one would mess with you. Well you arenât in Osaka anymore,â his fingers intertwined with yours, his larger hand engulfing yours as he tugs you along away from the alley, the faint groans of the men disappearing into the ambient noise of the city, âStay close, princess.âÂ
And you flushed, biting your lip. There was a lot you didnât know, but you knew you better learn â you spare one glance back at the alley â and quick.Â
~~~
You both arrive back to the compound, as youâre funneled into a room, you get a glimpse of Suguru in an adjacent hallway, his clothes as bloodied as Satoruâs was, if not more. His dark eyes catch yours and his lips curl, as he holds his hand up as a greeting, mouthing, âYo,âÂ
Youâre shepherded away to sit, and soon enough, Satoru and Suguru join you, as you fidget in the middle of the room, the three of you sit on cushions, while another cushion directly in front of you. Your fingers can't help but toy with the ribbon on the front of your uniform â what if this was just a ruse to sell you off? Maybe they even found out about you selling your kidney? Anxiety swirled in your mind, dragging down your body to even the tips of your toes, your body buzzing and stinging with thoughts.Â
âThis really is just a talk to discuss the missing Yakuza heiress,â Suguru cuts through your thoughts, as you stare at him, slack jawed, and he only shrugs, leaning back against his hands flat on the floor, âyouâre not hard to read, sweetheart,âÂ
âBesides, if we wanted to kill you, why not let you die in that alleyway?â Satoru chimes in, ever so helpful, as you glare at him, before his gaze slides to Suguru, âdid you take care of that like I asked, Suguru?â and he nods, and before you can ask a question, the door slides open.Â
Instead of the heads of the household, a yakuza comes in, sunglasses stare back at you, his dark brown hair slicked back, shaved on the sides of his head, as he stared down at the three of you, âThe heads wonât be able to make it to this meeting â something has come up,âÂ
âYaga, good to see you,â Suguru chirps, while Satoru only sighs, hands behind his head.Â
âGlad to see you havenât gotten yourself killed since youâve been away, old manââ and Satoru earns a fist to his head, âow!âÂ
âKeep it up and youâll get something worse than a whack to the head,â Yaga grumbles, taking his seat, âyou must be the girl,â he eyes you up and down, âIâll get straight to the point â the Akazawa heiress is missing. Sheâs assumed to be kidnapped,â he hands you a photo of her â shoulder length black hair, her eyes look past the camera, her head tilted downwards, but her hazel eyes pierce through the picture.Â
âHow long has she been gone?â Suguru asks, âany chance that she just ran off?âÂ
âThereâs a chance sheâs been sold off for a couple hundred thou,â Satoru remarks, crossing his arms, âpeople would pay a premium for a yakuza heiress,â and his eyes slide to you, and you glare back.Â
âWe donât know â maybe she ran off, maybe sheâs been sold, maybe thereâll be a ransom coming in at one point or another, or maybe sheâs deadââ and you bite your lip, âbut we canât take the risk, especially since we have a similar heiress under our care now,â Yaga says, crossing his arms with a hefty sigh, âthat being said, youâll be staying at the compound until further noticeâ your things have already been brought here,â you gape at him, mouth nearly hanging open, âand youâll have Satoru or Suguru with you at all times â their schedules have been rearranged to have class with you,âÂ
âButââ and Yaga shoots a look at you that silences your protests.Â
âThese orders came from the three heads, including your grandfather, would you like to defy them?â And your mouth clamps shut, your head falling.Â
âNo, sir,â Yaga rises, leaving, but not before ordering the two heirs to show you where youâll be staying, âand any real threats to you appear, and your classes will be made online and you will remain under guard in the compound,â Yaga adds before disappearing behind another door.Â
âIt wonât be that bad, Princess,â Suguru grins, as they walk you to your room, ânow we can really get to know each other before weâre married,âÂ
âDonât you mean before weâre married?â Satoru says, as Suguru only smiles back at him.Â
âI would rather not marry you, Satoru, dating you for a week was enoughââ and Satoru opens his mouth to reply.Â
âIâm not marrying either of you,â you rub your head, feeling the beginnings of a headache creeping on your temples â you barely could make it through the day with enduring the amount of insanity these two already inflicted, you were sure youâd murder one or both of them if you had to spend 24/7 with them, âwe should be keeping a low profile from now on, not going outââÂ
âExcept for the dates we have planned,â Satoru says, offering you the key to your room, and you unlock the door, stepping inside.Â
âEspecially not for those.â And you slam the door shut and lock it.Â
Your eyes take in the boxes that surround you, full of the things from your apartment, and sigh.Â
Fuck, this really was your life now, wasnât it?Â
~~~
âWhy are you staring at me?â you canât ignore Suguruâs stare in the subway, even when you refuse to meet it. The light from the windows flooded into the subway, flickering as the carts sped by, as the two of you hung onto the grab handles. Your usual peaceful ride to university was now impeded by Suguru who stood by your side, his eyes seemingly glued to you.Â
âI see that your left side is slower to respond than your right,â and you shift under his gaze, âthatâs why your bag is always on your left side, so you can spot a threat easier and have a stronger grip, smart,âÂ
You raise an eyebrow, âHow did you figure that out?âÂ
He shrugs, âFrom observation â I also move a little slower on my left â I even blink slower,â and you face him, staring into his eyes, trying to notice any difference between the two eyes. The only thing you could see is how pretty they really were â dark and lidded, not as bright or striking as Satoruâs, but just as mysterious.Â
âI canât tell,â you tilt your head, and he only smiles.Â
âThere isnât a difference, but I got you to stare into my eyes, didnât I?â and you glower at him, your remark cut off by the influx of people flooding into the cart. Fuck, you never had seen it this full before. You forced yourself not to cringe under the tight quarters â you could handle this, it wasnât a big deal, even as the people sandwiched themselves all around you, anxiety biting at your nerves. And then youâre knocked around by the crowd as the cart jerks, but then, Suguru is pulling you lightly so your back is pressed against a wall and heâs caging you in, his body protecting you.Â
Your breath catches â heâs so close, âYou donât have toââ and your gazes meet again, your breath catching, your bag caught between your bodies. Heâs nearly pressed against you, the heat from his form seeps into your own. And he smells good, despite the sticky heat of the summer lingering â something musky but sharp at the same time â what was that scent?Â
âYou seemed uncomfortable,â he says, his hand holding onto the grab handle above, âthis seemed like the easiest solution, especially so I can protect you â it would be much easier to shield you with my body this way,âÂ
âShut up,â you grumble, as he chuckles, before youâre sighing, âIâm not used to taking the subway â I used to have a car that took me back and forth,â you chew your lip, âI didnât want you to think I couldnât take care of myself,âÂ
âMakes sense to have you driven â as a yakuza heiress, they wanted precautions,â Suguru nods, his eyes sliding around the cart, âyou never know,âÂ
âIs that why your eyes keep scanning the subway cart?â you raise an eyebrow.Â
And his lips curl, âI did say Iâd protect you with my life, didnât I?âÂ
âDid you mean that?â
A chuckle escaped his lips, a noise that makes your breath catch, as the cart jerks again, pressing you both even closer, âI never say anything that I donât mean, princess.âÂ
~~~
âIs following me around really necessary even after classes?â you hadnât bothered to pull your usual disappearing act â it was counterproductive in multiple ways (the first being that either of them would find you and the second being you had to be glued to one of their sides at all times), âitâs not like someone is going jump from the shadows and kidnap me on campus.âÂ
âYou donât know that for sure, do you, princess?â Satoru drawls lazily, as he twirls his dinner knife around his fingers with a skill that said heâd done it a million times before â probably instead of doing the thing he was supposed to be doing, âa man comes up behind you while youâre studying or shopping, presses a weapon or gun to your side, just out of view, and heâs got the perfect hostage,âÂ
You raise an eyebrow, âYou sound like youâve done it before,â and the knife stops between his middle finger and pointer, the tip pointed at you, as he looks at you over the rim of his sunglasses.Â
âDonât get jealous, sweetheart, youâre the only girl Iâd want to kidnap,â he leans forward and swipes a mochi from your plate â even though he had already ate his own â and you scoff, as you turn your attention back to your neglected dessert, choosing to use your brain cells to focus on your food instead of this psycho.Â
âHow lucky,â you mutter, as you stab your remaining mochi instead of your escort, âdo the two of you have to take shifts like this? Iâm surprised the two of you arenât glued to my sides 24/7 together,âÂ
âWe thought it was only fair the two of us split our time â and as much as Iâd like to spend each and every hour with you, we both unfortunately have other responsibilities to tend to,â and he takes a bite of the mochi, âplus, this way, we get to spend time with you alone without the other interfering, and trust me, if I saw you with Suguru,â his lips curl, âIâd interfere,âÂ
âWell you donât have to be worried about that, because I donât plan on being with either one of you,â you reply, âIâm here to finish school and go home as soon as I can,âÂ
âYou wonât be saying that once I make you fall for me,âÂ
You get to your feet, as you pull out your wallet â but Satoru waves you off, already pulling out his card for the waiter, âYouâd have a better chance making me fall for you if you tripped me,â you roll your eyes, as you round the booth, and quick as a light, you trip right into his arms, your body bumping against his chest as his arms steady you. A hand tilts your face up to meet cerulean eyes filled with mirth, âdid you tripââÂ
And then you spot the chair leg you had tripped over oh-so-gratefully, âI donât need to resort to those measures to make you fall for me, princess,â his finger traces your jaw with a featherlight touch, âI have plenty of other ways to do that,âÂ
You get to your feet properly and shove him away, as he chuckled, as you rolled your eyes, âMaybe in your twisted dreams, butââ And Satoru is tugging you away from the booth â a tight arm around you waist, as you stammer, âwhat the fuck are youââÂ
âGuyâs been following you â just spotted him from a distance,â he murmurs, and your shoulders tense, resisting the urge to look back, âjust keep walking with me, donât worry,â his arm gently squeezed you, âwonât let anything happen to you, princess,âÂ
âDonât call me that,â you murmur, as he leads you back inside the closest building, âwhere are weââ and heâs pulling out his phone, texting several people.Â
âGetting us a ride in case I need to get you to safety, and letting Suguru know of the situation,â he offers you a small grin, âI could send you back, but that would be that and you will be on lockdown. Things might be getting a little more interesting from here â so itâs your choice, will you stay or go?âÂ
You considered your choices â you could run away from this, go back to the compound, but going back was a guarantee that you would be stuck 24/7 in the compound and stuck there for the remainder of your time here. And these two would take full advantage of that. Plus, your mind wandered to the girl who had been taken â you wanted to know more about what happened to her and why you were being targeted next.Â
âLetâs go,â and his lips curl. The two of you round several street corners, Satoruâs arm remains tight around your waist, as he leads to a more and more secluded corner of the city, âis this the right move?â your hand wanders into your pocket, fingers around your collapsible pole.Â
He sighs dramatically, âDo you have such little faith in me, sweetheart?âÂ
âConsidering the two of you are insane, yes, I do,â and he clicks his tongue at you, âwhereââÂ
And someone punches you, fist connecting with your left cheek as you stumble sideways into the wall of a nearby building. You hear the cock of a gun, your eyes catch sight of the weapon pointed at Satoru. You caught a glimpse as your eyes flicker open, several men stand behind him, all bearing weapons of some sort.Â
Your ears ring, as you clutch at your head, as you struggle to get your balance, your vision in your left eye blurry from the impact, âCome with me, and your girlfriend wonât have to watch you die,â you feel something warm run down your nose, and you touch it â scarlet stains your fingers.Â
Fuck.Â
Your eyes flicker back to where Satoru stands, eyes flickering to you, a shiver running down your spine at his hard gaze â not a hint of euphoria left â his lips a thin line, and his fists clenched, âIâll fucking kill you,â his words leave in a whispered hiss, and quick as lightning, the gun is knocked from his fingers, and Satoruâs got him pinned down, fist winding back to punch his head in. The other men donât hesitate to join the fray, just as Satoru doesnât hesitate to take them down, blood spilling from their bodies as they fall one by one.Â
You said you would be stronger â that you wouldnât let this happen again. You werenât some person who needed to be sheltered away. Your fingers clutched at the pole in your pocket, pulling it out, as you slowly uncollapsed it â you were a yakuza heir, just as much as these two were.Â
One of them got up to shaky feet, lifting up his knife to stab Satoru from behind, âDIE!â and you slam into his side, hitting over the head with the pole â a grisly crack as the pole nearly snaps against his skull.Â
âFuck off and die!â the words leave your lips as you taste your own blood dripping from your nose. And you can feel Satoru turn to see you, eyes wide as he stares â�� your words burn as much as your head hurts, as you wipe the blood from your nose.Â
And the men are all down now, as Satoru walks over to you, and his fingers reach gently for your face, as he examines the blood dripping, âitâs just a nosebleed,â you say, and his gaze softens ever so slightly, before darkening, as a groan comes from the man that punched you.Â
âAre you sure youâre okay?â your heart flutters at his gentle touch, the calluses of his fingers against your cheek, as he pulls tissues from his pocket to wipe the blood from your nose.Â
And his eyes linger on your face for a moment, before he turns to the culprit, fingers clenched tightly around the napkin soaked in your blood.Â
He drags the man up by the collar, shaking him, a gurgled groan leaving his bloody lips, âYou might want to go, sweetheart â I have to make sure I let this one die for ever laying a hand on my womanââ and you clasp your hand on his shoulder, shaking your head.Â
âHeâs half dead already â you donât need to finish the job,â and he pouts, shaking the man again for good measure.Â
âYou said he should dieââÂ
You shrug, âPeople like this arenât worth the trouble of killing. And you donât need more problems on your hands â so if youâre doing this for me, donât bother. Letâs just go,âÂ
And you see his lips slowly curl into a grin, as he pulls you into a hug, arms around you waist, as he runs his fingers through your hair gingerly, âI didnât realize you cared, sweetheart,â and you frown, âdonât want me getting in more trouble, huh? If itâs for you, Iâll oblige, but you owe me one,â and his fingers slide under your chin.Â
âOi, is the party over without me?â A familiar voice calls, Suguru walks over, several other Yakuza in tow, his sleeves rolled up, as he takes a once over of the situation, seemingly uninterested in the scum, his eyes falling on you and Satoru, lingering on the blood that still was trickling from your nose. His eyes narrowed, âwhich oneââÂ
âItâs already taken care of, Suguru,â Satoru rubs the back of his head, âbut for your information,â he kicks the one who had punched you in his side, forcing him to roll over, a slight groan escaping his lips, âthatâs the one who hurt her,âÂ
Suguru nodded, stepping over the bodies as if it was nothing more than a spill that had been yet to be cleaned up, as his hand brushes over your chin softly, drawing close, a sharp gasp leaving your lips when his fingers decide to travel to your nose, âItâs not broken, just bleeding, but I should still get her checked out at the compound,âÂ
âYou?â Satoru furrows his brow, âyouâre going to leave meââÂ
âTo clean up your own mess? Yes, I am,â Suguru smiles, âbecause itâs my turn to keep watch,â as he shows his watch, already well past midnight, âand I should be getting her back to the compound,â the two glare at each other, a tension settling over the scene that you were far too done with.Â
You sigh, stepping past both of them, walking over the bodies splayed out on the floor, âLet me know when you both decide,â you yawn, hands in your pockets now, âI need sleep,â and Suguru follows behind, and you donât see him turn to smirk at Satoru.Â
~~~~
You swore someone was watching you.Â
A presence loomed over you, hovering slightly, as you shifted in your sleep, a sigh parting your lips as you turned, still caught between in realms of deep sleep as you drifted in and out, eyes fluttering open a moment, and caught sight of a shadow.Â
No, it was nothing. It was nothing. And then youâd wake to sunlight filtering through your windows, eyes fluttering open, but you would still wake with the lingering touch of someone else against your face.Â
But each morning youâd check the locks, and it would be locked, with no signs of tampering â and youâd be left wondering if it was a dream or not.Â
It had been like this for the last week â youâd sense a presence, for a split second of what you thought was consciousness, and then it would be morning again.Â
And finally, you decided to stay awake, a knife you had pilfered away from the kitchen under your pillow. You let your eyes drift shut, drifting in and out of a half sleep, until you hear it.Â
The slow slide of the door opening, and the soft close of the door behind. The person takes nearly soundless steps towards you, before leaning above you and you feel the faint brush of hair against your skin, before leaning back with a quiet sigh.Â
Suguru?
And his fingers slide through your hair softly. He watches over you, quietly, until you turn to face him, eyes open.Â
âYou know itâs really creepy to break into a womanâs room in the middle of the night,â and Suguru blinks, before his lips curl in a small smirk, âand itâs even weirder when you just sit there to watch her sleep,âÂ
âJust trying to make sure youâre safe, sweetheart,âÂ
âIn a locked room?â And he shrugs.Â
âI broke in easily,â and you scoff, as he rakes his own fingers through his hair, âwho else would keep an eye on you?âÂ
You sit up, crossing your arms, âSurprised you and Satoru arenât in here,âÂ
âWe take turns,â and you stare at him, as he leans back against the wall, âall we do is keep watch princess â would you have let us in otherwise?âÂ
You open and shut your mouth, before you find words again amidst the haze of frustration, âIâm not so fucking helpless that you both need to sit here and watch me sleep,â
âWe have been doing this since the threats began nearly and you only noticed recently,â he points out, his eyes catching the faint light of the moon, as cautious and patient as Suguru was â his expression as indiscernible as a new moon was, âand itâs only because Satoru had gotten sloppy,â he shrugs.Â
You rub at your temples, âyouâre not the only one who is a yakuzaââÂ
Suguru tilts his head, âPrincess, you donât know what it means to be one â not even your fingers have never been bloodied, and it should stay that wayââÂ
Your fingers close around the handle of the knife as you lunge at him â you snapped. You were tired â tired of the men in your life running your life â your grandfather, these yakuza heads, and these two idiots â all of them treating you as if you were spineless.Â
And you werenât.Â
His hand darts out â and it happens quickly. The knife clatters against the hardwood, and heâs pinned you underneath him.Â
You glare, embarrassment licks at your cheeks like flames â you had placed your fingers on the stovetop and what were you expecting other than to get burned? You canât meet his gaze, and youâre expecting another lecture or sanctimonious attitude, but instead, his fingers skim your cheek, âYou should pick your battles wisely, sweetheart â because not all of them will let you off the hook,â and he leans close, breath warming your lips, as your eyes canât help but squeeze shut.Â
Only to wince after a sharp flick to your forehead.Â
And his weight leaves you at once, your head turning to find him examining the knife you had stolen, âYou should also choose a better weapon than a kitchen knife â especially one as dull as this one,âÂ
You scowl at him, âWell, how else will I defend myself?âÂ
And he smiles, shrugging, âIsnât it simple? Use the weapons already at your disposal,âÂ
Your brow knots together, âWhat weapons?â And his hand is sliding the door open, as he casts one more glance over his shoulder, lips curled in that insufferable smile.Â
âThe ones sworn to you.âÂ
~~~~Â
âYouâre staying home tomorrow from class,â the thermometer is plucked from between your lips, the white haired yakuza scrutinizing your room, cerulean eyes catching the pile of tissues you had failed to stuff properly in your trash bin, âhow long have you had this, Princess?âÂ
You lay bedridden and pouting as you draw the covers over your face â you had not been feeling well this whole weekend, but you developed a fever last night. You thought it would be gone by the morning, âJust since this morning,â and heâs tugging the covers away, his brow wrinkled, and then you see it, bandages on his forehead, âwhen did you get hit on the head?âÂ
And he blink, fingers running through his hair, âThis? Itâs nothing,â and you raise an eyebrow, âif you must know, itâs just my punishment for taking you into the thick of things the other day,âÂ
Your brow wrinkles, âWhoââÂ
He waves you off, âItâs not important â the important thing is that you get better â canât have my future wife succumbing to the flu, now can I?â And you scoff.Â
âIâm not your future wife,â you mumble, and you hear a small chuckle from him. And then your muscles begin to grow heavy, eyelids fluttering shut under the weight of exhaustion, and your skin feeling far too cold for your burning insides, âGojo, Iâm notââÂ
And you slip into darkness.Â
You can feel the world around you move, the sounds of wind brushing against your skin, and the flicker of lights in your eyes. Your lips part, a desert inside your mouth with no oasis in sight, âwhereââ
A voice quietly shushes you, fingers raking through your hair gently, lulling you back to sleep. Was it your grandfather? No, he never coddled you like this. Not even he had his yakuza to look after. You were expected to care for yourself â- you couldnât show weakness.Â
Not as an heir â even if you were just a kid.Â
And when you do wake for a moment, itâs with some prodding, a voice whispering for you to open your mouth at the press of a medicine cap to your lips, and your eyes flutter open to catch a glimpse of blue eyes â so you do, swallowing it with water.Â
You fall into the arms of sleep again, only waking to your head slightly aching, and a distinct void in your stomach. You reach around blindly for your phone, and find that itâs still Sunday, nearly the evening. Your eyes adjust as your gaze spots the last glimmers of the sunset in the window.Â
How long have you slept? Like four hours? You sighed, slumping back into bed, as you stretched. Your fingers pressed to your forehead, still a slight fever, but it was definitely lower. Maybe you could sleep for a bit longer, and you turn on your side only to find a familiar, not-so familiar sight. Your lips canât help but curl a little. Again there is someone in your room, but instead as your eyes flutter open you see that Satoru has dozed off.
You hold back a chuckle, as you slowly get up, drawing a little closer. His head was against the wall, slightly tilted, soft breaths leaving his lips, arms crossed. He had a prescription medicine next to him along with a water bottle. Your fingers reach for the medicine, and you glance it over â seeing that it was prescribed earlier today for you.Â
Your brows knit together, when did youâand then it comes back to you slowly â the lights, the sound of wind and cars â he drove you to a hospital. And his shoulder starts to slipÂ
And then you reach for him, trying to make sure he didnât hurt himself.Â
Thatâs when he grabs you â his eyes fly open, as he grabs you by the wrist, pulling you close, his hard topaz gaze cuts through you, until it slowly fills with recognition. His fingers digging into your wrist loosen ever so slightly, as he blinks.Â
âSorry about that, sweetheart,â but his fingers donât leave your wrist, âare you feeling better?âÂ
âI am,â you admit, as his other hand reaches up to brush against your forehead and then neck, sending hest crawling up your skin for a different reason.Â
âLooks like the medicine worked,â he sighs, leaning back, âguess I can scratch beating up that doctor off my list,â and you furrow your brow, âit was a joke, Princess,âÂ
âWhy did you take me?â You asked and he tilted his head, âI mean you could have had me looked at here, so why did youââÂ
âAs much as my father pays for these services, they donât work weekends, usually â we do have an on-call physician, but,â he shrugs, as his thumb brushed back and forth against your wrist, right where your pulse was, âI didnât want to wait,âÂ
And your eyes slide to the bandages around his head, âbut you couldnât get that checked out?âÂ
âWorried about me? Iâm touched, Princess,â and your fingers reach for the bandages and brush against his locks, âhey, youââÂ
âItâs coming loose,â you lean over and slide your hands until you find where itâs coming undone and tie it tighter, fingers brushing against his soft locks â noting the undercut you hadnât noticed before, âthere,âÂ
âThank you,â he murmurs, as your eyes meet his and your breath catches, your face an inch or two from his. And he looks different in the dark of the room, illuminated by the last vestiges of sun that were quickly fading into the night â softer.Â
âWhy did you take care of me?â And he blinks a moment, taken aback and he tilts his head, âsomeone else could haveââÂ
âI wanted to,â he cuts you off gently, âwhy would I let someone else do it when I could? It was the least I could do,â and it was your turn to tilt your head, as he adds in a whisper, âI let you get hurt. I should have sent you home,âÂ
âIf you had tried, I would have stayed anyway,â and he chuckles.Â
âI know,â he murmurs, âand I know what itâs like to tough through things as if youâre invincible â as if nothing can touch you â and itâs only a matter of time until it does,â and your fingers brush against the bandages on his head, as you dare closer, less than a breath away.Â
âMaybe I should make you take your own advice,â you whisper, and his lips quirk upwards in a smirk.Â
âIâd love to see you try, Princess,â he adds with a grin, âyou know Iâd love to submit to you anytiââÂ
And you swallow the rest of his sentence with your lips, a chaste brush that leaves your entire body burning for more â a spark to kindling that you told yourself you wouldnât start. But, your lips part his to see his soft gaze meeting your own, before finding your lips again, how could you not?Â
âIâm going to get you sick,â you manage between kisses, lips meeting and parting, as he chuckles against you, a vibration sending a shiver that definitely wasnât from your fever.
âYouâre worth it, Princess,â but he kisses you one last time, noses brushing, before your stomach rumbles loudly in the relative silence of both of your soft pants. You flush, and he canât hold back his laugh, as you smack his shoulder. Â
âShut up, I havenât eaten since breakfast, thanks to someone,â and heâs still laughing as you try to smack him again, but he catches you by the wrist.Â
âDonât forget, I really like it when you punish me,â his lips press to your wrist, your breath catching for a moment before you hit him again on the chest regardless. And he laughs, leaning on his hand, âoh what will I do with you, sweetheart?âÂ
You scowl at him, rolling your eyes, âYou can start by getting me dinner,â you grumble, and he repents, getting to his feet, âSatoru?â And he pauses, eyes flickering back, âthank you,â you manage, biting your lip all the whole, unable to meet his eyes or see the smile on his lips.Â
âAnytime, Princess.âÂ
~~~~
You hadnât seen Suguru or Satoru all week.Â
Once a sought after rarity l, but now a foreboding concern. Satoru had been away on business â you didnât care to know what, but you knew heâd come back only more clingy than ever. You chewed on your lip â especially after the kiss.Â
Fuck. You kissed Satoru, you buried your face in your hands, what the fuck were you doing? Could you use the excuse that your fever had rendered you momentarily insane? No, Satoru would only crack a joke saying that heâs crazy for you too.Â
What was your plan? You were only trying to bide your time for a year â not become further entangledÂ
You lay back on your bed, as you scroll through your phone â but Suguru was a different story. You heard from Satoru that he had returned. Yet now there was some random yakuza checking in each hour â and even worse, keeping you confined to the compound.Â
And a small part of you did worry for them as you tossed your phone aside â those fools may have death wishes but that didnât mean you wished the same.Â
You leave your room, sighing as you explore the compound. You had done your fair share of exploring, but you had never wandered into Suguru or Satoruâs quarters. You had been told by each of them where their rooms were, only for you to glare at them for providing you the implication. But nowâŚmaybe it was useful.Â
You walked through the halls â seemed like most people were away at the moment. When Satoru had captured those people who had attacked you both, there was information learned about who was targeting you and of where that girl who was taken could possibly be. But itâs not like you were able to find that information out â unless you went looking yourself.Â
Satoru and Suguruâs rooms were close to each otherâs â but Satoruâs room was locked, as you tugged at the door to no avail. You glared at the handle as if it was the white haired idiot itself, before turning to Suguruâs door.Â
You pressed your ear to the door, it was silent, not a single noise inside. You pull at the door and it opens. You step inside â the room is neat, a desk in the corner, along with a bed on the opposite side, but not much else. There were a few other things â a dresser with a few containers tucked beside it and a small bookcase against the wall near the desk lined with books on each shelf.Â
It wasnât what you expected â though you didnât know what to expect. You stepped into the room, glancing around, as you approached the desk first. You rifle through the papers, finding nothing relevant â only papers from class and a few scattered notes that had nothing but addresses and initials scribbled.Â
And then the door opens, you freeze, before you slowly turn to see Suguru, his clothes tattered, blood dripping from his arms and soaked through his white button up. His gaze is dark and heavy, until he finds your eyes, his brow wrinkled.Â
âWhat are you doing?â no âsweetheartâ or âPrincessâ â just a question.Â
âI was lookingââ but you bite your lips, as you watch his shoulders slump, âwhat happenedââÂ
And he draws closer, as you slowly take steps back, until heâs looming over you, his arm pressed above you, âPrincess, you shouldnât get involved in these things, unless you want to end up like this,â and the smell of death rolls off of him, the heaviness of his gaze could drag you down to the depths of hell â but you didnât care.Â
âSit down,â and he blinks, before youâre pressing him onto the bed, âIâm going to get a first aid kit and some bandages,âÂ
âSweetheartââ but youâre already out of the room, returning with a first aid kit and bandages, âwhere did youââÂ
âWell after that first time Satoru and I got jumped by those people, I figured it would be good to stock up on things,â you pull out scissors and tape, and you dampen a washcloth you had stored in the kit with a water bottle you had grabbed. âTake off your shirt,â he hesitates, âgetting shy?âÂ
Suguruâs lips curl, before he sighs, unbuttoning his shirt, âYou know I rather you hurt me than take care of me,â and you scoff, as you busy yourself with preparing the materials to tend to him.Â
âWell it looks like someone else already did that for you,â and your eyes meet with his bare chest, the red and black ink of his tattoos encroached onto his shoulders, but more than that â bruises bloomed on different parts of his body, scars from old wounds of various ages littered his skin, and dried and fresh scarlet clung to his skin from fresh cuts.Â
You take the washcloth, slowly starting to run it over his body, the white cloth marred with his blood, he doesnât flinch even as it cleans his cuts or wounds. Â
âWhy are you doing this?â And your eyes meet his, his amethyst eyes cut through you.Â
âBecause youâre hurt,âÂ
âJust because Iâm hurt doesnât mean you have to help,â you sigh, as you urge him to turn so you can clean his back next, the sight of his tattoo on his back unsurprising now as you continue to clean it.Â
âDoesnât mean you donât have to either,â he gives a soft chuckle, âwhatâs your goal here sweetheart?â You urge him to turn again, as you begin to clean the blood from his arms.Â
âDo I need to have a goal?â And he turns to face you, leaning even closer, as his black locks fall in his eyes.Â
âEveryone has one â didnât you have one for coming in here?â And your hesitation is all the answers he needs, âcurious about whatâs going on with those people after you, huh?âÂ
There wasnât any use lying now, âWouldnât you be?âÂ
âI would be, but I wouldnât get caught, now would I?â and you scoff, as his lips curl, âwe have been tracking the group that we suspect has the heiress, and we have been interrogating the people that you and Satoru secured,â âsecuredâ â more like nearly murdered by the way Satoru acted.Â
âAnd where were you?âÂ
He sighed, âDealing with some loose ends â and some other business that my father had me deal with,â and he adds, âI had to make sure a message got out â so no one would ever attack you like that again,â
And why does your heart squeeze at the thought, âWhy are you so willing to tell me?â And your hands begin to clean and wipe his palms. And you set the washcloth down, beginning to bandage some of the larger cuts and wounds, and his fingers intertwined with yours, as you glance up.Â
âBecause you deserve the truth,â he shrugs, âand even if I lie, youâll figure it out, so why not tell you to begin with?â And he leans even closer, fingers skimming your cheek, âplus I donât keep secrets from my future wife,âÂ
âIâm not marrying you,â but you donât pull away, as heâs even closer now.Â
âWell, you said never before â and Iâve worn you down to a ânotâ â itâs only a matter of time,â and his words make you want you to pull away, to scoff at his words and leave, but you donât.Â
Why canât you?Â
âAnd I thought Satoru was the one full of himselfââ and his lips find yours, his kiss was more insistent, his fingers find your jaw, featherlight before it finds purchase on the back of your neck. You could taste the faint taste of blood, lingering on his lips,Â
âAnd you also thought Satoru was a good kisser,â he smirks, as his lips ghost down your jaw, nose brushing against your cheek, as you pause â how did heâ âwell now you know what a good kisser is actually like,âÂ
Your eyebrows knit together, âGetoââÂ
âSuguru,â he corrects you, he tilts his head, his thumb cupping your chin, and your lips find the otherâs, his forehead pressed to yours. Then his phone rings, and the momentâs broken. He pulls away just as fast, as he turns to answer his phone, âHello?â he listens, a manâs voice on the other end, âI understand, okay.â and the call ends, as he offers a smile to you, âI have to deal with some business, but Iâll be back later. And then it looks like Iâll be your escort while Satoru is away.âÂ
âWhat businessââ but heâs brushing past you, going to his wardrobe to grab a fresh shirt, buttoning it swiftly, before pulling on another jacket, as he turns to glance at you over his shoulder.Â
âYou know better than to ask me that,â
âBut you said you would be honest,â and he shrugs his shoulders, a smirk on his lips, as he heads out of the room.Â
âI didnât say when.âÂ
~~~~
âWe have to tell her,â Satoru stood, hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall of the compound. Suguru clicks his lighter again, flicking it on and off â he had quit a few months ago when you had told him that you hated the smell. And he didnât miss it, but he still carried the lighter â old habits die hard, âthe pictures we got â they are getting better at tracking her without us noticing. And these other fires weâre being sent out to deal with â itâs leaving us with less time to protect her,â
âDo you have to?â Suguru asked, flicking his lighter closer, the silver outside glinting in the low light of the moon, âisnât it safer for her to stay in the dark for now?âÂ
âStaying in the dark doesnât mean she wonât put herself in danger one way or another without us knowing,â Satoru shrugs, âshe said even if I had sent her home that day that those men were after her, she would have came after me,âÂ
Suguru gives a terse chuckle, âI donât doubt that she would,â he sighs, gaze towards the inky darkness of the sky, dotted with faint stars that he couldnât see but knew were there â just as these threats were, âif she found out that her grandfather was threatened too? Thereâs no way she would wait,âÂ
âSo what do we do?â Satoru scratched the back of his head, âwe could send her back home â she might be safer there than here,âÂ
âHer grandfather told usââÂ
âI know, but what choice do we have, Suguru?â he sighs, and Suguru canât help but quirk his lips.Â
âYou know if we do this, we may have to fight her grandfather to stay engaged with her,â And Satoru smiles, shrugging.Â
âI know, but we can handle it, canât we?â Satoru leans back, âweâll just have to fight him on it. Why? Are you afraid?â Â
Suguru gives a short chuckle, âSince when have you known me to be afraid of anything?â And he turns his gaze towards the door, âso when should we tell her?âÂ
But they donât notice that youâre pressed against the door, your fists clenched. And they were right about one thing â you wouldnât wait.Â
~~~~
CRACK!Â
Fuck, your eyes burned as you tried to open them, the sharp pain in the back of your head radiating all over, as your eyelids refused to open. What happened? You tried to hold your head, only to have your wrists strain against something rough â rope? The fibers dig into your wrists as you try to stand, only to find them bound to something else.Â
âFinally awake?â it was a womanâs voice â and your eyes still canât quite open â fuck, this wasnât part of your plan, âtake your time, they said they wanted you in pristine condition so I canât have you falling apart on me later on,â she scoffs, her footsteps receding away, and you could hear the quiet murmurs of other voices â men, by the baritone.Â
Your eyes burned as you adjusted to opening them, still fighting the urge to flutter them shut under the pain. The dim light swung overhead, a warehouse from the bare floors and even barer walls and ceilings overhead, barely illuminated in the flickering exposed lightbulbs hanging over the middle of the room.Â
âWhere am I?â You choked out, voice wavering in a way that made you want to grit your teeth and chide yourself for the fear that seeped into your words.Â
The quiet click of heels came closer, âDonât recognize me? Well I suppose you never did see my face in person,â and you knit your brows together as she stepped closer, leaning in far too near for your comfort, âI should thank you for your efforts in trying to find out what happened to me. It made it far easier to kidnap you,âÂ
Her hazel eyes were even more startling in person.Â
âThe Akawaza heiress,â you stare at her â her hair had grown a little past her shoulders now, ends slightly curling at them, âI thoughtââÂ
âI was missing? I was,â her lips curled, running her sharp lacquered nails through her black locks, âbut it was my choice,â the screech of chair legs scraping against the floor makes you flinch ever so slightly, as she sits in front of you, her legs crossed, âIâm being rude â how is your grandfather?âÂ
âFuck off,â you spit, and she clicks her tongue.Â
âAnd here I thought you had manners, but I suppose the cityâs changed you, little princess?â she hums, leaning back, wood of the chair creaking as she did, âor maybe your boyfriends did,â you say nothing, scoffing, as she sighs, âor knowing your grandfather, you probably didnât have any to begin with,âÂ
Rage fills your veins, lava bursting from them as the venom leaves your lips, âDonât talk about my grandfather like thatââÂ
âWhy shouldnât I? You never cared for the yakuza before, right? Is your grandfather not included in that equation? Or maybe it was because he kept what he did behind closed doors, and never bothered to tell you the truth,â and youâre not fast enough to stop your brow from furrowing, and she latches onto it, âOh he didnât tell you, did he?âÂ
âYou really love the sound of your own voice, donât you?â you murmur, and she laughs at your remark, her nails clicking against the forearm of the chair â lacquer on wood that began to grate on your nerves, âcan you get to the point of all this shit? Why the fuck am I here?âÂ
âBecause your grandfather is picking and choosing who he favors â and so I decided to take his heart, and Iâll only give her back if he gives me what I want â â and then you see the way her lips curl and her jaw is cut, and it occurs to you.Â
Your grandfather had said he was a heartbreaker.Â
âYouâre his granddaughter,â and she smirks, her nails falling still.Â
âDo you see the family resemblance?â she leans against her hand, elbow against the arm of her chair, âit would be nice to meet you â if I didnât have to possibly kill you,âÂ
âSo you want to be the heiress? I never wanted to be one in the first placeââÂ
âDo you think that matters?â she scoffs, âwhat matters is the choice your grandfather makes â and heâs chosen you â with no regard for the other children he has had,â her gaze falls downward, âdo you know what it is like to watch your mother vye for the approval of someone who never truly cared for her in the first place?âÂ
Your gaze falls downward, âI donât know,â you admit, âbut is all this worth this? What do you think he will even do for me?âÂ
âHeâll meet my demands, and each hour he doesnât, heâll get another finger of yours,â she pulls a knife out, the blade glinting in the dim light, as she rises to her feet, your body straining back as she draws close to you, running the flat of the blade down your cheek, âshould I start with your left hand or right?â she pulls the blade back, and you smile, âwhatââÂ
And you lean your head back and smash your head against her own. The crack of your skulls colliding rung in your ears, along with the knife clattering to the ground, as you felt warm droplets ran down your face, and she stumbles back, clutching at her forehead, scarlet staining her face and fingers, âItâs funny you think that I came to you without a plan â how do you think I found you?âÂ
âIt wasnât on her own,â and a hand on her shoulder, before sheâs pinned to the floor. Satoruâs eyes slide to you, a smile on his lips, as sheâs struggling, trying to look for her men, âlooking for your goons? Suguru has taken care of them by now, unless he needs my help,âÂ
âAkari isnât the only one who likes to hear herself talk,â Suguru runs his fingers through his hair, âSatoru, you havenât even untied her,â his footsteps echoing as he approaches you, bending down to pick up Akariâs knife.Â
âA little busy at the moment, Suguru,â Gojo has Akari pinned with one hand, âunless youâd like her to get away,â and Suguru shrugs, as he slips the knife under your restraints and cuts them off, âare you doing alright, sweetheart?âÂ
âIâm fine, just my headâs aching,â and Suguru pulls a cloth from his pocket, wiping the blood from your face, your eyes closing and nose wrinkling as he does, âdid you call my grandfather?âÂ
âYeah, I donât have a death wish,â Satoru replies as he hauls Akari up and hands her off to his associate to take her.Â
You get to shaky feet, âHold on,â you walk over, grabbing Akari by the front of her blouse, silk wrinkling under your grasp, âfuck with me or my family again, and I wonât be so lenient,â you shove her off, and then you add, âbut Iâll talk to my grandfather about some sort of possible arrangement for your mother,âÂ
And then you wave the yakuza off and they take her away â assuredly to Kyoto to be dealt with by her grandfather.Â
âAre you really going to talk to your grandfather about her?â Suguru asks, raising an eyebrow.Â
âItâs the least he could do since he caused me to be targeted,â you grumble, rubbing your wrists, as Satoru takes his suit coat off and places it around your shoulders, before a smirk pulls at your lips.Â
Suguru tilts his head, smiling, âWell, how would he feel if he knew you got kidnapped on purpose?â And you shrug.Â
âHe doesnât need to know that.âÂ
~~~
âIâm surprised you guys agreed to my plan,â you hiss as Satoru takes a damp cloth to clean the dried blood from your face, while Suguru is knelt, bandaging your ankles â their rough and bruised hands somehow still gentle, âI thought you would never let me wander into danger,âÂ
âWell, we knew we had to do something when we realized you were listening to us, didnât we, Princess?â Satoru snorted, and you could hear the smile gracing his features â even with your eyes shut â âand this was the best way to ensure you werenât hurt,âÂ
âRelatively,â Suguru adds, as he finishes bandaging one ankle, âdid she do anything else to you?âÂ
And Satoruâs hand pauses as they both wait for your answer, and you shake your head, âNo,â and Satoru pulls the washcloth away, your eyes fluttering open to meet two skeptical gazes, âreally, Iâm fine,â your lips curl after the two of them look away, Satoru turning to grab a bag of ice for your forehead, while Suguru busied himself with bandaging your other ankle, âis this threat the reason my grandfather sent me to Tokyo?âÂ
The timing had lined up â Akari had started the threats not a few months before â after she had reached legal age, the perfect age to contend for the position of successor to her grandfather. And by sending you here, your grandfather thought he was putting you out of immediate danger â but he didnât know Akari would make her way to Tokyo.Â
âMore or less,â Satoru sighed, as you flinched when he pressed the ice pack to your head, the condensation from the bag already clinging and dripping down your face, âthe geezer wanted to find the source of the threats against youâand by sending you here, to your potential fiancĂŠsââÂ
âI would be safe protected twofold by two of the biggest familiesââ and you blink, pulling the ice pack away from your face, âthe engagements â thatâs why they were leaked â it was to protect me,â you mumble, âso that meansââÂ
âYou can go home if you want, Princess,â Suguru says, looking up at you, expression as inscrutable as it always was, âthe engagements were only pretense,âÂ
âYou both knew?â And Satoru sighs, scratching the back of his head, and why does it feel as if his nails are carving out a piece of your heart.Â
âThe old coot swore us to secrecy, we didnât haveââÂ
âBut, everything, the two of youâŚthe engagementâitâs over,â you say slowly, gaze falling downward. You should be happy, relieved, thrilled â you could go home, what you wanted to do from the start. You could get your own apartment or transfer to a different universityâand leave this behind, a bad dream washed away by the events of a new day. So why?Â
Why did it hurt?Â
âDonât tell me youâll actually miss us, sweetheart?â Satoru teased, a force more than anything â bittersweet worded coated in a sugary sarcasm, âbecause I very well may propose here and now,âÂ
You almost scoff, but Suguru beats you to it.Â
âA proposal now? Seems like finishing early isnât what you just do in bed, Satoru,â Suguru scoffs, as Satoru shoots a glare over his sunglasses, âsheâs only eager to get home now isnât she? "If she isnât so eager,â he adds, âthen she would stop the one she wants from leaving her room, wouldnât she?âÂ
And Suguru is slowly getting to his feet, while Satoru also turns to leave â and you donât thinkâbut you were sure that you truly hadnât thought a single sane thought since you had arrived in Tokyoâ
You grab at the fabric of both their shirts, fingers clutching at it, as your lips curled when they glanced back at you.Â
âWho said either of you could leave?â
~~~
âYouâre going to have to use your words,â you murmured, fingers ghosting Satoruâs jaw, a delightful shiver parting his lips as you smiled at him, sat spread at the edge of your bed, âwhat do you want?â You stepped closer, between his legs, daring even closer.Â
âSweetheart, you know what Iââ and a low groan leaves his throat as your fingers slide to the nape of his neck to tug at his snowy locks, âpleaseââÂ
âI know you love this,â you murmur, leaning to press a kiss to his throat, smiling against his skin, âyou said you wanted me to hurt you, so it looks like youâre getting your wish,â your eyes slide to the other, sat in a chair, âI know you like to watch, Suguru, so you must be enjoying yourself,â and youâre further unbuttoning Satoruâs shirt all the same â crisp white button up definitely creased and wrinkled as it fell open, tugged out from his slacks.Â
Suguruâs fingers flexed against the grain of the wood of the armrests, his muscles taut, his lips a tight line that only matched the fabric of his slacks straining against his erection. The corner of his mouth twitches, and you smirk.Â
âI didnât hear an answer, Suguru,â and youâre placing another kiss on Satoruâs neck, a whine leaving his throat, while your eyes find Suguruâs amethyst gaze darkened to nearly black, his knuckles white against the wood, as you lean down to lick a stripe up Satoruâs neck, who bites his bottom lip.Â
âIâd enjoy it even more if I could touch you, or me,â Suguru adds through gritted teeth, âPrincessââÂ
And you click your tongue, âYou had such patience when you were watching me sleep â so whereâs that patience now?â Your fingers graze Satoruâs erection through his slacks, and his head is falling back, as Suguru shifts in his seat, not so subtly adjusting himself.Â
You undo Satoruâs belt, unbuckling it with ease, as his cock slaps against his stomach, and you didnât know it was possible for a dick to be pretty, but Satoruâs was â a deep flush settled over it, pearly beads of precum dripping from the ruby tip. And a distinct heat begins to throb between your thighs.Â
âYou can touch yourself,â you tell Suguru, his legs twitching to get up, âbut you canât cum until I tell you can,â you run a finger up Satoruâs cock, teasing the weeping tip, a groan leaving the snowy haired manâs lips, âstrip, Suguru,âÂ
And he does, you hear the click of his belt, the sound of fabric rustling, as your fingers tease the slit of Satoruâs cock, gathering precum on your fingers, drawing a grunt from his lips. You can hear the distinct sound of Suguru spitting in his palm, his hand beginning to work at his own cock.Â
âBoth sâgood for me,â you murmur, as you stroke Satoruâs cock in earnest, the quiet moans from both their mouths sending a ribbon of need to your already dripping cunt, âcanât wait to fuck you both, make you my toys,â and youâre pressing a kiss to Satoruâs tip, his pretty, pink lips parting, as his head rolls back again, âbut youâd both like that wouldnât you? Maybe I shouldnât let either of you cum, make you beg me all night,â as your tongue traces his lovely vein up the side of his cock, âwhat do you think, Toru?â And your mouth finally closes around his dick, sucking hard that draws a hiss from his lips, fingers fisted in the sheets.Â
And Suguru isnât doing much better, the sounds of his hand squelching and the moans leaving his lips growing louder and louder.Â
âPlease, Princess, Iâm close, I canâtââ and you click your tongue, a pout on your lips, as you pull away your touch, âbaby, IââÂ
âCanât let either of you cum so fast,â your eyes slide to Suguru, his cheeks flushed a lovely pink that reaches even his ears, as his hand slows, his cock twitching in his fingers, âgotta make you earn it. Itâs only right after all the shit you put me through right?âÂ
Itâs a cycle, a cycle of you bringing them both to the edge of orgasm, only to tell them to stop. Their sweat slicked brows wrinkled, as you worked them up once again and again and again â you had lost track of how many times.Â
âPlease, please, sweetheart,â and you knew you could get Satoru to beg, but you didnât think it would be this easy, and you let his dick brush against your throat, as you let him fuck your throat, hips jerking, âfuuuuck, I need toââÂ
And youâre pulling your lips from his cock with a pop, glancing at Suguru whose black locks are beginning to come loose from their neat bun, more of a mess now than he had been fighting yakuza earlier, and all because of you.Â
âSuguru? Wanna cum?â you ask, smirking as his gaze raises to meet yours, a desperate look that tells you everything you need to know, âbe a good boy and tell me,âÂ
He swallows, adamâs apple bobbing, as pre drips down his knuckles, âfuck, Princess,â heâs shaking his head, â I want to cum, please â I needââÂ
And your lips curl, âcum for me,â you murmur before youâre wrapping your lips around Satoru again, his tip brushing against your throat, sucking hard, his fingers finding purchase in your hair. And heâs cumming hard, his hot release slides down your throat, nails digging into your scalp, nearly never ending â even as you pull away, his cum paints your face and lips, and drips onto your clothes. His cerulean eyes glazed as he looked down at you between his legs, a string of spit and cum connecting you to his cock.Â
And Suguru was no better. He had cum hard all over his hand and the floor, his cock still somehow half hard, his body slumped back in the chair, as his chest heaved. His hair tie had long fallen away, his long black locks brushing against his shoulders.Â
You lick your lips clean of Satoruâs cum, wiping the rest away with the back of your hand, âMade such a mess,â you tsk, as you get to your feet, slipping off your shorts and shirt, before leaning down to kiss Satoru, and heâs still sensitive by the way he jolts against your touch, before melting into it, his tongue parted your lips with ease. And fuck, you hoped he couldnât see how wet you were â nearly dripping down your thighs at this point.Â
And youâre pulling away, your thumb dragging down his lips, as his teeth try to catch the finger between them, but youâre too quick. You turn, a smile on your lips, you make your way over to Suguru.Â
Youâre wiping up the mess on the floor with your shirt before kneeling, âmade such a mess, Sugu,â and heâs staring at you through half lidded eyes, his fingers brushing your cheek, âdid I say you could touch me?âÂ
âYou never said I couldnât,â he murmurs, and god, his voice is far gone, raw and nearly guttural, as his fingers found purchase in your hair, âand I think I earned it after your little performanceââ and he hisses when you lean in, tip of your tongue teasing his slit and licking the dripping cum off his half hard cock, âfuckââÂ
âNot yet,â you smiled, as you started to lick his cock clean of his cum, âbut maybe if youâre good,â he grunts as you sink is cock into your mouth, tongue swirling around his length, licking and sucking â and fuck, he was already twitching in your mouth.Â
And then heâs easing you off his dick with a tug of your hair, and youâre glancing up at him, a question on the tip of your tongue, but heâs swallowing it with a kiss, as his hands slip down your body to haul you nearly into his lap. Calloused palms find their way to your hips, squeezing lightly, as he pulls away, cupping your chin with his thumb.Â
âSuguruââ and you yelp as he picks you up with ease, placing you in Satoruâs lap whose hands wind their way around your waist, his fingers already beginning to tease your hardened buds through your bra, a gasp leaving your lips, as Suguru placed his on your neck with a smirk as he murmurs:
 âLet me show you how good we can be, sweetheart.âÂ
~~~~
âTell us what you want, princess,â Satoru murmured in your ear, his warm breath doing nothing to help the needy heat between your thighs, the one that Suguru was knelt between, his large palms spreading you before him, âis she as wet as I think, Suguru?âÂ
And Suguru catches your gaze, a wicked smile on his lips as he replies, âWetter, sheâs a mess, arenât you?â you bite your lip to stop a whimper from leaving your lips as his fingers graze the growing wet patch on your panties. And your squirming only makes Satoru grunt, his erection pressed against you, the friction doing little to help either of you.Â
âFuckers,â and Satoru clicks his tongue, a smile on his lips as he turns your head.Â
âThink I have a better use for that mouth of yours, sweetheart,â and his lips find yours, right as Suguru toys with the elastic of your panties, snapping it against your skin, Satoru swallows the small noise that escapes your lips, his tongue slipping into your mouth as it does.Â
And god, you already canât even think straight.Â
Satoruâs fingers are pushing up your bra, teasing your nipples, as Suguru pressing a kiss to your dripping cunt through your soaked underwear.Â
âSo pretty,â Suguru murmurs, and Satoruâs lips part from yours, gaze darkening as he drags his thumb down your kiss ruined lips, and he tugs your drenched panties down, âand your cunt is even prettier, isnât it princess?âÂ
And you were â your gorgeous pussy was glossy with your pre, dripping all over his fingers when he parts your messy folds, âBet sheâs even tighter, isnât she?â Satoru murmurs, as his dick twitches against your ass, â
You whine as his words warm your aching pussy, your eyes flickering downwards, as Suguruâs lips graze your inner thigh, and you already know Satoruâs pouting.Â
âYouâre taking your goddamn time, Suguru, when do I get my chance?â He grumbles, nose brushing against your neck, as you canât help but chuckle.Â
âYou got your turn, and now itâs time for you to watch,â and your giggle turns to a soft gasp when his lips press a kiss to your clit, âand sweetheart, canât wait to see how youâll punish me for this later â because Iâm not stopping until you beg me to,â
Your lips part with a reply, but he pulls a moan from your lips instead as his tongue drags up the length of your weeping entrance. God, fuck, how did you taste this good? His tongue flicked against your puffy clit, drawing lazy circles, your slick already drenching his chin and lips.Â
âSo fucking good, baby, sâgood fâme,â and your fingers are threading their way into his dark locks, pulling him even closer, his lips closing around your clit to suck, âcould live in this pretty cunt,â he grunts, the tip of his tongue teasing your entrance.Â
Your head falls against Satoruâs shoulders, a groan fell from his lips as his cock dragged against your ass, your slick drenching his thighs and cock alike, âcanât wait to sink my cock into you, fuck,â Satoru murmurs, the wet squelch of your cunt rang in his ears, and he could imagine how wet and warm youâd be once he sunk into you, inch by inch.Â
And he couldnât wait â he needed to do something.Â
Satoruâs fingers found their way down your body, tweaking your nipple before one large palm dragged slowly down your front, until he found your clit right above Suguruâs face.Â
âToru,â you gasp, as his fingers pinch your clit and Suguru glares, pulling his lips away for a moment, only to sink a finger back in insteas, drawing a moan from your lips, âSuguâfuckââÂ
And itâs too much, one more touch and youâre cumming, body falling back into Satoru, as Suguru fucks you through your orgasm. Your release runs down their fingers, as Satoru lifts his hand a moment to lick his fingers clean.Â
God, youâre too pretty for your own good, Satoruâs eyes drag over you â your kiss ruined lips, skin shiny from your sweat, and the way your eyes were lost in an endless pool of lust.Â
âSuguru was right, youâre the sweetest thing Iâve ever tasted,â Satoru grin, gently turning your head, and youâre panting, nose wrinkling ever so slightly at his words, and he tuts, âdonât believe me? Well I can fix that,â and his lips find yours again, letting you taste yourself, swallowing your moans, as Suguru continued to finger fuck you.Â
Suguruâs finger stretches you open, fluttering, knuckle deep, as your precum drips down his fingers.Â
âRemember whoâs fucking this cunt, sweetheart,â and Suguru is, another finger parting your needy folds, and between Satoru rubbing your clit and Suguruâs fingers curling to find that one spot, drags against your insides, âfuck, how are we going to fit, Satoru? Sheâs still so tight,â Suguru grunts.Â
You pull your lips from Satoruâs, a whine leaving your lips, âMore, please, I needââ and a third finger joins the other two â but itâs not Suguruâs.Â
âFuck, youâre so fucking soft,â Satoru groans, pressing soft kisses to your skin, only serving to make you keen at their touch, and your walls flutter around their fingers.Â
âFuck, weâre trying to fuck her open and she just keeps getting tighter,â Suguru grunts, while Satoruâs lips find your earlobe, sucking, just as he adds another finger, a moan escaping your lips again.Â
Suguruâs fingers fuck at a steady pace, fucking deeper and deeper, while Satoruâs are faster, pistoning in and out while dragging against your walls â and itâs not long until they are working you up to a second orgasm, itâs too fucking good â and they both find that spot in you that has you seeing stars.Â
âIâm gânnaââ and Satoru finds your lips in a sloppy kiss, saliva slipping from the corner of your mouth. And you cum, even harder, your swollen folds clamping down on their fingers as they continue to fuck you unendingly through your orgasm. Your lips pull away, only to moan their names, again and again, until they finally slow down.Â
âGood girl,â Suguru murmurs, pressing sweet kisses to your thighs, while you come down from your high, walls flutter around nothing at the praise, while Satoru nips at your neck right above your racing pulse. And your eyes find Suguru lazily palming his weeping erection, as you lift your bare foot to rub against it, making him hiss, while you rub against Satoru teasingly.Â
âDonât forget whoâs in control,â you kiss Satoru again, before biting his bottom lip, and heâs melting into your touch, âand, you were good,â your foot rubs against Suguruâs cock again, drawing another pretty groan from his lips, âbut now itâs time to be obedient.âÂ
And they are â as you have Satoru sit back against the pillow lined headboard, because if it was anything you knew now â Satoru loved to be controlled, while Suguru liked the illusion of control, even if he didnât have even a bit of it. So you have Suguru kneeling behind you, as you climb into Satoruâs lap, a small groan leaving his lips as your cunt grazes his hard cock.Â
âSuch a good boy, arenât you, Toru?â your fingers run through his hair â and god, his undercut was so fucking hot, as your fingers found his cock, letting the tip tease your soaked folds, as you line yourself up, âtell me what you want,âÂ
âFuck, princess, yâknow what I want,â and a whine leaves his throat when you let his tip sink into you, only to pull out.Â
âCome on, nothing else to say? You always love running that mouth, donât you? You wanted this, wanted me to ruin you, didnât you? Well here we are,â you hum, as you press a teasing kiss to the corner of his mouth, âbeg me,âÂ
And his dick twitches, painfully hard, and the words spill from his lips, âPlease, please, sweetheart, use me, use my cock as a toy, want you to fuck me so bad, make me yoursââ and youâre sinking onto his cock, his length parting your folds, as moans fall from both of your lips. And he bottoms out, your hips meeting his as you do, and you can feel every vein, every ridge, every inch notched inside your walls.Â
âToru, fuck, sâgood, sâbig,â it feels too fucking good, and heâs so long â god, he was brushing against places you never even dreamed of reaching. And your pussy clenched at the thought of how deep he would go when he would start thrusting.Â
âSure you have space for me, Princess?â Suguru leans back over to press kisses all over your face, before finding your lips in a heated kiss, âmight be too tight of a fit,â his nose brushing against your cheek.Â
âIâll make you fit,â you murmur against his lips, your hands against Satoruâs chest, as you shift to cup his chin, âget behind me, Sugu,âÂ
Suguru smirks, slipping behind you, pressing himself against your back, dragging his cock teasingly against you, âSo needy â youâre worse than Satoru,â and Satoru makes a noise of protest, but your walls flutter, making his back arch, âwant me inside you, sweetheart?â And his tip teases at your entrance, brushing against Satoruâs cock, causing all three of you to moan, âtell me how much you want us to fuck you, how much you want both of us inside you,âÂ
âFucker, I swear to god,â you turn your head, your glare undercut by the desperation on your face, âjust fuck meâÂ
And Suguru sinks into you, your head falling back against him, as both of their cocks stretch your cunt out. You were so fucking full. And the way your walls clenched around them was nearly enough to make them cum. Their groans come in unison.Â
âFuck, Princess, you donât have to break our dicks off â weâll fuck you again,â Suguru grunts, his rough palms sliding to your hips to squeeze them.Â
âSâgood, sweetheart, so fucking right for us,â and you canât think straight with the two of them inside of you, and youâre moaning.Â
âPlease, moveââ and they oblige, beginning to fuck you. You moved against Satoru, riding him as best you can, while Suguru fucked you from behind, his balls slapping against your ass.Â
Suguru drives into you at a steady pace, causing you to rock against Satoru, your hips pressed against his, as they both drive deeper and deeper into your wet cunt.Â
âSâgood, so pretty,â Suguru presses sweet kisses to your neck, while Satoruâs eyes flutter open to meet yours, âIâm close, SatoruââÂ
âMe too,â Satoru manages, and his hips begin to meet your thrusts, âyou gonna cum for us princess?â And he finds your gaze, the fucked out expression enough to nearly make him cum right there.Â
A whine leaves your lips, as they continue to fuck you, and you know youâre so close. And then they find that spot in you again, and youâre falling apart, lips parted in a moan, both their names on your lips. You clamp down on them, toes curling as you cum, and neither of them can last. Their hips stutter as they give sloppy thrusts, until they both cum,Â
They groan your name as they spurt their thick cum inside, notching themselves as deep as they could, continuing to fuck their cum inside you with messy thrusts.Â
A whimper escapes your lips between pants, as your arms and legs shake from your position, utterly fucked out. You three stay like that for a moment, both of their sweet nothings they murmur to you falling on deaf ears.
And then finally they are shifting you onto the bed, pressing soft kisses to your face and neck, as your eyes flutter shut. Thereâs shifting on the bed, as one of them leaves for a moment, and you make a noise, only to be reassured that heâll be right back.Â
Your eyes finally flutter open to find Satoru and Suguru cleaning you up with a wet washcloth, and your gaze finds both of their own. Your lips curl at the sight of them, their gentle gaze enough to make your heart ache.Â
âCome back,â you whine, and they both chuckle, as they begin to finish drying you off, before tossing the washcloth into the wastebasket, and crawling back beside you. They help you pull a shirt on, before settling in.Â
âSo needy,â Satoru murmurs, pressing a kiss to your forehead, even as he buries his face in your chest, his warm breath tickling you as you run your fingers softly through his white locks. And Suguru presses himself to your back, pressing a soft kiss to your neck, his arm around your waist, and yours resting on top of his.Â
âWhat will we do with her?â Suguru mutters, and you can hear the smirk in his tone.Â
âShut up,â you mumble, your eyes beginning to feel heavy, as you give into the warmth that enveloped you from their bodies, as it lulled you to sleep. And your lips curled into a smile, a smile that had you wondering right before you slipped into sleepâ
When was it that you fell for them?Â
~~~~
You couldnât do this. Not to them.Â
Thatâs what you had decided come morning â waking up between entangled limbs and soft breaths against your skin â how could you? You felt Satoru shift closer to you, as you leaned into his touch, running your fingers through Suguruâs black locks. You were addicted to their touch only after one night, and now you had to spend the rest of your life without it.Â
It was the only way.Â
This whole thing was ridiculous to begin with â you never cared to be involved in the yakuza to begin with. You wanted a normal life â or at least as normal of a life you could have with who your grandfather was. You had never expected to end up wrapped up in all of this â and in both of them.Â
But you didnât know if you could choose between them â and you knew, you had to. It wasnât fair to either of them â not when they had asked you to choose last night and they had indulged you in both of them. And now, you didnât want to let either of them go.Â
So you had to let both of them go.Â
You shifted slowly to sit up, Your fingers traced Satoruâs cheek lightly, as you toyed with a strand of Suguruâs hair. They both still stayed fast asleep, quiet snores filling the silence of the early morning, deep in the embrace of sleep after the events of last night and the last few weeks. You didnât want to be someone like your grandfather â you didnât know what you wanted and that was enough of an answer wasnât it?
The two shift in their sleep, and your body grows heavy, your back still aching from last night, as you lie back down beside them, running your fingers over both of their arms.Â
Even if you had your answer, you didnât have to face it for another few hours. And their bodies shifted, Satoru burying his face in the nape of your neck, while you rested against Suguruâs chest. This was enough â enough to last you a lifetime, wasnât it? Your eyes fluttered shut, sinking slowly back to sleep. You had told your grandfather youâd break their hearts âÂ
âbut you didnât know you would be breaking yours as well.Â
~~~
âWhat do you mean sheâs gone?â Satoru narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms, as Suguru stepped aside to show the empty room you had left behind â a bare husk with nothing left behind, not even a note.Â
It had been a day.Â
When Satoru had woken up beside you, he could have sworn he was still dreaming, even as he grazed your skin gently with the back of his knuckles, he still couldnât quite believe it. And when he spotted Suguru pressing kisses to your cheek, he knew it was real.Â
âHow long have you been awake?â Satoru raised an eyebrow, âitâs not fair to have your fun while we were asleep,âÂ
And Suguru rolled his eyes, as he rubbed the back of his knuckles gently against her cheek, âI just woke up, and all I did was kiss her, you idiot,âÂ
âNot fair, that means I have to kiss her too,â Satoru murmurs, pressing gentle kisses to your forehead and cheek, and one even to your nose. Your nose wrinkles in your sleep, and Satoruâs lips quirk upwards, âsheâs so exhausted from last night still,âÂ
âShe is,â Suguru hums, as he tilts his head, âwhat are we going to do about last night?âÂ
Satoru pauses a moment to consider, âWell, what is there to discuss? She chose us both, didnât she?â Satoru leaned close to you, to press a kiss to your head.Â
âShe did,â Suguru props himself up with his elbow on his side, âI thought you werenât one to share,âÂ
And Satoru shrugged â he wasnât one to share, he wanted what was his to be his alone, but with you â the more people to protect you, the better, âIf itâs what makes her happy, I donât mind,â and he adds, âand I donât mind if itâs you that Iâm sharing with,âÂ
Suguru raises an eyebrow, a chuckle on his lips, âIs that so? Well, good,â as he runs a finger through your hair, âbecause I feel the same.âÂ
But Satoru supposed you didnât.Â
âWhen did sheââÂ
âMy father told me she contacted her grandfather this morning, and let them know she was leaving â and her single request was to send us away on business so we wouldnât be able to stop her,â and Satoru gives a bitter chuckle.Â
âSo thatâs it?â Satoru crosses his arms, âwhy did sheââ and he cuts himself off, âhave you tried to callââÂ
âIâm blocked, I assume you are too,â Suguru shook his head, a silence settling over the two of them that Satoru chose to break.Â
âDo we go after her?â And Suguru pauses, his brow wrinkling a moment, before he sighs, shaking his head.Â
âIf she comes back, it has to be her choice,â Suguru slid his hands into his pockets, âotherwise, weâre back to square one,â and he adds, âand I donât think I can go back after last night.âÂ
Suguru steps away, heading back down the hallway, and Satoru follows.Â
No, Satoru thinks, sparing one glance at the empty room, before pulling the door shut, neither could he.Â
~~~
âWhy did you come back?â You set another box down, wiping the sweat from your brow, your grandfather simply watching as you brought your things back into your room.Â
âWhat a warm welcome,â you scoff, as you head back out to pick up another â the other staff had offered to help, but you had waved them off, lifting another box, your back still aching â and now you were starting to regret it. But you knew if you didnât do something to distract yourself â your phone taunting you on the top of your desk â youâd do something youâd regret.Â
And youâd already filled your quota for the next six months at least.Â
âDonât get me wrong, kid,â the geezer sighed, as he watched you bring the last of the boxes in, âIâm glad youâre back and the matters are all settled â but,â he tilts his head, âyou seem more miserable than before,âÂ
âIâm just tired,â you reply, but his furrowed brow says heâs unconvinced, as you grab a box cutter and begin to open up the boxes, beginning to sort through your things, âand still trying to wrap my head around the fact you lied to me,âÂ
And he sighs, âthis isnât about me right now â itâs about youââÂ
âHow convenient,â you mutter under your breath.Â
âYouâre in love, arenât you?â And you canât help but freeze for a moment, until you force yourself to continue unpacking, pulling out some of your clothes from the box, âwhich one is it?âÂ
The question stabs between your ribs like a well thrust sword between the ribs, finding the center of the problem â along with your heart.Â
âGrampsââÂ
âSo itâs both of them?â and you whirl on him, your eyes narrowing, and he chuckles, holding up his hand, âI didnât spy â I just took a guess,â he sighed, as he pulled out your desk chair and took a seat in it, âand it looks like I was right,âÂ
You swallow, your eyes falling to the floor, âI didnât cheat, if thatâs whatââÂ
He laughs, âI know you arenât like me, little one,â he leans back in the chair, hands folded in his lap, âyou arenât one to lie â because I know thereâs more you hate than liars,â and his gaze grows a little sadder, âAnd Iâm sorry I had to become one of them,âÂ
You grit your teeth, âIâm not mad at you â Iâm justââ you choose your words carefully â because youâre angry, you were upset â upset that he felt as if he couldnât trust you, âwondering why you didnât tell me the truth,âÂ
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, âMy past isnât something Iâm proud of, and I wanted to deal with it without involving you,â he sighed, âafter everything with our family â I didnât want to give you another reason to distance yourself from me,âÂ
âLying to me isnât a better option than that,â he rubs the back of his head, âyou have to make it right for Akari and her mother â as well as if you have any other kidsâI donât need to know,â you add, when he opens his mouth, âit isnât fair to them,â and it would be no fairer to not choose between Satoru and Suguru.Â
âYouâre right,â he raises a brow, âis that the problem? You canât choose between the two of them, eh?â and your gaze refuses to meet his, âhave you talked to them about it?â and your silence serves as an answer, âthen I think you should take your own advice and talk to them about it,âÂ
âWhat will that do?â you murmur, âthey still will want me to chooseââÂ
âDo you know that for a fact?â he crosses his arms, âI think you owe it to them and to yourself to talk to them, and to your grandfather who canât stand to see you this miserable at home,âÂ
âDo you think it will change anything?â and he shrugs.Â
âMaybe it will or maybe it wonât,â he tilts his head, as he pulls out his phone to call you a car, âbut if itâs a chance for you to be happy, isnât it worth taking?âÂ
~~~~
âI want to marry you both,âÂ
And again, your statement is met with confused stares, as you had all but pulled up to their compound and entered to find them seated together discussing business in a side room â and their stares were still anything but average â but to you now, they meant so much more.Â
âNot marry you right now, but maybe eventually,â adrenaline was surely pumping through your system, right? Thatâs probably why your hands were shaking and your mouth was dry, but even so you knew you needed to say it before they spoke, âIâm sorry for leaving the way I did. I told myself after we first met I wouldnât be a coward, but I was when I ran away, and I donât have any excuse,â you swallowed, âbut I know what I want â and I want both of you, as selfish as that feels,â guilt crawled up your throat at the statement of that sentence, as if begging you to swallow the words that spilled from your lips back up, âand I donât know how either of you feel â but if we were to do this, I would want us to be honest andââÂ
And the screech of their chairs takes you aback, and you felt your cheeks burn, was this it?Â
But instead of brushing past you, they stand in front of you, one of them tilting your head upwards to meet their gazes.Â
âTook you long enough, sweetheart,â Satoruâs lips curled, his hand cupping your cheek, âI know we said we wanted you to hurt us, but not like that,â
âSent us away just to ghost us,â Suguru clicked his tongue, his fingers still under your chin, âIâll have to plant a tracker on you again,âÂ
You shake your head, âWait, what? Are you both okayââÂ
âWe did say weâd kill the other for your hand, but,â Suguru presses a kiss to your forehead, âBut now we realize the more eyes watching you, the better, and,â he shrugs, âwe donât mind sharing if itâs just with the other,âÂ
âAnd I know youâll prefer me sooner or later,â Satoru adds, earning a glare from Suguru, as you only chuckle, âSuguru is always so grumpyâow!â Suguru smacks on the back of the head, as the black haired yakuza wraps his arms around you, pressing your back to his front.Â
âAnd you are always too busy running your mouth,â Suguru replies, pressing a kiss to your cheek, âsure you can handle both of us in your life?â and you pull Satoru close too, letting his lips brush yours, before turning and pressing a kiss to Suguru.Â
âShouldnât you be asking yourselves that?â you say, as the two of them wrap an arm around you, âI am supposed to ruin your lives after all.âÂ
⧠a/n: so this has been a longtime coming. i was supposed to be working on prof geto (5) + my nanami celebration fic but this took over my life and wouldn't let go until i finished. so i hope you guys enjoy!! and this is my reminder why i don't write multi partner scenes like this often because its....difficult. thank you to @gaylatteart for reading and putting up with me <333
⧠taglist: @midmourn, @whore-for-hawks, @ekaterinatepes, @satoryaa, @mandysfanfics, @sodoney, @sukunasfavoritehole, @kazbrkker, @satorugirlie, @itsbokutosjuicyass, @santos4, @levanadragoneel, @talkativetranscendant, @abiiebibie, @simply-a-s1mp, @jolynelovesrain, @deegausserr, @xxemmarldxx, @biancaness, @satoniko, @ackermanbby, @rintoriss, @kentocalls, @marionettte, @bear-likes-mushrooms, @forest-hashira, @catsgomurp, @k1t0u, @rat-loves, @forest-fruits-jam, @wishingforanother, @roseified, @spider-fan72, @caelestine-the-caelicatto, @gojolvrr34, @chosobun, @chuuyasboots, @nanamis-baker, @hanxyy,
#sab [mlist]#satoru gojo x reader#satoru gojo smut#suguru geto x reader#suguru geto smut#geto suguru smut#gojo satoru smut#stsg x reader#satosugu x reader#satoru gojo x you#suguru geto x you#jjk x reader#jjk fanfiction#jujutsu kaisen fanfiction#jujutsu kaisen x reader#gojo x reader#geto x reader#geto fanfiction#gojo fanfiction
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i have suddenly become obsessed with a theme that HoO established but never proceeded to extrapolate on, which is:
You are Percy Jackson, and you have been swapped with a boy who was allegedly everyone's favorite person, but they have decided to replace him with you. They just met you. You stand next to his best friend and the people he's known his entire life. In his home. In his cloak. In his place. They stopped looking for him.
You are Jason Grace, and you have just found out you have a long lost sister who completely replaced you in her life with this girl you just met. Your lives and personalities are mirrors. She is you, living the life you were robbed of.
You are Annabeth Chase, and you have just become starkly aware that you have been inhabiting the void left behind by your best friend's long lost brother. You and Luke were just replacements for him. Now you have to look him in the eyes when he has nothing and know you took that life from him.
You are Piper McLean, and you have just found out your relationship is fake and built entirely on the memories of Annabeth Chase. You have been given a boyfriend when hers has been taken away. You have no idea how much of it is real or not but regardless you feel like if your relationship isn't exactly in their image that you have failed.
You are Leo Valdez, and you have just learned that you are the echo of your great-grandfather. You are not your own person. You just exist to be a mirror of him. A doppelganger. An actor and stunt double facing all the danger he never had to but wearing his face. To be there for his best friend decades later simply because he couldn't. You are playing a role. A seventh wheel and a pawn for a goddess who carefully sculpted your entire life for her own purposes.
You are Hazel Levesque, and the only reason you are alive is because your brother couldn't save your his sister. You are a consolation prize. An apology. Your existence here is misplaced in every way but you inhabit it anyways.
You are Frank Zhang, and you are a shapeshifter. Inhabiting your own body feels strange and clumsy when you could be literally anything at any time. You are anything and everything and live your life with the simple certainty of knowing exactly how you will die.
#pjo#hoo#heroes of olympus#percy jackson#riordanverse#jason grace#annabeth chase#piper mclean#leo valdez#hazel levesque#frank zhang#meta#analysis#me shaking hoo: what if we actually address the interpersonal dynamics of the characters. please. please. please. please.#frank is the only person on the boat not having an identity crisis tied to another member of the crew somehow and that is FASCINATING#but also WHERE is all the interpersonal literally anything. hello. please. making grabby hands. everybody identity crisis go.#i wanna see the entire argo ii crew stumbling through trying to figure out their places and senses of self!!!!!#particularly in relation to each other!!!!! we get snippets but we rarely ever get the full thing or a resolution!!!#like. HELLO??? Piper acknowledging that her relationship with Jason is artificially sculpted in the image of Annabeth and Percy???#and that her ideals of what Jason and her can be are just that she feels like they need to be like what Percy and Annabeth have????#and thats just DROPPED COMPLETELY????#poor Jason is getting replaced twice. Leo is not his own person.#Hazel at least gets the resolution that Nico does not truly see her as a consolation prize#but Annabeth gets to be hit with the like EIGHT YEAR DELAY of learning the place she inhabits in Thalia's life is the echo of someone else#cause like. yeah she knew Thalia had lost her brother but i dont think it clicked for her until she met Jason that oh. she *replaced* him#Frank at least has some certainty about his identity in one aspect (his curse). everybody else is floundering a bit#except for maybe Percy but its kind of the camps of ''i replaced this person and it weighs on me'' versus ''i have been replaced''
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Four Times the Batkids Forget They're Adopted, and The One Time Damian Forgets He Isn't
It had started off as a joke, as most things do, and Dick meant nothing behind it, really. It was amusing to him, actually, to tell his coworkers things about Batman and pass it off as his father. âOh my dad? Yeah hes not big on talking. He loves showing me he cares though.â (this was, of course, in reference to Batman doing three back flips and a kick split when Nightwing had patrolled with him the other day, a classic Nightwing move) But it soonâŚwent deeper. Dick stopped making jokes out of it, and actually began listing things about Bruce. About his Dad. It didn't help that his police friends were actually interested. âSo did you and the old man do anything fun over the weekend?â Dick thought back to how he had wanted to surprise Bruce by stopping by for dinner and instead had ended up in the sewer eating granola bars on a stakeout for killer croc, who had escaped. Again. âOh yeah we had a picnic.â Dick nodded, smiling at Randy. âYeah. Heâs, heâs kinda bad at remembering when to eat a meal on time and all that.â Dick laughed. âIts something I share too. Must be genetics.â He rolled his eyes. Randy laughed, clapping a hand on his shoulder. âI hear you. My old man smoked all the live long day. I try to keep it down, but that addiction gene is just strong eh?â Dick chuckled. âYeah I guess.â His phone buzzed in his pocket and he waved to Randy, turning to tug it out. It was one, simple message from Babs. âUr adopted genius. What genes.âÂ
Jason didn't even know how they had gotten on the topic. But here they were. âYes. I got my mothers hair, of course, but I get my temper from my father.â Artemis was saying. âI have parents.â Bizarro grunted. Roy laughed, smacking him on the shoulder. âWell you certainly didn't get Kalâs looks buddy. But you do have his killer hair.â Starfire laughed. âThat is true. I, for one, share my parents hair and have my fathers powers. But truly the best gene I was given were my mothers eyes.â They all turned to Jason. âWhat about you?â Roy asked. Jason scratched the back of his neck. âUh, I used to have my dads eyes but um after the pit y'know,â He waved to his now green eyes. âAnd actually I have my dads dark black hair, and heâs graying early too, which might be why my white streak is so prominent.â They nodded in agreement. âBut yeah, hes actually a little taller than me so maybe Iâll still grow a few inches but uh yeah. I don't⌠remember my mother enough to talk about her.â âDang man. I wish we could meet your dad.â Roy murmured, laying a comforting hand on Jasonâs shoulder. âThen we could really compare. I mean-â He laughed. âYou sound like his carbon copy.â Jason frowned at his friend. âWhat do you mean? Youâve met Bruce?â They stared at him. âJason,â Artemis began slowly. âAren't you adopted?âÂ
Tim hunched over the information form, eyes straining to read the small print. His hand reached up to stifle a yawn and he settled for a sigh instead. It was late, but Tim needed to get the form done before he went to bed, otherwise everything would be far too stressful in the morning. He reached over and grabbed his coffee mug, a dark black cup that had a red R painted on it poorly. Bruce had made it for him a few years ago when he had first become Red Robin. He sipped it, staring down at the medical form. âGods I hate having to do this.â He muttered, but reluctantly grabbed the thick medical binder Alfred had obligingly gotten for him when he had asked for medical records of the family. Tim did not under any circumstances, want to have to sit at the doctors office the next day and somehow lie his way through all the medical questions relating to his family history. He didn't have the time nor patience for it, and it was crucial he was given proper medical advice what with his missing spleen. âAny history of heart issues Bruce?â Tim muttered, flipping back past Martha and Thomas to Bruceâs great great great grandfather. âNope, guess not.â Tim was halfway through the form when he realized the blood coursing through his veins wasn't Bruceâs.Â
Steph rubbed a hand across her belly, staring at the monitor. âYour baby looks good Ms. Brown. Theyâre at the proper stage. Due in about two months. Weâll see you back here for your next check up.â âthank you doctor.â Steph murmured, sliding off the bed and dressing quickly before hurrying out to her car. The car door slammed shut behind her and she breathed, pressing her forehead to the steering wheel. Her phone buzzed. She lifted it and pressed it to her ear, hitting accept. âHello?â âhey Steph.â Bruceâs voice vibrated through the phone. âHow was your doctors appointment?â Steph gave a bitter laugh. âEverything looks good. The baby will come in about two months.â âThats good. Thats real good.â Steph nodded, eyes closed. âYou doing okay Stephanie?â Bruce asked, voice soft. âI don't know.â her voice broke and she squeezed her eyes shut, fighting tears. âI just- Iâm so scared Bruce. So scared.â Bruce hummed comfortingly through the phone. âI know Steph. Its scary. And parenting, its hard.â Steph coughed out a watery chuckle. âWas that a hit?â She muttered, rubbing a hand over her face. Bruce chuckled. âNo. Baby it wasn't. And just think, youâll get to see all the firsts I didn't get with you. Their first steps. Their first wave. You might even get to hear them say mama before i kidnap- i mean adopt him or her.â Steph laughed again, and it sounded less watery. âYeah. Well, when do kids start walking?â She asked in interest, sniffing and sitting up straight again. Bruce hummed. âWell i started walking almost immediately, but Im special.â Steph laughed. âOf course.â âalfred said i first started talking when I was around thirteen months old, and Talia said Damian was walking by ten, but she could have been lying.â Steph nodded. âTell me more.â She whispered. Bruce obliged, happy to distract her. âOh and whats probably going to be your favorite, babies, or at least I did, start laughing at around four months.â âlaughing?â Steph gasped. âOh Brucie!!! Thats too funny! Little chubby baby you, the future batman, laughing!â She cooed. She could almost feel his eye roll through the phone and stifled her laugh. âSo yeah..â Bruce finished. âYou should expect your kiddo to start walking around then. And laughing probably sooner. I would have if you'd be in my life at that time.â Steph was quiet. âThank you B.â He hummed. âAnytime Steph. Iâll always be here to help you.â âWait wait wait-â a new voice joined in the background of Bruce. âAre you guys serious right now?â Steph identified it as Jason. âWhat?â Bruce asked puzzled. âB, Stephs adopted. Her kid is as likely to walk at the same time you did as when she did!âÂ
âDamian?â âGo away Drake.â Damian called back, riffling through the papers. âDami?â Tim poked his head into his younger brothers room. âOh hey kiddo. Whatcha doing?â âI am busy Timothy.â Damian countered in annoyance, shoving the box back under his bed and moving to his desk. âWhat are you looking for?â Tim asked puzzled. Damian ignored him. âDami.â âGo away Timothy.â Tim crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. âCome on Baby Bird. Tell me.â Damian shook his head, covering the blush on his cheeks by poking behind the desk. âDamian.â Timâs hand was suddenly on his back. Damian jumped. Tim held up his hands in surrender. âJust tell me. Iâm sure I can help you find it.â Damian sighed in acceptance, cheeks pink. âI have.. Lost my adoption papers.â He muttered, staring at the floor. But Tim didn't laugh or ridicule him. In fact, when he looked up, his brother seemed thoughtful. âWell i know me and dick and jason have them hung over our bedsâŚâ His gaze drifted to the very clearly empty space above Damians bed. âI know.â Damian jerked his head in a nod. âThat is why I wished to find it.â Tim nodded in understanding. âWell, lets go look in the den. Thats where Alfred keeps all the legal stuff.â Damian trailed after his brother to the living room and watched as he opened the cabinet and pulled out three boxes. âYou look through this one, Iâll search these two.â Tim ordered. Damian nodded, accepting the box. It was where Alfred found them, two hours later, broom in hand. âMy dear sirs, what are you doing?â The butler asked in bafflement. âLooking for Damians adoption record.â Tim answered, nose still in some papers. Alfred looked at them. âMaster Tim. Master Damian.â The two boys looked up. âYes Alfred?â Tim asked. Alfred's face was fond and utterly confused. âMaster Damian is not adopted. He is Master Bruceâs blood son.âÂ
@nonepizzawithleftglitter @zombiewithaflowercrown
you asked and you shall recieve!
#i only went with four because they were only so many things i could think of for them to forget theyre adopted#batfam#batkids#stephanie brown#tim drake#jason todd#dick grayson#damian wayne#batfamily#batman and robin#hope it lived up to your dreams
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When Things Turn Green Again
SYNOPSIS: Hoping to mend the pain of your broken heart and bury the memory of your failed marriage, you turn towards the woods. A cabin was left in your name and itâs the exact distraction you were looking for. What you didnât anticipate is meeting a quiet, ruggedly handsome man along the way who helps you heal.
PAIRING: Logan x fem!reader
WC: 11k
WARNINGS: smut 18+; mdni; angst; mentions of cheating/divorce; emotional trauma; fluff; sexual innuendos; brief mentions of drinking; dirty talk; slight dom!Logan; oral (f receiving); fingering; doggy style; cock warming; sex with feelings; unprotected p in v
A/N: I pictured either Origins!Logan or Wolverine!Logan, but I think you can envision any Logan youâd prefer. And again thanks to @joelsgoldrush for the support through writing this â¤ď¸ I really do love this piece I wrote and I hope you do too. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated! And thank you to everyone who has read, commented, liked and reblogged both Soft Edges and Til The Sun Turns BlackâI never imagined either of those stories reaching over 1k notes.
The gravel crunches under your tires as you roll down the long driveway. Memories bloom deep in your chest as you near the cabin, of times simpler than this, unburdened by trappings of real life. You spent your formative years out here in the woods with your grandfather. Summers spent learning how to fish on the lake; how to recognize the poisonous berries from the nonpoisonous ones; and making fires, roasting marshmallows long after the sun had gone down.Â
Your grandfather had helped build this cabin. Heâd always preferred the outdoors and solitude from peopleâwith the obvious exception of your grandmother and motherâand heâd often come here to escape. Especially after he lost them both.Â
The cabin comes into view through the trees just starting to unfurl their spring foliage. Patches of snow still dot the landscape but the wet brown of winter is losing to springâs verdant hues. The structure has seen better days, last having been lived in over ten years ago.Â
A stab of regret pierces your chest. The cabin was willed to you when your grandfather died, but this was your first trip up here since the funeral. You planned to, of course, but as the old saying goes, life happened. Now, youâre hoping the old place can give you something to sink your energy into besides thinking about your failed marriage.Â
You park the truck and step out, surveying the property. The shrubs and flower beds are overgrown and choked with old growth and weeds. Years worth of leaves rest upon the roof and clog the gutters. The front porch has several loose or missing spindles and youâre almost afraid to step up onto the old boards. Proving yourself right, the wood groans and creaks beneath your feet, certain spots threatening to give way.
âThatâs going to be a fun project,â you mutter to yourself.
Opening the front door, youâre met with the damp mustiness of a long closed up space. A layer of dust seems to coat nearly every surface and cobwebs linger in the corners. Youâre hoping the repairs needed inside the cabin are more cosmetic than costly.
You open up the old blinds, letting the early morning light filter in the room. Itâs not a large space, an open kitchen, living room and dinning area with separate bedroom and attached bathroom. A small set of steps leads up to a loft, which also doubles as a sleeping space or bonus area.
You unload your belongings from the truck, tucking them away inside the bedroom, before opening all the windows to let in the fresh air. Thankfully, the glass and protective screens are in relatively good repairâa few need replacing, but an easy enough job. You feel a sense of purpose flourish within you, something you havenât felt for months and you wonder if this is just the reprieve you need to find yourself again.
+++
You spend the morning taking inventory of the repairs needed around the cabin to make it immediately livable. Jotting down a list of supplies, you hop in your truck and head into town to hit up the hardware store.Â
The owner, George, recognizes you from previous trips with your grandfather when you were younger. He greets you warmly and helps you find everything you need. As youâre checking out, he asks, âRun into Logan yet?â
âLogan?â
He nods his head. âShares a property line with you. Has a cabin of his own just about a quarter mile north of yours. Asked him to keep his eye out on the place.â
âOh, well, that was nice of him,â you comment, stuffing your receipt in your purse.Â
George shrugs. âFigured it would give him something different to do. Doesnât interact much with people.â
âGuess Iâll just have to introduce myself then,â you say, lifting your bags up off the checkout counter.Â
âGood luck with that,â George responds with a huffed laugh. âHeâs not one for small talk.âÂ
You give George a polite smile and leave the store, bags in hand. But the conversation sparks your curiosity and you find yourself thinking of the man who shares the woods with you. You promised yourself once you were settled, youâd make the short hike towards his place and introduce yourself.
Arriving back at the cabin, you park the truck and hop out, stopping short when you spot a lone figure walking around from the back of your property. You canât stop the prickle of anxiety that zips up your spine as the figure comes closer, but he doesnât see you yet, his eyes on the ground as he walks.
You shut the truck door with more force than necessary, the sound echoing off the trees. He looks up then and you suck in a short breath as his rugged features come into viewâwell trimmed but scruffy beard, wild dark hair and a fit muscular frame you can see even under the flannel of his shirt.
Butterflies flutter in your stomach and you canât remember the last time youâve felt like this. You can feel a blush creep across your face and you grip the bags in your hands tighter just to feel something other than the hammering of your heart in your chest.
He stops short of where youâre standing and jerks a thumb behind him. âTurned your electrical breaker on,â he says without introduction and you can only stare at him.
âOh,â you say dumbly. âI, uhâthanks.â
He tilts his head and looks at you and you feel like youâre on fire under his glare. Itâs an inquisitive one, like he canât quite figure out what youâre doing in a place like this and you shift uncomfortably under his gaze. And yet, you donât want him to stop looking at you.Â
âRight,â he says, reaching into the pocket of his jeans for something. He fishes out a key and holds it in your direction. âThis is yours.â
You shift the bags, so youâre holding them all in one hand and reach for the key. Your fingertips brush against his just briefly, but itâs enough to set sparks along your skin and you can feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. As he steps back from you, you blurt out your name and then immediately wish for a swift death at your awkwardness.Â
God, this was embarrassing.Â
Itâs like youâve never interacted with humans before.
He gives the barest hint of a smile. âLogan.â
âNice to meet you, Logan,â you say, just so you can taste his name in your mouth.
Logan nods and turns to head down the path that leads away from your cabin and deeper into the woods. You watch him go, his figure fading further into the distance and you canât help but think, Iâm in trouble.Â
+++
You spend the rest of the day keeping busy around the cabinâwiping down dusty surfaces, sweeping up cobwebs, replacing broken light bulbsâbut your mind never strays far from Logan and the inexplicable pull you have towards him.Â
Youâve dated. You were married. You werenât a stranger to the opposite sex and physical attraction, but this felt like more. Like an unavoidable pull between you and him and youâve just been spun into his orbit.Â
And that attraction terrifies you.Â
Over the next few days, you try and shove him from your mind. It helps that you havenât seen him again, but your eyes inevitably dart towards the path leading away from your cabin as if youâre expecting him to come walking through.Â
Then, the idea comes to you late one night as youâre sitting in front of the fire, watching the flames lick higher. No matter how hard you had tried, Logan remained firmly planted in your mind, his roots stubborn and unyielding.Â
Your grandfather always said your grandmotherâs cooking was always something that warmed his heart.Â
But as you walk the small path towards Loganâs property you briefly wonder if youâve lost your mind. You carry the small pie dish in your hands and as his cabin grows closer youâre actually contemplating turning back and forgetting the whole thing.
Who the hell bakes pies for people any more?
His cabin is smaller than yours, a little more rustic and worn, which seems fitting based on the little you know about him. Several piles of firewood line the roofed porch and at the opposite end, a single chair and table sit in front of the window. With one last shaky inhale, you climb the steps and rap your knuckles against the door. From inside you hear heavy footfalls and then the door opens.
Logan looks down at you and then towards the dish in your hands, an odd expression crossing his handsome features.
âI made you a pie,â you blurt unceremoniously and you instantly wish for the ground to open up and swallow you whole.
Logan just continues to stare at you and you think you see the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth. But maybe not.
âI, uh, my grandfather lived in the cabin next to yours and itâs mine now. Iâm fixing it up, becauseâŚwell, just because and he taught me to pick berries as a kid? So, I did that and I made you this,â you finish in a ramble, flames of embarrassment licking across your skin.
Jesus fucking Christ.
His eyes flick down at the dish in your hands again and you hold it up a bit higher, nudging it closer towards him. As he reaches out to take it, his fingers brush against yours and you again feel electricity tingle down your fingertips. If he notices it too, he says nothing, not that heâs said anything since you showed up on his porch.Â
Logan tucks the dish closer to his body and gives you a slight nod. You take that as a good sign and step back to leave. âOkay, cool, cool. Well, um, enjoy. I made sure all he berries were the edible ones so you donât end up throwing up everywhere.â
At that he actually huffs a chuckle. âGood to know,â he finally says, his voice warm and rich and just a bit gruff.
âRight, well, enjoy!â You turn to leave and can feel his stare against your back and it takes all your remaining functioning brain cells to walk normally.
You spend the next few days trying to forget all about your ill-fated attempt to play neighbor, figuring if he didnât want to know you before, he definitely didnât after that.Â
Youâre coming back from a hike when you spot Logan through the trees walking away from your place, hands tucked deep within his pockets. Your heart quickens in your chest as you walk up to the front door and find the baking dish sitting on the old welcome mat. Itâs freshly washed with a folded up piece of paper sitting insideâThank you.
Youâre certain your smile could rival the light from the sun.
+++
It becomes a routine over the next few weeksâyou bringing him food and him returning the dish, all without exchanging any words. Youâre thankful heâs not much of a talker because you canât seem to stop making a fool of yourself around him.Â
And you donât know why.Â
Heâs a handsome man, that anyone can see, but youâve never been so flustered around a beautiful man before.
Thereâs something else about Logan you canât pinpoint that sets your heart fluttering behind your ribs. He seems lonely in the same way you are, and you wonder if heâs out here to lick and heal old wounds just like you. You have an inexplicable want to help him, even if that means sharing your food leftovers with him and trying to chip away at the wall that surrounds him.Â
A part of you is hoping he can help break down your walls, too.Â
Youâre waist deep under the kitchen sink when a knock on the door drags you from fixing the leaking drain.Â
âAh, fuck,â you curse, trying to maneuver out of the space while also not spilling the stagnant water left in the sink trap. As you set the old drain down you call out, âJust a second!â
You wipe your hands against your thighs and swing the door open to find Logan standing there, your glass baking dish from yesterday in his hands. For a second you blink silently at him, unable to think of anything but the fact that youâre wearing grease stained overalls and probably smell like a swamp.Â
âLogan, hi,â you finally say, brushing your hair out of your face.Â
He gives you a strange look as he hands the dish back to you. You open your mouth to speak when he interrupts you, âWhy do you feed me?â
His question hangs in the air and you freeze. Of all the things he could have asked, you werenât sure why you didnât expect that one. His voice is a little gruff, but underneath thereâs something that makes your heart race. Something vulnerable.Â
You swallow and grip the edge of the glass dish. Logan stares at you, his gaze intense, and you feel exposed. Like heâs trying to dissect you with just a look.Â
âOh, well, I donât know,â you finally admit. âYou justâŚseem like you could use some kindness.â
He raises an eyebrow, but doesnât say anything else. The silence stretches between you, heavy and charged, and you can feel your pulse quicken. âI can stop ifâif you want.â
âNo,â he says, his voice rough, but with an undercurrent of tenderness. âNo, you donât have to stop. Just not used to people doinâ things like that for me.â
His admission catches you off guard being the first real piece of personal information heâs shared with you. Youâve gleaned certain things from Georgeâheâs told you about Logan being a mutant and a few pieces of his pastâbut you know thereâs still a world of history hiding behind his loner facade that he keeps hidden. Youâre hoping eventually he lets you take a peak inside.
âEveryone deserves kindness, Logan,â you say.Â
His gaze flickers, a shadow of something crossing his features that makes your heart ache. He shifts on his feet and stares down at the dish in your hands. âIâm not so sure of that,â he replies.Â
âWell, I am.â
Loganâs eyes drag back up to yours and you try to calm the nervous energy that bubbles under your skin as his stare presses into you. He gives you a small nod then before turning to leave.Â
He pauses as he hits your driveway and looks back at you, cursing lowly to himself. Scratching at the back of his head, he walks back up the steps and pulls something out of the pocket of his jacket. âI, uh, here,â he says uncertainly as he hands you the small cloth bag.Â
You can only stare as you take the bag from him, the gift surprisingly light in your hand, but the gesture heavy with unspoken emotion. Your mind races as you think of what could be inside and your heart hammers loudly in your chest.Â
Logan stands there, eyes not quite meeting yours as he waits for you to open it. Your fingers tremble slightly as you undo the drawstrings and peer inside, finding a mixture of different seeds. You canât help but trail your fingers through them, feeling the faint warmth they hold from where they were nestled against Loganâs body.Â
âOh, Logan,â you murmur, your voice thick with emotion.Â
You glance up at him and heâs looking at you, scratching at his beard, the faintest hint of blush staining his cheeks. âTheyâre wildflowers. Donât know what kind. But, I dunno. I thought you could use them for your garden.âÂ
Your chest tightens as you pull the strings close and tuck the bag in your pocket. âI love them, Logan,â you say, offering him a smile. âThank you.â
For a moment, you see the tension in his shoulders relax just a bit as he exhales. âJust seemed like something youâd appreciate,â he mumbles, more to himself than to you.Â
Something has shifted between you and you find yourself itching to touch him, but you donât. Not yet. The thread holding you two together is there, but thin, and you donât want it to fray. âI really do appreciate it,â you say softly, stepping just the tiniest bit closer.Â
Logan nods and his mouth tugs into something thatâs not quite a smile, but close. He looks at you for a long moment, the weight of his gaze pressing into you. âOkay. Good.â Shoving his hands in his pockets, he turns and jogs down the steps.Â
âGuess Iâll see you around then,â you call after him, a smile spreading across your face.Â
He glances back over his shoulder. âYeah. I guess you will.â
And maybe, just maybe, the walls around him are beginning to crumble.Â
+++
Sweat beads across your brow as you work, but you pay it no heed. Your attention keeps slipping to Logan as you pry another nail loose from the rotted board. Youâve fallen into an odd relationship with the elusive man whose property line you share, yet you still barely know anything about him.
Itâs been a week since he stopped by and gave you those wildflower seeds. A warmth still spreads in your chest when you think about it. And true to his promise, you do see him around, albeit not as much as youâd like. He seems wary, as if his gift opened up a part of himself he wasnât ready for you to see.
But at least he doesnât drop off your clean dishes and run anymore.Â
As you pry the last nail free, the rotten board comes free and you toss it down onto the grass along with the others. Thankfully, the porch isnât terribly large and you figure another hour or so to remove the remaining boards before you can start laying down fresh lumber.Â
The crunch of gravel pulls you from your work and you look up to find Logan walking down the path, a large leather bag in his hand. You look up at him, wiping the sweat off your brow and lean back onto your heels, trying your best not to stare at his forearms.
âOh, hey, Logan,â you say, wiping your hands against your jeans as you stand. âWhat brings you to my side of the woods?â
He actually smiles at you and nods towards the porch. âNeed help?â
You hate the little flutter you feel pressing against your ribs. âI couldnât ask you to do that.â
âWell, itâs good thing youâre not asking. Iâm offering.â
You blink, caught off guard by his directness. âOh, well, if you insist,â you say, trying to calm your nerves. âIt would be nice to have a second set of hands.â
He sets the leather bag down on the porch with a thud and you catch a glimpse of the tools nestled inside. Logan notices you looking and comments, âI know a few things.â His smirk makes your legs feel like jello.Â
âOh, I bet you know a lot of things,â you blurt, and your eyes widen at the double entendre of your words, heat flushing across your face.Â
Logan laughs, a real laugh, his eyes crinkling. âWell, itâs always good to be well educated,â he says with a wink.
Fuck, you feel like youâre going to spontaneously combust.Â
Shoving down your raging embarrassment, you lay out your plan to fix the porch and Logan gives a small nod. He starts at the opposite end, prying loose the first board with ease. You try not to stare at the way his muscles move and how his skin begins to slick with the first beads of sweat. You work in silence for a while, the only sounds those of the forest around you.Â
âSo, what actually brought you out here?â Logan finally asks.Â
You glance over at him and watch as he tosses another board onto the grass. He looks at you expectantly and you sigh. âI got divorced,â you answer honestly. âAnd I needed something pour my energy into other than wondering where the fuck I went wrong.â
You canât bring yourself to look at him, your openness leaving you feeling raw, and instead focus on the board in front of you. Anger begins to simmer in your veins at the thought of the last couple of years and you grab the next plank with just enough force to wedge a splinter deep into your palm. A loud curse falls from your lips as you drop the board.Â
You feel Logan next to you and you suck in a deep breath as he reaches for your hand, his fingers curling around yours. âLemme see,â he says, pulling you close and you can smell the earthiness of him, like damp soil and campfire smoke. You find yourself staring at him, his proximity intoxicating, as you drink in his long lashes and the slope of his nose.Â
He tilts your palm towards himself, his fingers pressing gently yet with firm enough pressure to push the splinter out of your skin. Pulling it out the rest of the way, his eyes flick up to yours. âSomehow I donât think youâre the one that fucked up, sweetheart.â His voice is warm and you want to melt into him.Â
âWell,â you start, clearing your throat, âI certainly wasnât fucking his mistresses.âÂ
Something in his eyes darkens and a shiver runs down your spine. âHeâs a fool for losinâ you,â he growls, and his words hit you with more force than youâd care to admit.Â
His hand still lingers on yours, steady and reassuring and warm and for a moment you think he might lean closer. You desperately want him to. To press his mouth against yours, to feel his breath against your skin, to have his taste against your tongue. But he pulls back, his expression one of thin control, but you can see the storm behind his gaze.Â
âA damn fool,â he mutters under his breath and you canât help but wonder if heâs talking about himself or your ex.Â
Logan lets your hand go, turning back towards the porch and you mourn the loss, your skin still tingling from the contact. You swallow hard, trying to shake off the intensity of the moment. Itâs Loganâquiet, gruff Logan, who never really sticks around for a real conversation and yet here he is, offering help and showing that maybe heâs not entirely as unaffected by you as you thought.Â
Your heartbeat drums in your ears as you watch him go back to work, prying up the next board, his muscles flexing beneath his worn shirt. His jaw clenches and thereâs a focused determination in his movements and you canât tell if heâs working out some anger or trying to keep himself in check.
You work in silence for several more minutes, the only sounds being the prying of loose boards and creaking lumber. Thereâs a tension between you now, more so than there was before, something palpable.Â
Itâs enough to drive you mad.
âWhat about you?â you finally ask, your voice somewhat hesitant. âYou donât talk about yourself much.â
Logan glances at you from the corner of his eye and his brow furrows, as if heâs weighing whether or not to answer. âNot much to tell,â he grunts, pulling up another board with more force than necessary.
âSomehow, I doubt that. You donât just wake up one day alone in the woods with forearms like that.âÂ
Logan looks over at you and smirks. âMaybe Iâm just really good with my hands.â His voice dips low and you canât help the warmth that pools low in your belly at his words.
You swallow, your throat suddenly dry. âYeah, noâŚyep. Iâm starting to figure that out.â
Heâs silent for a few moments as he goes back to work and the air between you hums with something charged. âYou really want to know?â he asks, his voice rough. âIâve been around for too long, longer than anyone should. Done things Iâm not proud of.â He tosses another plank aside and all you can do it watch him. âIâveâŚIâve hurt people I care about. People Iâve cared about have hurt me. Iâm not really sure I belong anywhere, so I justâŚdrift.â
Thereâs something raw in his voice, something broken and vulnerable, and it catches you off guard. For all his outward strength, thereâs man deep down inside whoâs lost, and your heart aches for him.
âYou belong here,â you say softly.Â
He doesnât look at you, but you can feel the tension shift as the weight of your words settle between you. Another board gets tossed aside. âYeah, maybe.â
He finally raises his gaze to yours and for a moment the world quietsâthe forest, the porch, all of itâas his eyes lock onto yours and his expression softens. You offer him a warm smile and then return back to the porch, hesitant to push him any further.Â
You work comfortably together after that. The old boards removed, Logan helps you place and nail down the new ones. Your conversation is limited to the project, but you donât mind.Â
As Logan packs up his tools, you glance over at him. âThank you.â
A half smile plays at the corner of his mouth. âYouâre welcome,â comes his reply as he steps off the porch and heads down the path back towards his cabin.Â
âLogan!â you call, lightly jogging after him before he slips out of view. He pauses and turns back towards you. âCan I make you dinner?â
He raises an eyebrow. âHavenât you already been doinâ that?â
âNo,â you say shaking your head, âI mean, yes, I have, but like a proper dinner? Fresh from kitchen to table. I can come by you, if youâd like.â
Logan studies you for a moment, his gaze intense and you can feel your heart beating against your ribs. Heâs silent for so long you wonder if youâve overstepped and you open your mouth to speak when he says, âAlright. Come by tomorrow, six oâclock.â
You canât stop the smile that spreads across your face. âTomorrow it is.â
+++
Youâre up before the sun, your nerves a tangle of raw edges. You lay there, staring at the ceiling and wondering what the fuck youâve gotten yourself into.Â
You werenât expecting to meet someone out here in the woods. You were hoping for tranquility, a distraction to quiet the voice in your head that kept nagging you for how your life veered off course. That maybe if you worked more, did more, loved more you wouldnât be a thirty year old divorcee.Â
Instead, you find a mysterious man who sparks within you a flame you long thought extinguished. A ruggedly handsome man whoâs somehow wormed his way into your life and has you wondering if maybe he canât help mend the pieces of your broken heart.Â
Except you donât know if that same spark is ignited within him and if his gesture of dinner is simple kindness. A response to the kindness youâve shown him over the last two months or if heâs feeling that same attraction you do.Â
God, you hope he does.Â
You spend the morning cleaning, trying to pour your nervous energy into something productive other than worrying about what the evening may bring. Driving into town, you agonize over what to make even though heâs been eating what youâve made without complaint for weeks now. You opt to keep it simpleâpasta with homemade meat sauce, a nice loaf of bread and a couple bottles of wine.Â
While the sauce is simmering on the stove you get ready. You dress for comfort, a simple pair of leggings and a flowy top that hangs slightly off your shoulders. You catch your reflection in the mirror and give yourself a silent nod of encouragement. Despite this just being dinner, the night brims with the possibility of maybe something more.Â
Once the food is prepared, you carefully pack everything in a large basket and begin the walk to Loganâs cabin. The night is cool, but still holds the warmth of day and the promise of summer to come. You feel your anticipation heighten the closer you get to his place and your stomach drops when you see it appear up ahead.Â
Itâs just Logan, you remind yourself.Â
Stepping up onto his porch, you give a hesitant knock at the door. He greets you almost instantly and you suck in a deep breath. Logan looks good and your heart does a flip as you take him inâwell fitting jeans, a clean white shirt underneath a soft red flannel button down, his hair is still slightly damp from a shower.Â
âYouâre early,â he comments, standing aside to let you in. You catch the slight frown tug at his mouth as he notices the basket. âYou coulda cooked here, you know.â
âOh, well, I didnât know if youâd want me invading your space,â you reply, following him deeper into the cabin and setting the basket down on the counter.Â
Logan turns back towards you, bracing his hands against the counter. âI donât mind you in my space.â
His words hang in the air between you and you can feel your pulse quicken. You glance up at him, and the way heâs looking at youâsteady and unflinchingâsends a thrill down your spine.Â
You clear your throat, trying to settle the nerves in your chest. âNext time then,â you say lightly, hoping he canât hear the slight waver in your voice.Â
Loganâs lips quirk into a half smile. âNext time,â he agrees.Â
He reaches into a cabinet above him, pulling down a couple of plates and glasses, setting a small table in the corner of the small kitchen. You keep yourself busy unpacking the food, arranging the bread, pasta and sauce on the table, working around him as he uncorks the wine and pours both of you a glass.Â
Logan joins you then, raising his glass and clinking it gently against yours. He nods in a silent cheers and tips his head back as he drinks, his eyes never leaving yours. You canât suppress the shiver that shoots down your spine.
Setting down his glass, he serves you and then himself, commenting, âThis smells amazing.â
âFamily recipe,â you reply, taking another sip wine. âRemind me to make it for you when I have fresh tomatoes. Itâs even better then.â
âIâll have to do that,â he says with a smile.
Conversation starts off slow, but not awkward, as you both test the limits of what youâre wiling to share. Loganâs answers are often short, reserved, but what he does reveal helps bring into focus the outline of the man before you. An outline youâre hoping heâll let you fill in.
âGeorge says youâre a mutant,â you start slowly and you donât miss the way his posture stiffens, his fork scraping harshly against the plate.Â
He goes still and you wonder if you fucked up. Crossed a boundary he wasnât willing to cross.
Eventually, Loganâs eyes flick up to yours and he lets out a small hum. âHe did, did he?â
You nod, chewing. âIt doesnât bother me.â
Heâs quiet for a beat. âIt bothers most people.â
âIâm not most people,â you reply, your voice soft.Â
Something in his face softens then, the furrow of his brow a little less pronounced. A slight smile plays at his lips. âNo. No youâre not.â
You feel a warmth bloom in your chest and your face flushes. Taking another bite, you ask, âCan I see?â
Logan studies you for a moment and you can see him deciding whether or not to show you that part of him heâd rather keep hidden. He sets the silverware down and he flexes his fingers before resting his palms back on the table. Then, he unsheathes his claws and you canât stop the gasp that falls from your lips.Â
You see him flinch at your reaction and he goes to retract his claws and you reach for him. âDonât,â you say, your fingers hovering just above the blades.Â
As he relaxes, you gently rest your fingertips against the metal, finding it surprisingly cool but still holding a faint warmth from his body. His eyes drop to where youâre touching him as you slowly begin to trace each blade with your fingers, following the slight curve down to where they emerge from his skin. You look up at him, finding his gaze fixed on you and you shiver under the intensity.Â
âTheyâre beautiful,â you whisper. You feel him shudder beneath you as he retracts his claws, leaving your fingertips nestled against the skin between his knuckles.Â
You pull your hand away from his, mourning the loss of his skin against yours. Logan clears his throat and pulls his hands into his lap, glancing down at them as if theyâre foreign, something heâs never taken the time to notice before. He flexes his fingers once more before dragging his gaze back to your face.
âDo they hurt?â you ask quietly.
He shakes his head. âNo. Not anymore.â
âThank you,â you say quietly. âThank you for showing me.â
Logan studies you for a long moment, searching your face like heâs trying to figure you out. You know heâs probably not used to this, someone seeing him as something other than a mutant, an aberration, someone who should be hidden away. Then, his face softens.
âPeople donât usually ask,â he says quietly.
You smile gently, feeling that flame inside you burn just a bit brighter. âI just want to know you.â
He leans back in his chair, his gaze still steady, but more open, as if some of those invisible walls he surrounds himself with have started to come down. If only just enough to let the light shine through.Â
An unspoken tension simmers, thickening the air, and you know he can feel it too, but itâs not uncomfortable. Itâs heavy with promise. You turn your attention back to your plate and for a few moments, neither of you speak.
âSo,â you say after a beat, âDo you ever use them as forks?â
Logan huffs out a laugh, the sound surprising you and his eyes crinkle in genuine amusement. âI canât say that I have,â he replies with a smile.
You grin. âYou should give it a try.â
âIf I do, youâll be the first to know.â
The rest of dinner passes with easy conversation and you feel your nerves begin to settle, just a bit. Logan seems less guarded too, more at ease than youâve ever seen him.
You help him clear the table, ignoring his request that you just sit and relax. As you stand next to him, emptying the leftovers into a container, you feel his eyes on you. When you hand him the container, your fingers brush again, but this time he doesnât immediately pull away. His fingers linger just a bit longer than necessary and your breath catches in your throat.
âThanks for dinner, he says quietly, voice low. âAnd forâŚunderstanding.â
You nod, feeling that unmistakable pull between you, the tug thatâs kept you orbiting closer and closer to him. âAnytime, Logan,â you answer softly. âYou donât have to hide from me.â
Thereâs a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, like heâs been burned before and is still figuring out if he can trust what youâre offering him. And you understand his turmoil, trust having shattered your heart into pieces, pieces youâre still trying to pick up and reshape.Â
Logan steps a little bit closer then and before you can say anything else, his hand gently reaches out and tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear. The gesture is simple but intimate and it sends a shiver down your spine, heat pooling lowly in your belly.
âCâmon,â he says. âLet me walk you home.â
He grabs your basket before you can protest and you follow him out into the night. Thereâs a full moon hanging heavy in the sky, illuminating the path in front of you, yet you remain close to Logan. You curse to yourself as you trip over an exposed root and then you feel Logan reach out for you, his fingers wrapping securely around your own. The heat of his palm against yours is almost overwhelming.
Your cabin comes into view and Logan slows, his fingers slipping from your grasp as he sets the basket down on the porch.
âGood night, Logan,â you say softly as you walk up the steps.Â
As you turn from him, he reaches for your wrist, his fingers curling and pressing hotly against your skin. Your breath hitches as he climbs the steps to join you on the porch, and your gasps dies in your throat as he tilts your chin up and forces you to meet his gaze.Â
âDo I make you nervous?â His voice is low, breath hot and damp against your skin.Â
âYes,â you breathe, somehow inching closer to him, your fingers reaching for the hem of his flannel and twisting into the fabric.Â
âWhy?â He brushes his nose against yours and you chase after the touch.Â
Swallowing hard, you look up at him from under your lashes. You tilt further into him, your mouth hovering just over his. âBecause I havenât felt like this in a very long time and I donât want it to go away.â Donât want you to go away.Â
Logan nods and whispers, âIâm not goinâ anywhere.â And then he presses his mouth to yours.Â
Itâs soft, barely a hint of skin against skin, but when you whisper, âPlease,â against his lips, Logan growls and then heâs everywhere. His kiss claims you, his tongue licking in your mouth and you whimper as his fingers curl along the nape of your neck somehow pulling you impossibly closer.Â
You wind your arms around his shoulders, your fingers tangling in the short strands at the back of his head. Your entire world is focused down to the feel of his lips on yours and the press of his fingers against your jaw as he pulls you towards his hungry mouth.Â
Loganâs grip on you tightens, one hand splayed across your lower back and the other pressed firmly between your shoulder blades, anchoring you to him. The heat between you is palpable, each movement of his lips setting you further aflame. You lose track of time, lost in the sensation of his beard scraping against your skin, leaving a tingling trail in its wake.
When he finally pulls back, youâre both breathless and his forehead rests against yours, your shared breaths mingling in the space between you. His eyes are dark and intense as they search your face and you feel untethered, Logan being the only thing keeping you grounded.
âYou okay?â he asks, voice rough, but surprisingly tender as his thumb traces along the line of your jaw.
You nod, swallowing the lump thatâs formed in your throat. You donât trust yourself to speak.
His lips quirk into a small smile. âGood.â He brushes a stray strand of hair away from your cheek, his hand lingering at the side of your face. He presses one last soft kiss to the corner of your mouth before he steps back and walks down the path back home.
+++
You canât stop thinking about the kissâLoganâs lips against yours, the taste of his tongue, the press of his hands against your skin, hot and heavy, yet gentle.Â
You want to live in that moment forever. Want to know only his kisses for the rest of your life, for him to be the first person you kiss good morning and the last person you kiss goodnight. For him to kiss you just because he can, because he misses you, because he canât get the feel of your mouth out of his mind and he needs to feel you again pressing against him.Â
You also want to run away, hide yourself from these emotions that are overwhelming you and leaving you feeling raw and exposed and absolutely terrified. You havenât kissed another man in two years and he broke your heart, leaving nothing but shattered pieces and dust in his wake. Dust that still clings to you despite your best efforts to sweep it up. Those pieces of your heart are still sharp, jagged where they should be smooth.Â
Youâve always been trusting, choosing to see the light in others as opposed the darkness. Believing deep down that everyone deserves kindness, deserves a second chance, that one bad deed does not a bad person make. But he stole a part of that from you and you hate him for it. Hate that even now, after all this time, heâs able to worm his way into your brain and make you question the motives of the man whoâs made you feel more alive than you have in months.Â
Last night you felt unshackled, unbound by the fear that had chained you for so long. You felt as if Loganâs very touch, his presence, had set your soul on fire and instead of fearing the burn, you were ready to embrace the warmth.Â
But now, raw contempt begins to simmer in your veins and you need something to pour your frustration into before it threatens to consume you whole.Â
Throwing your hair up into a messy bun and throwing on a paint-stained shirt and ripped jeans, you head outside looking for a project to sink fingers into. In the small shed behind the cabin, you find a few gardening suppliesâa small shovel, trowel, bow rakeâand you drag them out and to the overgrown flower beds.
You donât even bother with the tools at first, ripping at the dead growth with your bare hands, pulling it from the earth in great clumps and tossing it aside. Your pulse beats loudly in your ears as you move from bed to bed, clawing away the old growth, your breathing growing ragged and your palms staining with dirt.
Grabbing the rake, you dig at the remaining plants, tearing at the roots, destroying the new growth. Tears run hotly down your face, blurring your vision and your throat aches from force of your breathing and screams youâve been holding back.
From behind you, you hear the sound of your name and you whip around so quickly, the rake goes flying from your hands. You can hear the snikt of Loganâs claws as they unsheathe and the splintering of wood as he deflects the rake flying at him. It clatters to the ground between you as he retracts his claws and looks at you, his brow furrowed in concern.
You wonder, then, exactly what you look like in that moment. Dirt caked on your hands and under your fingernails, cheeks flushed with exertion, hair a halo of disarray. The pure adrenaline youâd been running on wanes and your limbs suddenly feel heavy and you sink to the ground in front of him. You canât bring yourself to look at him, because youâre afraid of what youâll see.
Logan approaches you slowly, kneeling down in front of you and gently raising your chin to look up at him. The stark worry etched on his face makes you ache and fresh tears burn in your eyes. You wipe at your eyes, which only serves to smear dirt across your face.
âIâm terrified, Logan,â you whisper, wanting to reach for him, but afraid to touch him. âI terrified of how much I like you.â
âYou scare me too,â he confesses softly and your heart breaks.
He leans closer, fingers resting hesitantly against your knees. You reach for him too, grabbing on to the open sides of his jacket and pulling him to you. Logan doesnât flinch, doesnât push back and instead envelopes you into his arms, your head resting against the solid warmth of his chest.Â
Safe in his arms, you cry. Harsh, broken sobs as he rubs your back, the soft caress of his fingers along your spine anchoring you to him as he holds you. He murmurs into your hair that heâs got you, to let it all out, and you do.
Eventually, you calm and sigh, pressing your forehead against his chest, loathe to move just yet. âIâm broken, Logan,â you mumble into his shirt. You look up at him then, the softness and concern on his face making you physically ache. âI still have broken pieces where I should be whole.â
Slowly, tentatively, he brings his hands up to your face, cupping your cheeks in his hands. His thumbs brush at the dirt and tears under your eyes and he smoothes the hair away from your forehead. âMaybe some of my pieces fit,â he says, voice low, but steady.Â
His words send a flood of emotion through you, and for a moment, all you can do is stare at him. Then the gravity of what heâs saying hits youâheâs offering you himself, all his jagged and scarred pieces, the pieces no one else sees.
The pieces he wants you to see.
You lean forward, pressing the lightest of kisses against the corner of his mouth. His sigh is hot against your cheek, but he doesnât press further.Â
âThank you,â you whisper into his skin and somehow it feels like the most important thing youâve ever said.
âCâmon,â he says, âLet me help you get this cleaned up.â
You nod, wiping your nose with the back of your hand. Logan stands, offering you his hand. You take it, your fingers slipping into his and his grip is steady, yet gentle as he helps you up.Â
Without a word, Logan grabs the broken rake and begins removing the debris from the beds you laid waste to. You watch him work for a moment before joining in, pulling the weeds from the beds you hadnât gotten to yet. Every now and then your eyes meet, but you donât say anything. You donât feel the need to fill the space with words, his presence beside you speaking volumes more than he could ever say.Â
After a while, Logan pauses and looks over at you, wiping the dirt from his hands into his jeans. âYou still got those seeds I gave you?â
âOf course I do.â
âGo get âem,â he says nodding towards the cabin. âWeâll plant something new.â
You retrieve the small pouch where youâve kept it safe and come out to find Logan kneeling in the dirt, his fingers making small pockets of earth to house the new flowers. He looks up at you, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. You join him on the ground, dropping a few seeds in each well as he moves to create the next one.Â
âIâm not very good at this,â Logan starts, covering the last well with dirt, âbut I promise I wonât break you. You donât gotta be scared of me.â
He looks at you then, his hazel eyes meeting yours and you reach for his hand, your thumb brushing across his dirt stained knuckles.Â
âNo,â you reply with a smile, âI donât think I do.â
+++
Itâs been three days since that moment with Logan in the garden and the air between you has been quiet. Logan hasnât come by the cabin, but you hadnât sought him out either. You werenât avoiding him, exactly. More a need for space, a chance to process the feelings you felt for him, to test if you were truly ready to open yourself up to him.
Your mind never strays far from him, though. An almost constant loop plays in your brain of the way he held you, the way he spoke, the quiet promise he made not to break you. Thereâs a large part of you that believes him; your heart is screaming at you shed your lingering doubt and trust him, but your rational brain is grasping desperately to the kernel of truth that vows can be broken.Â
So you turn to what you do bestâpour your energy into other things. The cabin is spotless now, cleaned of disuse and age, turned into a cozy place of retreat, a simple shelter turned into a home. And yetâŚ
Youâre sitting on the porch, watching the sun dip lower in the sky, the book youâd been trying to read long forgotten. The forest is peaceful, alive with the sounds of early summer. But as calming as it is, you canât ignore the ache in your chestâyou miss him. More than you thought possible.
Just as youâre about to stand, the sound of boots against gravel catches your attention. You look up and there he isâLogan. His hands are shoved deep into the pockets of his worn jacket as he walks up the path. His look is cautious, as if heâs unsure whether or not youâll accept his presence.Â
Your heart skips a beat and you stand, wiping your palms against your jeans as he draws closer. His hazel eyes meet yours and thereâs something softer about him, something open.
He stops a few feet away from you, gaze steady. âI wasnât sure if I should come by.â His voice is still gruff, but quieter than usual. âIf you needed space or not.â
âI did, need space. But not from you,â you clarify. You take a hesitant step towards him. âI missed you.â
Logan sighs then, his posture relaxing just slightly. âI wanted so badly to see you. I didnât know if I should stay away.â
Before you can second guess yourself, you step down from the porch, closing the distance between you. You stand in front of him, noticing the faint lines of tension around his mouth, the way his jaw is clenched as if bracing himself for your rejection.Â
âDonât stay away,â you say softly, âI want you here.â
You reach for him, your fingers brushing against his hands as you pull them from his pockets. Logan doesnât pull away and the warmth of his skin against yours feels like the most natural thing in the world. You feel it then, that familiar pullâthe one thatâs been there since the beginning, drawing you closer and closer into his orbit, his sun.
You brush your thumbs across his knuckles and look up at him. âYou wanna come inside?â you ask, your voice barely above a whisper. âIâll make you something to eat?â
Logan nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. âYeah. Yeah, Iâd like that.â
As you lead him inside, something in the air between you shifts, something subtle. But you know one thing for certainâyouâre not afraid anymore. Not of this.
+++
The sun has set, the food long gone and as Loganâs hand reaches for the front door, you slip in front of him. His scent overwhelms you, that earthy dampness youâve come to associate with him flooding your senses.Â
âWhat if you stayed?â you ask, the slight waver in your voice betraying your boldness.Â
You watch as his eyes darken and he leans even further into your space. âDo you know what youâre asking, sweetheart?â he replies, eyes searching your face.Â
Swallowing, you nod. âI do,â you whisper.Â
Then you slide your arms around his waist, pulling him closer as you lean in and kiss the hollow of his throat. You can feel him swallow hard beneath your lips and you smirk into his skin as you drag your mouth higher, over the long column of his neck to nip at the corner of his jaw.Â
âStay,â you murmur in his ear.
Logan turns, his nose brushing against your cheek as he seeks your mouth and you inhale deeply as his lips find yours. His fingers wind themselves into your hair, resting against the nape of your neck as he pulls you closer. You whimper into his mouth when he pulls back, eyes blown black.
âShow me where,â he says, his voice low.
You lead him up the stairs, his hand warm in yours and you barely make it to the top before Loganâs spinning you around, mouth finding yours. His is kiss is demanding, so different from that first one all those nights ago. This is urgent and desperate, like he canât possibly get you close enough to satisfy the need deep within him. And you feel it too, pouring yourself back equally into the kiss, moaning as his tongue finally slips alongside yours.Â
Your fingers fumble along the top of his jeans, pulling his shirt from where itâs tucked and sliding your hands up along the sides of his ribs. He rewards you with a deep groan of his own, nipping slightly at your bottom lip.
âChrist, sweetheart,â he rumbles against your lips, kissing you once, twice, âIâve been dyinâ to feel your hands on me.â
âMe, too,â you reply, gasping as his hands find the hem of your shirt, lifting it just enough to brush his fingers hotly along your skin.Â
Logan pulls back just enough to look down at your face, his fingers still clutching the fabric of your shirt, but lifting it just a bit higher. His gaze is questioning, asking for silent permission to continue. You nod once and he slowly drags the shirt up, his fingers skimming along your sides, over the swells of your breasts as he pulls the shirt over your head.Â
Despite the heat coursing through your veins, you shiver under the intensity of his stare. He kisses you again, inhaling deeply, before moving down, nipping over your chin, your throat, in between your breasts.Â
Loganâs hands follow his mouth, running a trail from your shoulders, down long your spine, easily flicking open the clasp of your bra on the way. He glances up at you as he moves to pull the straps aside, dragging them down your arms.Â
âDo you know how beautiful you are?â he asks, his hands coming up to cup your breasts, thumbs fanning out across your nipples.
A jolt of pleasure shoots down your spine and pools low in your belly. You feel like you might spontaneously catch on fire and heâs barely touched you. You canât remember ever feeling like this when a man has touched you, so consumed by want and need.
His fingers trail lower, brushing along the top of your jeans, popping open the button. You grab for his hand, stopping him. You see the concern flicker across his face and you smile. âYour turn,â you say, sliding your palms up his chest and pushing the flannel from his shoulders, his shirt following suit.
You revel in his muscular physique, your fingers tracing along his collarbones, down over the broad planes of his chest, feeling the wiry hair beneath your fingertips. His muscles flutter beneath your touch as you follow the trail of hair lower, down to the vee between his hips.Â
Loganâs arousal is evident by the tenting of his jeans, and your eyes locked on his, you dip lower, giving the faintest of caresses over the fabric.
âFuckinâ hell,â he curses. âTake your pants off.â
Itâs a command, not an ask, and one youâre more than willing to comply with.Â
Nervous energy licks at your skin as your fingers tuck into the waistband of your jeans and pull them down. Logan follows your lead, unbuckling his belt and shoving his jeans over his hips, kicking them aside. His cock juts out proudly, thick and heavy, nestled in a bed of hair.
Loganâs on you before you can kick away the last leg, hoisting you up under your thighs and forcing you to wrap your legs around his hips. His palms are hot against your ass and you can feel his cock trapped between you.Â
He moves you both to the bed, setting you down before crawling over you and slotting himself between your thighs. Leaning back on his heels, he stares down at you, skin flushed. He kisses you softly once, before dragging a single finger down the center of your chest, hooking it into the waistband of your panties.Â
âWhat do you like?â he asks lowly, eyes boring into yours.
You stare at him, unable to comprehend his question as he slides his finger back and forth across your skin. Electric sparks of anticipation crawl up your spine and you can feel the rapid flutter of your heart against your ribs.Â
âYou want me to touch you with my fingers?â His voice is low, so low and you shiver.Â
Your mouth has gone dry and you can only nod.Â
âYou want me to touch you with my mouth?â Logan leans down, skimming his lips across your collarbone, nipping lightly.Â
Your fingers stutter across his shoulders and wind themselves into his hair. Loganâs smirk presses into the corner of your jaw. âWant me to touch you with both?â
âPlease,â you whine into his neck, breath hot against his skin.Â
Logan trails back down your body, kisses peppering over your neck, both breasts, your belly before he presses a kiss to the top of your clothed mound. He hooks his fingers into the waistband and looks up at you, asking for permission. At your nod, he pulls he material down, eyes never leaving yours as he trails his fingers down your legs and tosses the fabric aside.
Youâre fully bare, exposed in a way you havenât been in a long time and your nerves blush across your skin. Instinctively, you try to close your legs, but he stops you, his hot palms curling against your thighs.
âYou donât gotta hide from me,â Logan says, kissing your knee and spreading your legs further apart. âYouâre so pretty like this. Flushed and wet and smelling so sweet for me.â
A jolt of desire zips down your spine. Nothing could have prepared you for the filthiness of words that would spill from his mouth. Or how much youâd enjoy hearing them.
âI donât want to disappoint you,â you murmur.
âThatâs not possible.â
âOther men haveââ
Your words die in your throat as Logan grips your chin, forcing your gaze up to his face. His expression is soft, but his eyes flash with a glint of something dark. âWhen I fuck you, Iâll be the only man in your bed, understand?â
The roughness and edge in his voice makes you shiver and heat pools between your thighs. You swallow heavily and nod.
âI want this,â he says, his tone softer. âI want you. Whatever youâll give me.â
Slowly, you reach for his hand and guide his fingers to where youâre wet and aching for him. At the first brush of his fingertips against your folds, you gasp and your fingers dig deeper into his skin.Â
âRelax, sweetheart,â Logan coos. âIâm gonna make you feel good.â
And then heâs touching you, fingers dragging through your arousal before circling around your clit. He caresses you like he knows you and youâre molten beneath him. One finger, then two slip inside you, pressing against that spot that makes you squirm and grip at the sheets beneath you.
âFuck,â you breathe, âYou werenât lying.â Logan quirks an eyebrow, fingers still curling within you, his rhythm picking up speed. âYou are good with your hands.â
His chuckle rumbles through his chest as he continues to move, this thumb working over your clit. Your hips jolt off the bed when Logan replaces his thumb with his tongue, drawing the sensitive bud into his mouth.Â
He continues to work your cunt, long, flat presses of his tongue against your clit punctuated by the short, sharp thrusts of his fingers. The dual sensation is enough to wind that tension in your core tighter, building you up higher and higher until you feel yourself reaching that inevitable peak.
âLogan, IâIâm so close,â you gasp, fisting your fingers into his hair.
His growl against your cunt is enough to send you over the edge, the vibrations rippling through your body as your orgasm washes over you. Through half lidded eyes, you meet his gaze from between your thighs, his eyes dark with desire and you shiver at the intensity of his stare.
Logan crawls over you, pressing a kiss to your lips. You can taste yourself on his lips, bright and sour, as he licks into your mouth.Â
âDo you trust me?â
Loganâs fingers are still moving against you, wringing out the last of your orgasm and you can only nod. He withdraws his fingers and you whine, but he just smirks and taps your hip.Â
âTurn over,â he commands lowly.Â
A shudder ripples through you as you willingly comply, rolling onto your stomach as Loganâs palm trails from your hip over the swell of your ass. His fingers kneed into your flesh and you squeak as he curves them over your skin, pulling you up onto your knees, drawing your hips flush with his. The thick feel of his cock presses into your ass and you canât help but push back, enjoying the strangled moan that falls from his lips.Â
âI canât wait to be nestled deep inside you,â he groans, slotting his cock between your thighs, running the length along your wet cunt.Â
You peer over your shoulder and smirk at him. âThen what are you waiting for?â
Logan lines up then and the air punches out of your lungs as he slowly eases himself in to the hilt. Heâs deep at this angle and you feel claimed, owned in the best way possible as he begins to move his hips. The drag of his cock against your walls is exquisite and youâre sure youâve never experienced pleasure quite like this before.Â
His fingers dig into the flesh at your hips, grabbing as much as he can to pull you back into him and you push back, meeting him thrust for thrust. His grip is enough to be bruising, teetering that line between pleasure and pain and yet you relish it.Â
âFuck, sweetheart,â he rasps. âLook so good stretched around my cock.â
Pleasure zips along your spine and curls along your limbs, each drag of his cock against you coiling that band in your belly tighter and tighter. Yet, you need more. You need to feel him, feel his arms around you, on you, feel his mouth hot and open against your skin.
âI need to feel you closer,â you whine. âPlease, Iââ
Loganâs arm slips underneath you, curling just under your breasts and pulling your back flush to his chest. He holds on, fingertips splaying across your ribcage as he fucks up into you, his breath hot and damp against your ear.Â
You turn your head just enough to capture his lips, your mouth pressing against his in an open-mouthed kiss. He steals the moan from your throat as his other hand dips to where youâre joined, fingers beginning to circle around your clit.Â
Slipping a hand into his hair, you hold him to you, your head falling back onto his shoulder. Logan groans when you rake your nails along his scalp and you do it again. Your mixed groans and the wet noises from where heâs thrusting into you fill the room and time seems to stop. There is nothing but the thick feel of him between your legs, the fervent press of his fingers against your clit and the tight grasp of his hand across your breast.Â
A litany of praise falls from his mouth and his words burn through you, setting you aflame from the inside. Itâs too early for thoughts of love and forever, but you can feel something real, something undeniable pulling you together, uniting you in a way more than just physical. Youâre bound to him.Â
Loganâs hand slides up your sternum, his fingers coming to cup your jaw, pulling your focus back to him. The pad of his thumb pulls at your lower lip. âCome for me, sweetheart,â he husks into your ear. âI wanna hear those pretty sounds you make.â
And you do, two more forceful thrusts sending you teetering over the edge, your orgasm ripping through you. Logan doesnât stop, fucking you through wave after wave, his thrusts getting sloppier as he chases his own release.Â
âLet me feel you, Logan,â you pant, your breath coming out in short gasps. âPlease.â
With a deep groan into your shoulder he comes, his cock spasming deep within you, painting your womb with his seed. His arm around your hips holds you firmly in place as he uses your body to wring out the last of his pleasure, shallowly thrusting as your walls caress him. When he finally stills, breath hot against your skin, you can feel your combined come slick against your thighs.Â
You donât know how long he holds you like that, back to chest, keeping you in his arms simply because he can.Â
Only later, when the sweat begins to cool on your skin and your flesh pebbles, does Logan lay you down, finally slipping from within you. He pulls you close and you rest your head against his chest, the comforting lull of his heartbeat echoing in your ear.Â
You lightly trace your fingertips over the crest of his hipbone just to feel him beneath you. His breathing evens out, approaching that blissful edge of sleep when you glance up at him. Logan opens his eyes, gaze meeting yours and he smiles.
âLogan?â
His hum vibrates through his chest.
âI think weâre healing each other.â
âYeah, sweetheart,â he answers, âI think we are.â
#logan howlett x you#logan howlett smut#logan howlett x reader#logan howlett#origins wolverine#origins logan howlett#the wolverine#wolverine#wolverine x reader#wolverine x you#wolverine smut#logan howlett fic#logan howlett fanfiction#logan x reader#logan howlett x fem!reader
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Batboy Meets Batfam
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"Relax Batty, it's just one dinner." Dick parked the car inside the Wayne family manor's garage.
"But I hate billionaires. Can't we just go to Batburger and go home." Danny whined slumping in his seat.
"What's so bad about it? He's your grandfather now." Dick asked.
"The last billionaire I met was the only other of my kind. And he was awful. Tried to kill me, clone me, marry my mom, kill my dad, ruined my life. That last one was something he achieved." Danny's wings materilized and wrapped around him as he sulked.
"I know it's hard Danny and I can't promise no one will ever try to hurt you like that again but I can promise I'll stick by you. I can also promise to kick the butt of anyone who tries messing with you." Dick said ruffing Danny's black hair that popped out from under his leathery wings.
"Still don't wanna go." As Danny said this he began to shrink.
Dick sighed, he had learned recently that Danny was a shifter of some kind. It was useful to hide his identity but he would also use it to get out of doing things. When Dick told Danny to clean his room or study Danny would shrink to the size of a toddler and say "Im baby" to get out of it. Dick is ashamed to admit that he's let Danny get away with it because baby bat pictures are precious and worth their weight in gold. He has a wallet full of pictures now.
But Dick has to put his foot down this time.
"Danny being little won't get you out of this. Do you really want to meet your new family like this?" Dick asked.
Danny huffed and turned in his now ill-fitting hoodie the size of a 3-year-old.
"Alright come on." Dick gave up scooping the toddler-sized teen under one arm and walking into the manor. "Alfred still has Bruce's old baby clothes somewhere."
"Ahh!"Danny yelped.
"What? Don't want that? If you show up as a baby, they will think you are one. You know Tim Drake is going to be there. He's going to be in the same school as you. Do you want him to think you're a baby?" Dick said holding the kid at eye level.
In surrender, Danny grew back to his normal size.
Dinner was oddly quite as everyone studied Danny closely.
Barbara was the least concerned as he talked about work with Dick and pushed Danny a bowl of strawberry salad. She wanted good aunt points. Danny would love her the most.
Cassie studied Danny's features. It was almost creepy how much he looked like Dick. She'd believe it if Dick was his biological father. Except for the eyes. Danny had a very particular eye color they were blue in the center but kind of had a green ring on the iris. The condition was called central heterochromia and it's rare.
Damian wasn't glaring like he usually would. He looked almost wide-eyed at Danny but remained silent.
Jason was absent as always apparently he was moved by Dick's announcement.
Then again Danny was supposed to be a surprise.
Tim and Danny seem to strike a cord immediately. Danny despite how silly he was the teen was very intelligent. Tim wasn't as subtle as he wish, mostly because Danny cornered him in conversation.
"So you're more used to living in a small town?" Tim smiled politely.
"Hmm? I didn't say that exactly. I said Im just new to the city." Danny responded.
"So you're from a different city? Metro or Star?"
"Neither, It's nowhere you'd know. Not really notable."
"You're going to be family soon, of course i want to know."
They went back and forth for a while. Tim was probably irritated after finding nothing about Danny's identity. And that meant Bruce was probably suspicious as well. Dick had to bet that Bruce's overactive paternal instincts would overwrite his need to investigate.
"So Danny, have you heard of the new vigilante in Bludhaven? The one they call Batboy?"Bruce asked wiping his mouth with a napkin as he ate.
This was the question Danny was waiting for.
"Of course! Have you seen the pictures on social media! Everyone is talking about him. Like, he has wings like a bat. Do you know what I'd do to get that power?! I mean he's not Superman but come on its so cool. We don't have metas-Is that what you call them? Yeah, metas. We don't have them where I'm from so I didn't think I'd ever met one. Dick said he met him the last time he saw Nightwing and promised to get me a picture but he didn't and he said he forgot." Danny put on a pretty convincing fanboy routine.
"I see. So Dick told you he's friends with Nightwing?" Bruce probed.
"He didn't need to tell me. Nightwing found me after I ended up in Bludhaven. I was pretty banged up and he parched me up and took me to the police station. I tried to leave but he told me that Detective Grayson would look out for me." Danny said digging through his salad to pick out the fruit and nuts.
"What about your parents?" Bruce asked softly.
"Bruce," Dick said in warning.
"Its fine...my parents didn't want me anymore. I can't go back. They'd probably kill me. But it doesn't matter anymore, they aren't here." Danny said stiffly feeling uncomfortable for saying a bit of truth.
They say the best way to lie is to have a bit of truth. Danny disagreed. The best way to lie is to have no truth, so they can't tell the difference.
Dick pulled the teen closer as Danny pulled his hands inside this hoodie hiding one of the burn scars on his arm but just enough to show that they were there.
Bruce didn't say another word.
Damian seemed to make his mind up at some point and joined in the conversation.
"Do you eat meat, Nightingale? I've noticed you haven't touched anything with it." Damian sounded oddly cordial.
"Ew, no. I don't eat meat. My friend always said meat was murder and taught me about how evil slaughterhouses were. We once raided a local farm to-oop. I forgot there are detectives at the table. I promise I'm a law-abiding citizen and not an eco-terrorist...anymore." Danny smiled too innocently.
Damian nodded in understanding. They had found common ground. That still doesn't mean he liked Nightingale. But he couldn't fight him since he didn't seem to know anything about their vigilante lifestyle.
Damian had to begrudgingly admit that Danny's presence was welcome. Soothing even.
It didn't matter. He and Drake still had bigger plans. Finding out who this "Batboy" was. They just needed Dick give up some information about the bat metahuman.
Tim had his suspicions that it was Danny but Batboy had stark white hair with black streaks and green eyes. Not to mention wings.
They would have to agree to disagree.
"Danny you have to eat something other than fruit. Eat the rest of the salad." Dick tried to sound stern but caved almost immediately when Danny pretended he didn't hear that.
Bruce internally sighed. Does he step in and help or let Dick figure it out. How does one be a grandpa to a non-vigilante who you can't threaten with no patrols?
*Bonus*
Danny when he see fruit.
#dp x dc prompt#dc x dp#dpxdc#dc x dp prompt#dc comics#nightwing#danny fenton#danny phantom#damian wayne#dick grayson#bruce wayne
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Daisies and Haircuts
Summary: Logan x Fe!Reader -> Usually, Logan can get a read on everybody. Except, when it comes to you, he can't. So he makes it his mission to find out the truth, but when he does...he doesn't exactly know how to take the news.
Disclaimer: Mostly fluff with a bit of angst, some steam towards the end. Descriptions of blood, casualties and aftermath of a tornado. Not Proof Read.
If there was one thing Logan prided himself on, it was being able to tell when people were lying or telling the truth.Â
However, from the minute he met youâŚhe didnât have an explanation for it.Â
Most of the time, he could hear peopleâs heartbeats or their breathing. Both would quicken when they were lying. Even the best liars couldnât hide from him.Â
But there was something about you he just couldnât shake. Your voice didnât change or shake, your heartbeat didnât speed or falter - neither did your breathing.Â
And yet he didnât believe a word you said when it came to you being human.Â
Professor Xavier had reached out to you to fill in one of the teaching positions when he met your cousin. And from his knowledge, your entire family was mutant. From grandmother, to grandfather, to cousins, to even siblings.Â
And somehow, you were the only human.Â
No mutant gene detected.Â
And even if his school did have a reputation for having mutant teachers, you were the first human to attend the school in any manner.Â
âLogan, if youâre gonna just stand there all day, you might as well offer to help.â
Your back was completely turned to him. You had been writing on the whiteboard for the last five minutes, not once looking anywhere near the door where he was leaning.Â
âHow did you know it was me?â
You chuckled a little as he walked inside, picking up a pile of books on the way in. âPlease, I could smell the cigar smoke.â
Logan shrugged, placing two books at the end of each desk as he made his way to you. âYou know, I can scare Storm, Jean- even Scott. But never you. I wonder why that is?â
Logan stood beside you as you turned. He was looking at you like how he always did. A knowing smile (maybe it was a smirk), but a look of wonder and curiosity in his eyes.Â
You just smiled up at him. âLogan, I grew up with over twelve cousins. There wasnât a day when you didnât have to have eyes in the back of your head, and still at least one kid ended up hurting themselves.â
Walking around him and back to your desk, his eyes followed you.Â
âThatâs not the only thing.â
âWhat âthingâ exactly?âÂ
Sometimes it felt like this conversation between you and Logan happened every other day. You had been working at the school for a little over a year, and before that had shadowed for at least six months to understand how to truly help your kids.Â
He had been like this since day one.Â
Maybe a little more gruffer and scarier in the beginningâŚhe had made you jump just a little when you closed the fridge door and found him standing there with that sceptical, over-protective look on his face.Â
âYou know what âthingâ.â
You shook your head. âI really donât, Logan.â
He walked closer to your desk and leaned his hands against it, coming face to face with you. âYouâre a mutant.â
As he was so close, your eyes scanned his face and around his body. âYou need a haircut.â
âItâs not something to be ashamed of.â
âI can cut it for you. Just take a little bit off the sides.âÂ
âWhy do you keep avoiding the subject?â Logan asked with a laughing smile as he stood back up.Â
âBecause you seriously need a haircut, Logan.â You moved your fingers through the top of his hair. âYou look like a crazed mountain man whoâs just escaped from Frankenstienâs lab.â
Logan stepped away from you during your analogy. âAre you calling me a green monster?â
âFrankenstein is the Doctor.âÂ
âHuh.â
You shook your head. âEither way, you need a haircut.â
âFine, but I will get it out of you sooner or later.âÂ
âGoodbye, Logan.â
Those were Loganâs final words before he left your classroom, but not before taking a final look at you as your head was turned.Â
The next time he saw you was just before lunch when a couple of kids were playing a round of football outside. And for a while, Loganâs eyes remained on you as you read your book. It was like the world didnât exist outside of your book.Â
And yet you were tuned in to everything that was happening.Â
Logan heard one of the kids shout before the ball went flying past the posts and it was heading straight for you. He could barely finish shouting your name beforeâŚ
You caught it.Â
Without looking up, you had caught the ball in your hands, simply looked up and then threw it back. âBe careful!â
âSorry!â
Logan was a little in shock as he stood at the top of the stairs, his arms folded across his chest. Heâd seen your reflexes a few times before. You had caught plenty of mugs that were about to fall off the side of the counter, just as you walked into the room. Youâd also stopped piles of books crashing loudly to the ground, opened windows just as tennis balls came flying at them, as well as catching them and throwing them back.Â
And now you had caught a football without even looking up.Â
You hadnât been at the school two years and yet Logan practically had a list tallied in his head of the things that had happened that simply couldnât just be explained away.Â
Could they?
âOh, come on. Just admit it. Youâre a mutant.â
Your lungs were tired of sighing. âLogan. Iâm not a mutant.â
âYour entire family has the mutant gene.â
âSo,â you shrugged, twisting some pepper into the pot before replacing the cap and setting it on the side. âIt skipped me.â
âYour reflexes are barely human.â
âLogan, like I have told you a million times, I grew up around a lot of kids. A lot of mutant kids who had no control over their powers. I had to get good reflexes just to save on the amount we spend on broken windows.â
Logan moved out of your way as you walked across the kitchen, taking a couple of things from the fridge.Â
âYou never get scared.â
You looked back at him. âAre you calling me brave?â
âNobody can scare you, Y/n. Last Halloween it was like you knew when someone was hiding around the corner.â
âIt was Halloween. Everyone tries to scare each other on Halloween.â
Logan closed his eyes in frustration for a moment. âNot even Halloween. Nobody can scare you. Even today, you knew I was standing by your door.â
Stopping what you were doing, you looked at him. âLogan, when it comes to you, I can smell the cigar smoke a mile away. And, besides growing up in a household where it was normal to try and scare each other, nobody in this school is exactly going to be the next Prima Ballerina.â
Loganâs arm practically shot out. âThatâs another thing! Your sense of smell.â
You rolled your eyes. âIs this about the cigar smoke? Are you becoming nose blind to it?â
âYou smelt Scottâs burnt breakfast before the rest of us did. You knew when Rogue had changed her shampoo. You even knew Storm had planted some new flowers in the garden.â
You went to open your mouth but Logan cut you off.Â
âAnd donât say you saw the flowers because you were with me that whole afternoon and didnât see Storm until after dinner.â
You sighed. âIt wasnât because I saw the flowers. I was going to say I saw the dirt on her hands when she walked inside. Plus, I knew she was looking to plant more flowers in the garden beds.â
Logan leaned forward. âDid you have a conversation about it?â
âAbout the flowers?â
âBecause I donât remember her telling us when she was going to plant them because she wanted them to be a surprise.â
You shrugged. âThe dirt still gave it away.â
Logan shook his head. âThatâs another one right there. You knowâŚhow do you know what weâre all thinking? I know youâre not reading our minds because if you were, it would be like when the Professor or Jean does it. NoâŚitâs something else.âÂ
Logan was truly watching you. Studying you. Listening to your heartbeat. Listening to your breathing.Â
âI was a psych major. I studied my ass off and read up extra things in my time. Itâs not so hard.â You explained to Logan. âMost of the time itâs just body language. And remembering the small things. They go a long way in getting to know who a person is.â
âI donât think itâs just that. Maybe itâs part of it.â Logan sat up straight. âBut thatâs not your whole story.â
âWhy are you so fixed on my story?â
Except, rather than explain, Logan gave you that smile again and walked towards the door. âYouâre the psych major, you figure it out.â
âYou still need a haircut!â
And like clockwork, Logan was watching you and then questioning you everyday. Heâd done it since day one.Â
When would he finally realise you were telling him the truth?
A couple of weeks later, you found yourself inside the Professorâs office with Logan and a potential new student and their parents.Â
Only, it soon became clear that as much as their child was finally happy to be somewhere where they didnât stick out like a sore thumb because of their powers, the parents couldnât have been more uncomfortable.Â
âBut what aboutâŚwhat about his mutantâŚproblem?âÂ
You felt your back become straighter as your feet carried you forward, only to feel a small tug from the bottom of your jumper where Loganâs hand was pulling you back to stand beside him.Â
âI can assure you, Harryâs mutation is not a problem.â
âYeah? Tell that to the three teachers he had quit because of him. You know we canât even walk down our street without parents judging us for letting their kids' favourite teachers walk out on them.â
Harry seemed to fall into himself. âI already said sorry. I didnât mean for them to-â
âHarry, itâs quite alright. Sometimes people donât fully understand what it means to teach a mutant like us. Luckily, we have some of the best teachers right here.â
The father looked at both you and Logan. âThese are the best?â
âWe have a full staff, however most are teaching right now. Harry, this is Professor Logan. He will be your new History teacher and this is Professor Y/n. She will be teaching you some English, but mostly Social Sciences. She is also our school councillor, so if you ever feel you wish to speak to someone, she is the most qualified for the job.â
Harry gave both you and Logan a small smile.Â
He moved into his dorm a week later and started classes almost immediately.Â
âOkay, fine. Let me ask you this then.â
Logan hadnât left you alone all day, so you had finally put him to work. Carrying the pile of books you were pulling from the shelves as you rolled along on the ladder.Â
âWhy give a human a job of school counsellor in a school filled with mutants?â
âOther than the fact Iâm qualified for the job.â
Logan shrugged. âIsnât it better to put someone into the job who understands what the kid is going through? Rather than just put a diagnosis to it?â
You turned round and he looked up to you. âIt doesnât matter if your human or mutant, everyone has gone through something at some point. Maybe I donât know what itâs like to be able to walk through walls, or have metal grow out of my knuckles. But I do know what itâs like to feel like an outcast. To feel lost. To feel alone.â
Logan just listened as you slowly turned back and started pulling the desired books from the shelves, adding them to the pile in his arms.Â
âI might have gone to a normal school, but everyone knew my family was different. I was too mutant to fit in at school, but too human to fit in with my family. They love me, and I love them. But there were times when topics would come up andâŚIâd feel alone. Like because I wasnât one of you, I wouldnât get it. Eventually, everyone grew up and went on with their lives. Of course it wasnât easy for them, but they still had each other. Even if every other ignorant asshole pushed them away, they still had each other. But some days it felt likeâŚlike I had no one.â
Logan just continued to listen.Â
âSo, I get your point. What would a human know about being a mutant? But sometimes thatâs not the question that needs to be asked.â
A moment of silence passed between you both before finally Logan spoke up. âThe kidsâŚtheyâre lucky to have you.â
âThank you, Logan.â
âAnd just so you know,â he added. âYouâre not alone anymore.â
Looking down at him, you smiled. âIâm glad.â
Twenty minutes later, you were finished collecting books. Yet, just as Logan laid down the pile, half should have fallen onto the floor.Â
Except they didnât.Â
Instead they glided off the top and landed in a semi-neat pile beside him with a soft thud. Logan turned around, shock clear on his face. But you werenât looking at him, or at the pile. You were closing the doors to the outside balcony on the opposite end of the room.Â
âOne day,â Logan told himself. âOne day.â
âWhat?â
Logan looked up. âNothing.â
You just shrugged and walked to stand beside him. âThanks for helping me.â
âDonât mention it.â
Without looking at him, you flip over the cover of a book in your hands. âYou still need a haircut by the way.â
âDonât mention that, either.â
Two weeks later, as you and Logan were eating lunch together whilst marking some papers, there was a knock at your classroom door.Â
Taking a bite of the chicken salad you had made him a bowl of, Logan flipped a paper round and handed it to you. âWhat does that say? I swear this kid just writes in scribbles.â
You took the page from him. âThis is Rogueâs. Isnât she your little sister or something? Shouldnât you be fluent in this by now?â
âSheâs not my sister. We just came here together. She was a runaway. Found me when I was a cage fighter and stowed away in the back of my trailer.â
Your eyes practically bugged out of your head before you tried your best to hide your smile. âYou were aâŚcage fighter? You? Logan Howlett, as I live and breathe? You sat opposite me with your feet on my desk? You were a cage fighter?â
Logan rolled his eyes with a smile. âOkay, okay. Alright. I get it.â
You shook your head. âI mean, youâve got the physique for it, I justâŚâ you laughed. âI just never pictured you as a cage fighter. A cage fighter, really?â
âAre you done?â
You bit back another laugh. âIâm-â It came out. âOkay, yes.â You laughed again. âIâm done. Okay, okay,â you breathed through it. âIâm done.â
Logan just gave you a look and raised his eyebrow.Â
You nodded with a wide smile. âIâm done. Finished. Promise.â
You even made a cross above your heart. Logan smiled and turned back to marking the papers as you read Rogueâs.Â
âWhat did you picture me as?âÂ
You hummed a questioned response.Â
âYou didnât picture me as a cage fighter.â You held in a laugh. âStop it.â You tried. âWhat did you see me as?â
You shrugged. âI donât know. A lumberjack? Bodyguard? A cowboy? Your tags say âArmyâ but your personality says âMacho Man with a Protective Streakâ.â
Logan hid his blush well as he turned his head away, the smile on his face not going unnoticed by you. âAlright.â
You loved seeing Logan smile. It wasnât often he did it, but when he didâŚyou wanted to take a picture.Â
Unbeknownst to you, Logan loved it, too. Maybe he wanted to keep up his reputation for how you saw him, as well as for how others saw him. But one thing he was glad ofâŚmost of the time when he did smileâŚit was with you.Â
However, as you both shared a laugh, a knock came from your classroom door where you looked to find one of your cousinâs standing by the door.Â
âIâŚthere may have been a tiny accident.â
Pulling your own feet from your desk, you sat up and met your cousin half way across your classroom just as Logan pulled his feet from your desk and turned in his chair.Â
âShow me.â
Your cousin held out their hand to you. A deep gash was in the middle.Â
âOohhhh kay.â You looked around you. âLogan, open up my top drawer in my desk. There should be some bandages.â
Logan did as you instructed and threw them to you. You caught them and turned back to your cousin. âHow did this happen?â
âWe were walking through the clearing. I slipped and tried to grab onto a tree branch.â
âAnd that caused the cut?â You asked as you wrapped their hand.
âNot exactly. I kindaâŚmissed. And grabbed onto a rock instead.â
Logan stood beside you. âYou must have found the sharpest rock in the forest.â
He said what you were thinking.Â
âHow long will it take to heal?â
âThatâll depend.â
âOn what?â
âOn if youâre thinking about trying to climb the tree again.â
Your cousin panicked. âB-but we werenât.â
Logan detected a lie.Â
âI have known you, your whole life.â You leaned in a little closer. âYou need to stop climbing trees after itâs been raining.â
âOkay, fine.â
You took in a small breath. âIt should be healed in a couple of hours. JustâŚwait until itâs dry before you do any more climbing.â
âThanks, Y/n,â
As your cousin left, Logan remained fixed on his spot as you walked back to your desk. Pointing towards the door your cousin had just walked out from, Logan turned around to you.Â
âThat was a pretty deep gash. Thatâll take more than a couple of hours to heal.â
You looked at Logan for a split second before looking back to the papers in front of you. âItâs part of their mutation. Small things he can heal from, just not as quickly as you. We donât all have super-healing, Logan.â
Logan gave you a soft smile, but it was still questioning. He walked over to your desk. âBut their mutation gives them the ability to control water. Nowhere on their file does it say âhealâ.â
Your heartbeat jumped.Â
Logan leaned up a little from your desk as you looked at him.Â
Heâd caught you in a lie.Â
âWell, itâs not his primary power. My aunt mustnât have thought it was important.â
Your heartbeat was normal.Â
So was your breathing.Â
Logan decided to drop it, but it was constantly on his mind.Â
Your heartbeat had jumped when he got closer to your desk and mentioned the mutation.Â
Either that was the very first lie you had told him, or your mask was slipping.Â
For the next two days, Logan practically watched you like a hawk. It was rare his gaze was somewhere else other than you.Â
He did question going to the Professor again, but considering he was adamant you werenât a mutant, Logan considered it wasnât worth the time.Â
He wanted to know why you had lied to him. Or why it was now heâd only just detected it.
However, it was at least another month before he would come to find out the truth.Â
âSo why are we being called up?â
Scott turned towards the Professor, his arm across his chest. âBecause last I checked, arenât the fire departments meant to help with this kinda thing?â
âUsually, yes. However, weâve been called personally. There are too many risks for just the average human being.â
A tornado had ripped through a small town, demolishing almost everything. From the brick buildings to houses to even schools. Some people were still trapped under rubble and others were hurt, if not worse. Except, the hospitals could only take so many patients at a time and the nearest hospital was at least two towns away.Â
âYouâll be working alongside the departments already stationed there but the main priority is helping people out safely.â
Twenty minutes later, they were headed for the jet.Â
And you caught Logan walking down the hall. âWhere are you going?â
âThereâs been a tornado-â
âIn Oklahoma? I saw it on the news.â
âWeâre going to help.â
You turned watching Logan walk further down the hall. âWait, Iâm coming with you.â
âWhat? Why?â
You threw your books into the nearest classroom, letting them softly slide against the desks and into their places. âI can help.â
Logan stopped and looked around. âTheyâve already got too many casualties. Weâre going because weâre less likely to get hurt.â
You sighed with a look. âLogan, Iâve seen at least half of the casualties. Theyâre gonna need more than just the X-Men. I can help.â
âLet her go with you, Logan.â The Professor rolled around the corner. âShe knows what sheâs doing.â
Logan took the Professorâs word for it. âCome on, before they leave without us.â
Passing your room on the way, you grabbed your jacket and a bag from under your bed. Logan looked at you curiously as you shut your bedroom door.Â
âMedical supplies.âÂ
Logan just nodded and placed his hand at the bottom of your back guiding you down the hallway before you both set off running towards the jet.Â
Upon landing, everyone got to work.Â
Scott and Logan started helping those who were trapped under fallen buildings whilst Storm helped lift most of the rubble away as well as brush away most of the debris from larger areas.Â
Jean began setting up medical areas for people to be treated and seen to, and you helped her.Â
Thirty minutes later, you heard shouting.Â
It was a kid.Â
âHelp! Please!â
Turning around, you yelled for Logan and he came running.Â
âHey, itâs okay.â
âItâs my leg. I-Iâm stuck. Please.â
âOkay, just stay calm. Logan help me lift it.â
Before Logan could even touch the wooden boards holding the kid down, the last half of the house shook.Â
âOkay,â you looked from the house to Logan. âWe have to move. Quickly.â
From the count of three, you and Logan lifted the boards from the kid, except, as Logan helped the kid out, the rest of the house began to fall.Â
âWatch out!â A could firemen shouted.Â
Logan barely had time to react, covering the kid with his body, waiting for the impact of the house. Except it never came.Â
Slowly opening his eyes, Logan was met with a semi bright light of blue and when he turned around, he was more than shocked at what he saw.Â
Coming from you was a safety barrier. The house had fallen but it had fallen onto whatever blue dome you had created.Â
Despite the fact you had stopped the house from falling on yourself, Logan and the kid, there was a sting inside of you. How Logan was looking at youâŚpure shock and hurtâŚthat stung you to your core.Â
âGet the kid out of here.â
Logan slowly jolted back into action, pulling the kid out as you turned around and pushed the house back and up before lifting it to a safe distance away from the rest of the people.Â
And Logan just watched you.Â
âThank you, sir.â
Logan looked around for the voice after a moment, realising the kid was still beside him. âNo worries, kid. Howâs the leg? Think you can stand on your own?â
The kid nodded before looking down and paleing. âItâs bleeding.â
âWhoa, hey, okay. Take it easy.â
Logan helped him sit down on a cinderblock just as you got to his side. âLet me see.â
The kid slowly lifted his leg. âI donât like blood.â
You knelt down and examined his leg. âItâs okay, buddy. Just close your eyes so you donât have to look.â
âWhat are you gonna do?âÂ
You looked at Logan who was all manners of concern, confused and intrigued.Â
Looking from him without answering, you allowed your hands to slowly ghost over the kids legs. Before his eyes, a blue light emitted from your palm and slowly healed the cuts on the kid's leg. Â
âOkay, youâre all sorted buddy.â
The kid opened his eyes and looked at his leg. The blood stains were still there, but the cuts werenât.
âThank you.â
âDo you know if there are any other kids around here?â
The kid pointed you in the direction of where a couple other houses had been standing only the day before and you and Logan went back to work.Â
Over the next couple of hours, Loganâs gaze towards you had gone from shock to confusion to anger.Â
You had lied to him.Â
Not only that, you had lied to all of them.Â
âDid you know?â Jean asked, standing beside Logan as he watched you with a little girl who had been crying. From nothing, you conjured up some daisies and whisked it into a flower crown for her hair. Loganâs heart was warm at the sight. The girl had gone from red and puffy eyed to smiling and hugging you.Â
Then he remembered.Â
âNo. I didnât.â
âWhy wouldnât she tell us? Why lie?â
âI donât know.â
The girl almost skipped away from you and towards some of her friends she had spotted. You were still crouched down and as you turned, you spotted Logan and Jean.Â
One moment of eye contact with you and Logan started walking away in the opposite direction.Â
Jean watched as he walked away and you lowered your head, standing and looking around to see if anyone else needed help.Â
A firewoman approached you and asked you for help moving some old pieces of the school building.Â
When you returned an hour later, the only person you could find was Storm.Â
âThose were some pretty cool things you did earlier. My only question is, why not tell people about it?â
You looked at Storm as you helped her hand out small baskets of food for people. âEasier to keep to myself.â
âYou know, the first day the Professor told me about you, he said you were something else. I thought it was just because you were the only human in your family. But clearly he saw something else.â
âIâm sorry, for not telling you all.â
Storm shook her head. âYou never had an obligation to. Itâs your life, Y/n. You get to decide how much you share with the world.â
You sighed, spotting Logan helping a couple of people out by the broken swings in the park. âI wish others could see it like that.â
Storm nudged your shoulder. âHeâll come around. Heâs like a walking lie detector. Heâll be more mad at himself for not figuring it out.â
You gave Storm a thanking smile before going back to handing out supplies.Â
By nightfall, most things had been cleared up and the hospitals were less packed with patients thanks to yourself and Jean.Â
On the ride back you could practically feel the anger radiating from Logan. He would barely look at you. Jean and Storm seemed to be the only ones not pissed at you for not telling them.Â
By the time you landed, Logan was the first off the jet, his feet heavy against the stairs as he made his way back into the school.Â
âIs there anything else we should know, or do you have more lies stuffed up your sleeves?â
âScott.â Jean warned.Â
âWhat? You canât tell me youâre not pissed that sheâs lied to us.â
âScott, she didnât have to tell us if she didnât want to.â Storm told him.Â
âStill would have been nice to know.â
As Scott walked away, Jean touched your arm. âIâll deal with him. Heâs just hurt, he wasn't the first to find out.â
âHow come you two arenât mad at me?â
Storm and Jean looked at you with a faint smile on their faces. âThe power you displayed todayâŚwe know what itâs like to want to hide that.â
âAnd we also know what itâs like to want to keep a secret. You didnât have to share that part of your story with us, but you did because you wanted to help someone. No one can be mad at you for that.â
âThanks, guys.â
Jean and Storm smiled as they hugged you. âAnytime. But this does mean you are making us all flower crowns. I wonder if we can get Logan to wear one?â
The three of you walked side by side back into the school. âHe needs a haircut, first.â
The next day, you found yourself in the Professorâs office, the rest of the team already there.
And Logan didnât seem any calmer.Â
Just eerily quiet as he watched you from the window, walking inside and standing in the middle of the room.Â
âI understand there is something you may need to share with the class?âÂ
You nodded. âI guess you saw it on the news?â
The Professor nodded, but he didnât seem mad. âThat, and Scott was the first to come and see me this morning.â
You looked at Scott but he just scoffed. âThey have a right to know weâve got Class 4 mutant-â
âClass 5,â you corrected.Â
They all turned and looked at you with shock. Logan just stood, his arms still across his chest.Â
But the Professor smiled.Â
âIt seems we have quite a lot to discuss. Everyone, please excuse myself and Y/n.â
Slowly, albeit reluctantly, they all left one by one.Â
Your eyes followed Logan but he didnât look at you.Â
With your eyes still on the door heâd just closed, the Professor rounded his desk. âHeâll come to his senses. They all will. Please, have a seat.â
Logan didnât see or hear from you or the Professor in over three hours. And by the time dinner rolled around, the only person he did see was the Professor.Â
âWhere is she?â
âGone.â
Logan nearly shot out of his seat as he looked from the library window to the Professor. âGone? Where-â
âRelax, Logan. Sheâll be back soon enough. I told her it was best if she went and got a little fresh air. You could use some, too. Your brooding is practically stinking this place out.â
Logan fell back into his chair. âShe still lied.â
âAnd she had good reason, too.â
Logan looked back to the Professor. âShe comes from an entire family of mutants, Logan. Her childhood was spent being surrounded by those trying to manipulate powers to be something greater than they already were. If she had shown who she truly was, I fear she wouldnât have become the person she is today. Her family, for as much as they care for herâŚhalf of them would have wanted her to stay and have her powers trained into something for their own gain. The other half would have shipped her off to hide out in a country, alone for the rest of her life. They would have been frightened of her, Logan.â
âBut why lie to us?â
The Professor sighed. âLogan, if you had spent your entire life being one thing, how long do you think it would take before you feel comfortable and safe enough to share a whole other side of you to someone?â
Logan was silent for a minute. âShe said sheâs a Class 5.â
Charles picked up the hidden question behind Loganâs statement. âIâve read her mind, Logan. Sheâs not like Jean. Sheâs in full control. Always has been.â
The Professor waited for a couple of minutes. âI know you care for her, Logan. Try and find a way to forgive her for not telling you sooner.â
He made it to the door before looking back at Logan. âMaybe take a walk. It might clear your head. I hear Ororo planted some Evening Primrose. They should be opening up soon.â
With that, the Professor left.Â
And somehow, ten minutes later, Logan found himself taking the Professorâs advice.Â
Zipping up his hoodie, Logan placed his hands into his pockets as he walked down the steps towards the gardens. It was still a little warm but there was still that hint of chill in the air that let him know Fall would be closing in soon.Â
As time passed, Logan felt his mind working around the idea of you and the things you had told him, or rather hadnât told him.Â
And the Professor was right.Â
The primroses had begun to open.Â
Logan had never really understood why people would watch flowers or do anything with them other than plant them and pull out the weeds a few months later. But as he was contemplating about flowers and why these off all things the Professor told him to look at, he looked up and spotted you.Â
You were sitting on an old swinging bench, watching the water softly ripple under the moonlight.Â
Logan watched you for a moment. You were calm. You werenât writing or scribbling in a classroom, you werenât buzzing around the kitchen or the hallways.Â
You were sat, alone, letting your mind concentrate on nothing but the constant movement of the water and the stars in the sky.Â
After a few moments, Logan noticed the soft blue glow by the ground around the water. Within a second, he watched as daisyâs and some other wildflowers started to push up from the ground. All the while, a blue wisp, almost like glitter, circled around them and then died away.Â
Then stems of grass began to lift before they stretched into what Logan figured out to be lilypads as they glided down onto the water.Â
âFigured youâd kicked down a few trees by now.âÂ
Logan turned and looked back at you. Of course you knew he was there.Â
âTrust me, I thought about it.â
Slowly, Logan started walking towards you.Â
More flowers grew by the water's edge.Â
âYou should open your own flower shop.â
You smiled a little. âWould you believe me if I told you I was allergic?â
âI donât know. Is it the truth?â
You looked up at him. âYou tell me.â
Logan could hear your heartbeat.Â
And he could hear your breath.Â
Both steady.Â
âIâm not hiding anything else from you, Logan,â you assured him.Â
Logan just raised his eyebrows and clicked his tongue as he moved to sit beside you. âHard to tell these days.â
âI know you wanted to know but it was easier to keep it hidden.â
Logan nodded. âThe Professor explained it to me. But everything you said in the libraryâŚâ
âI was living a normal life, Logan. To my family I am human. To everyone else I was the only human in a mutant family. What I said to you that nightâŚI meant it. I know what itâs like to be alone and to feel lost.â
âAnd now?â
You shrugged a little. âThat depends.â
âOn what?â
âOn you.â Logan looked at you. You turned in your seat and looked back at the water, your fingers picking at your own hands. âAnd Scott. And the others. The Professor wants me to stay on, but I donât know if I can-â
âYou should stay.â
You looked back at Logan.Â
âYou should stay,â he repeated. âThe kidsâŚthey love you. Besides, who else is gonna be able to read Rogueâs handwriting.â
âWhat about the others?â
Logan gave a slight nod. âTheyâll come around. Scott will come around. Jean will see to that.â
âAnd what about you?â
Logan didnât know what to say.Â
âI care about you, Logan. I donât know if I could carry on working here knowing you hate me for lying to you. Even worseâŚnot being able to trust me. I am sorry for not telling you the truth, but I hope one day you can see why I did.â
âI think the Professor explained most of it.â Logan told you. âAnd I get why you didnât tell us. It still hurts, but I get it.â
Your gaze fell on Loganâs face as he watched the forest come alive under the stars.Â
âI care about you, too.âÂ
Finally, Loganâs gaze held onto yours.Â
Part of you was held in suspense for when he would look away. Your heart braced itself for him to turn away. For him to say something your heart didnât want to hear and for him to leave.Â
As Logan looked at you, your heartbeat was like an echo of his own. Faint in the background, drowned out by his own rushing through his ears.Â
âPromise meâŚâ Logan tried to find his words as his own hand found yours on the bench. âPromise me youâll keep talking to me. That youâll tell me things. That you wonât have any more secrets with me? Good or badâŚI want to know them.â
You nodded. âI promise. So long as you promise me something, too.â
Logan gave a slight smile. âDonât think youâre in the right area to ask for promises jus-â
You sat up and turned your body towards him, your hands enveloping his hand. Logan remained silent the minute he saw your relaxed smile.Â
âPromise me youâll talk to me, too. And that you wonât try and hide your smile from me.â
Your hand grazed Loganâs cheek and he practically smiled into it.Â
âI like seeing your smile.âÂ
Logan smiled. âI like seeing yours, too.â
With his elbow propped up against the back of the bench, his fingers slowly brushed your loose hair from your face to behind your ears and down your neck. Logan turned his head for a moment, his other hand coming to hold yours against him before he pressed a kiss to your palm.Â
From there, he simply placed your hand over his heart.Â
And you smiled.Â
His heart calmed at your touch, and he could hear yours.Â
With a soft smile that was very quickly turning into a smirk, Logan leaned forward, holding you steady before he finally kissed you.Â
He wouldnât notice until the next day but the wildflowers that bloomed by the waters edge, just as he kissed you, dug their roots permanently. Even when questioned why they could grow so close to the water without any other explanation than it being a fluke, Logan knew the truth.Â
And it anyone was to question their origins and their symbolism: Eternal Love
It might finally provide an explanation.Â
Pulling back to catch his breath, he heard you let out a small laugh.Â
âWhat?â
âYou seriously need a haircut.â
Logan groaned. âStill?â
âJust a little.â
A few weeks later, Logan found himself being pushed into a chair in his room as you wrapped a towel over his shoulders and pulled out a pair of hairdresser scissors and a comb.Â
âYou know, you could have just asked to cut my hair. You didnât have to trick me into it.â
âLogan, I have been asking you for months. Be lucky I didnât ask Hank to knock you out and drag you here.â
âDo you even know how to cut hair?â
You started the first couple of snips. âOne of the first things I learned to do. Besides learning how to cook. People can only take so many bowl cuts and parsnip soup from Great-Aunt Vi.â
Logan smirked. âSounds delicious.â
âSure, if you love parsnip water with cabbage.â
You moved around to stand in front of Logan, his legs opening for you to step into them. It wasnât long before his hands found your hips.Â
Your heart jumped a little.Â
âStop it.â
Logan looked at you innocently enough. âIâm not doing anything.â
His hands glided a little higher before you whacked his knuckles with your comb. He tried his best to hold back his smirk.Â
âTease.â
It was your turn to hold back your reaction. âIâm trying to cut your hair. Distractions donât help.â
âDonât look distracted to me.â
You smirked a little, continuing to comb through and cut his hair. âBelieve me, Iâm plenty distracted.â
Logan chuckled and his hands moved back down to your hips before making repetitive strokes up and down your thighs and back to your hips.Â
Time passed slowly, albeit calmly.Â
âOkay, all done.â
You held a mirror in front of him. âWhatâd you think?â
Logan nodded before pushing the mirror down and pulling you closer to him before you found yourself sitting in his lap. âItâs nice, but I think I prefer this view.â
You blushed before kissing him, his hand raking through your hair, his breath pulling you closer.Â
It wasnât long before you were straddling his lap, his hands holding you steady by your ass and thighs.Â
âShouldnât we,â Logan kissed you. âBe getting ready,â He kissed you again. âFor dinner?â
âGood thing it starts at seven.â
You giggled a little as Logan smiled before his lips made their way down your jaw line and down your neck. Your own arms wrapped around his neck as you rocked forward on him a little, a groan coming from the back of his throat.Â
âThatâs in an hour.â
âGives us plenty of time then.â
You smiled. âTo do what?â
A small gasp came from you as Logan stood up with you, your legs wrapping around him. âTo get ready.â
With a suggestive eyebrow raise and a small bite of his lip, you let out a small laugh before kissing him again, his chuckle vibrating against your lips as he walked you towards the en-suit bathroom.Â
A small wisp of blue turned on the shower, letting the water heat up, all the while Logan set you down on the sink counter, the blue wisp locking the door, and him slowly removing your clothes before his lips left a trail in their wake, your own hands working to remove his clothes.Â
By a stroke of luck, neither of you were late to dinner (this time) but there wasnât much time left for drying your hair. Logan was still towel drying his before you both reached the dining room.Â
âI see someone finally got a haircut.âÂ
Hank was dishing out mashed potatoes onto each plate.Â
âIt wasnât that bad.â
âOh. honey.â Your hand pressed against Loganâs chest before you kissed his lips. âIt was.â
âDidnât hear you complaining afterwards.â Logan mumbled to you through a smirk.
You blushed brightly. Loganâs smirk prominent on his face, his hand trained down your back and over your ass before coming to pull you in by your hips.Â
Soon, everyone else piled into the dining room, you all finding your designated seats. With Loganâs beside yours, his hand remained on your upper thigh for most of the meal.Â
However, no one seemed to notice that with each squeeze Logan gave you, a small row of daisies planted themselves outside, just below the windowsill.Â
#logan x reader#logan howlett x reader#wolverine x reader#logan x fe!reader#logan howlett x fe!reader#wolverine x fe!reader#wolverine#hugh jackman wolverine#x men#x men x reader#fluff#angst#falling in love#work place romance#friends to lovers#dislike to friends to lovers#kiss in the moonlight#class five mutants#flower symbolism
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do i look like him?
â just another series concept. please note that talia sexually assaulting bruce is retconned in whatever portrayal i have of her. i will not tolerate any racist or sexist remarks towards her character for a mischaracterized version of her, written by some gooner.
reblogs and interactions are encouraged and appreciated.
i don't know if anybody would be interested in a certain premise i'm planning. taylor's song, "like him" is resonating off of my body, and i've a draft written inspired off of the song featuring yandere batfam x damian's twin! reader x yandere! al ghul family.
wherein instead of being neglected, you're treated like royalty by your own family. your twin is subjected to the cruelty of being raised as an assassin. you're met with scarred hands, nicked back, and calloused skin every time he comes back from your shared room after another particularly harsh training. yet every time you worry for your older twin, he'd silence you with the same bloodied hands that handled bodies like ragdolls, gently like it has never killed, with hushed promises whispered by your ear that "this is necessary for your protection, akhi/akhti."
at first you'd be convinced that this family lifestyle is normal. your mother is doting, she is kind, she is where you learned the word mercy; unlike the fierce image she displays in public. you're often spoiled rotten with her favorite shades of clothes, and her teachings emanate within you a deep sense of loving for animals. you never truly see her cruelty for other humans, as she often makes you sit by her lap upon a seat you call a throne when you were all but a mere five year old, playing with your hair, muttering affirmations and cradling you on her chest every time you ponder too deeply about the word, 'father'.
a word you'd read from those fairytales by the library, a word you craved to know, a word forbidden to be stated by everybody within your castle-like home.
she'll call upon your brother every time your curiosity gets the best of you, and the duo would try their best to sway your attention away with playtime. either it'd be stories, or damian showing you new tricks he'd learn from masters long overthrown by your twin, or it would be as simple as talia dragging both her beloved children to the huge kitchen, demanding the head chefs to bake you and your brother's favorite dessert (a little moment to spoil your brother after a hard-earned day of training, even if damian isn't always fond of sweet confectionaries; your grin would always tempt him to take a bite of your food if it means spending a day being himself).
it seems even damian plays along with the sick fantasy of not acknowledging the possibility of an alive father figure to you. not like you'd be aware of it, too caught up with your grandfather teaching you about rare species' on the verge of extinction, his (rarely) soft gaze fixed on the way your small body would gently pat the face of his wolf companion, or your brother constantly vying for you, his younger twin's, attention, eliminating all possible rivals who could potentially act as your future playmate that only he has the privilege for, or how your mother seeks you, her youngest baby, out, for a day of rest after another mission, doting smooches on your face, her lipstick smearing all over the soft chub of your cheeks, dismissing your pouts
a perfect family, with not much left to desire for your part.
so why is it that talia would often hear damian complain about your sudden fixation about a father figure? you'd mumble, something about one of your servants who mentioned visiting her father for vacation, a man who works as a merchant for his family; you asked them what your father's job was, what his name was, "why isn't he here at the family dinner?"
you asked, with wide, pitiful eyes, a feature long foreign for hardened assassins, but associated only with you. a quality nobody in the league dares to criticize; your gentleness the only thing keeping their leaders sane, keeping most servants alive as you find precious each and every single living being; not exclusive to animals or plants, but to humans too.
you're the league's only hope for reprieve, for softness in the moments of emboldened duties and priorities. you're the fingers that caress on calloused skin and the lips that kiss bloody scars. the hearth that warms even the coldest of hearts.
which was why nobody attempted to answer you, no matter how much it breaks your heart; because nobody wanted to ruin your soft and kind heart, or see the sullen droop in your eyes, or red, sniffling nose.
yet once ra's heard the confession of you being aware of what a father is like through the mouth of your servant, he'd immediately demanded another assassin to eliminate whoever dared mentioned such preposterous concepts to his grandchild.
throughout their rage, throughout damian nuzzling his head on the crown of your, muttering that whatever his baby sibling is sputtering is nonsensical, mere fantasy, arms encasing your entire body. he'd cradle you, run his hands against your hair even with furrowed, always angered brows; all the same questions lingered in the back of their minds:
is your current family not enough? why is it that the more you grow, the more you... wear the same expression of stubbornness, a quality your mother is sure you've adopted from you... father.
she may not be the best mother, taking both you and damian away from the arms of bruce wayne after she had learned about her pregnancy after a night spent together with the man, but she did it for the sake of her children; for your future, too.
bruce wayne will not be a good influence to you. if he tries so much to subject you into becoming another one of his robins, destroying your innocence, your perception of the world into a bleak portrayal of lackluster colorsâ ra's wouldn't hesitate to destroy the entirety of bruce's home.
and the manor is nothing! nothing, mind you, compared to the castle you call your home. only you deserve the richest of the rich, the shiniest jewels and the best treatment in the world. what more can gotham offer you? what more, if not for broken bones and bruised knees?
and so they settled upon ruining your perception of your father, with no known face to be plastered upon your memory, no known source, or pictureâ at such an early age.
if you yearn so much for a father, why not paint the image as dark as the cowl he wears?
why don't they feed you lies about him never wanting you and your twin in the first place? you'll be given opportunities to call an empty line, hoping your father would pick up, would respond and tell you that he's coming for you. they'll give you time to write letters, even if it takes your crummy fingers hours to finish a dedicated letter for your father, after years of being unable to meet him; it causes all the more ache in your mother's chest, witnessing her beloved youngest stay up late, whispering whimsical wishes about how excited you are to read your father's reply to you.
all your mother could do was kiss your forehead as she sat by your side, and rub your delicate cheeks with her fingers, mumbling that her baby should sleep now.
your mother never lies to you, no?
at least, not outright in your face.
damian, hates seeing the heartbreak in your eyes, but he's the very same twin who comforts you every damn time you fall to your knees after discovering that the letters you sent to your father's locations were long since unanswered â even if they're all hidden away in a vault of every possession you thought you lost. he'll pick you up with his trained body, and you'll melt even further into his form, shivering at the prospect that you're an unwanted child in the face of your father.
soon.
soon, you'll learn to despise bruce with every being of your soul, and learn to only reserve the association of warmth for your only family. you'll be the spoiled royal of the al ghul, and you'll come to find yourself grateful that you're raised without his presence, deluded into thinking that he abandoned you, that he never truly cared in the first place.
you love your family, you hate bruce wayne.
he is not family.
he is not your father, he lost that status long ago right after you thought he'd ignore all your calls, your messages, letters, gifts, every and any signal sent to the man you once called your father right after learning his name. he made you hope, he left the light flicker once flickering within you now blown away, leaving only an empty husk of your wanting to meet your father.
you hate bruce, you hate him so fucking much, you're ashamed that he's even your father in the first placeâ even if he's the very same man working tirelessly, day and night, to save you, once he caught news of what his children looks like, and locks eyes with your hopeful ones, a rare sight amongst the imagery of assassin. he plans to retrieve you, to save you, from the castle you call your home; truly what you call your cage.
little did you know that you are more like your father than you are with what you call your family.
â heavily inspired by @anxiousnerdwritings portrayal of twin!reader.
a/n: i honestly don't know half of what i wrote. i'm out of my mind, and i'm honestly not confident with the outcome of this concept. if people do like it (leave comments, or inputs, or whatsoever) i might post a chapter about this (since i do have one written in my drafts a week or two ago). if not, i'm dropping this and leaving it as a concept mostly, a one-time thing at best. so if anybody does like this, please do tell me. i do have a lot in store for this concept, specifically the way manipulation works within this family convincing you the other side is evil; i've been through this once w/ my family actually ngl, so writing this was a bit fun.
#đˇ... yael's works#series: do i look like him?#yandere dc#yandere batfam#yandere dc comics#yandere batman#yandere bruce wayne#yandere damian wayne#yandere ra's al ghul#yandere talia al ghul#platonic yandere#yandere#yandere x reader#yandere x male reader#yandere x you#yandere x darling#yandere x y/n#male yandere#yandere angst#yandere x gn reader
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Do you, brother?
Pairing âľ Aegon Targaryen/Younger sister!reader
Warnings âľ Hotd season 2 spoilers, incest, swearing, smut (Dub-con, p in v, fingering, choking, slight breeding kink), mentions of death, mentions of child loss, descriptions of birth, and heavy themes
Word count âľ 2.6k
Summary âľ The death of your son leaves behind a shadow upon everything, and after an overwhelming funeral procession for him, your evasive brother finally comes to you in the night.
Jaehaerys
Your little boy. Jae-hae-rys. The syllables roll off your tongue in a smooth manner, as they always have done. Sweet Jaehaerys. The very thought of the name conjures memories in your mind of the day you labored him and his twin into the world, screaming and writhing in pain as you felt as though you were being torn apart at the seams. He was a small, splotchy babe, who exited you covered in blood and wailing and squirming in the maester's arms. But even through your delirium and searing pain, you knew then what love was.
He was a precocious boy, eager to learn and to explore the world. "He has the makings of a very fine king," you recall your grandfather telling you once. The thought of Jaehaerys on that throne made your stomach feel uneasy, and the words loomed over you, lingering in the back of your mind and refusing to leave.
Even now it still lingers.
The once dreadful notion has been reduced to a silly daydream, for Jaehaerys will never be king. He will never grow, never explore the world, never ride his dragon, and you will never cradle him in your arms again.
It feels wrong to carry on. It feels wrong to do much of anything with the knowledge that your sweet Jaehaerys will exist only in memory now. Your mother tries to console you, to hug you in her cold arms, but you do not want her now. After all, what does she know about losing a child? The funeral procession your grandfather insisted on felt even more wrong than anything else.
Your son, the martyr.
Hundreds of the smallfolk clambered over each other to catch a glimpse of your little boy, and you. Your tears bought their sympathy and a new resentment for Rhaenyra, but it mattered little to you. They had sewn his head back on, you saw. It was an ugly sight, where black thread met severed skin.
Jaehaerys
How you longed to climb over to the cart carrying his body just so you could hold your boy one last time, but your mother's steadying and sobering grip on your knee kept you from doing so. "Deepest sympathies, my queen!" "Curse Rhaenyra!" "We love you, our queen!" Their shouts of support felt more like a ringing in your ear than anything. You didn't want this. You only wanted everything to be quiet.
You had a headache and felt nothing but exhaustion, and you couldn't even bring yourself to weep any longer. It was as if you were wrung dry. You cursed under your breath at the seemingly endless flights of stairs in the Red Keep, for all you wanted to do was to go and lay in bed. But then you saw him. First, you saw his hair, hair much like yours, only it was messily cropped short. Next was his eyes, violet in color and mirrors of your own. The scowl upon his handsome face, well, you didn't care for it, but you couldn't pry your eyes away. You found yourselves gawking at each other on the stairwell, and only then did you remember how much Jaehaerys looked like Aegon.
"Your grace, I-" Is all you can say before Aegon quickly turns away from you and hurries down the steps. You stand there, watching as the head of silver hair swiftly disappears from your line of sight. You snap your mouth close, pressing your lips into a firm line and continuing up the stairs. 'Foolish girl, when has he ever confronted anything in his life?' you cannot help but think.
You don't see your husband for around two weeks. Fleeting glimpses in the hallways, mentions of him from your mother, and murmurs about the king from the courtiers are all you have of him during that time.
As you prepare yourself for bed, you try to banish all thoughts of him from your mind to get some semblance of much-needed sleep. The nights seemed so long and torturous now, and yet you hardly could find sleep no matter what you did. Tonight was the first night in what seemed like centuries that you finally felt tired, and you wasted no time settling into bed to drift into a slumber.
You dream odd things, nonsensical things you'll forget when you wake, mostly. And even more odd, you begin to dream of Aegon. Of his strangely soft hands on you, of him pushing your nightdress up to your hips, and of him maneuvering you onto your back. It feels real, but you know it isn't. He won't come near you, no, not now. But even your mind begins to suggest otherwise.
With an irritated whine, you feel yourself being pulled from your sleep. It is only when you open your eyes to curse at what you assumed was a maid disturbing you, that your assumptions are quickly proven wrong.
Aegon is on top of you, staring unblinkingly into your eyes. Salty, hot tears drip from him onto your face, and his hand clamps down over your mouth before you can question him. You must make a face unwittingly, for he begins to speak,
"Shh, shh, it's alright, it's just me...just me," Aegon soothes, and you smell the wine on his warm breath. He's drunk. Or at the very least near drunk. "I-I am sorry, sorry for you, sorry for our boy. Oh, my poor son," his words are ever so slightly slurred, and he retracts himself to sit on the edge of the bed and weep in his drunken stupor.
You sit up, a bit startled to discover your nightgown bunched up by your hips. Your smallclothes were even pulled down a bit, but not fully. You realize now what he was attempting to do, and you can only sit in a tense silence with him. "He was my son too, you know," he mumbles like a petulant child, once he catches a glimpse of your resentful face.
"I grieve him just as much as you, mayhaps even more. He was my heir, my only heir," his words linger in the stagnant air, not sitting well with you. His gaze unnerves you even more, staring at you expectantly. The implications in his voice are clear to you; he means to beget another heir.
"Take another wife then, I am tired," The brazen words escape you (before you can think) in a whisper, and you lay back down, wasting no time to turn your back to him. "I don't want to again, I can't again. No more, Aegon." and you close your eyes, letting your tears roll down the side of the face.
You refuse to subject yourself to it all over again. To the aches, the uncomfortable swell of your belly, and the terrible pain birth brought. You know what it will all end in. It's a deep knowledge that has burrowed itself between your bones, embedded itself in your brain, and wrapped around your heart.
The Stranger will come for you all, surely.
The bed dips again as he shifts himself closer to you, and he grabs your shoulder in a bruising grip to turn you onto your back. His face gets so close to yours that the tip of his nose nudges your own, and you feel his warm breath fanning against your lips.
"I wasn't asking what you thought of it. You're my wife, my little sister. You were born for me to have. A king needs an heir, surely you understand that? You're not a stupid girl," he brushes his thumb against your bottom lip, mockingly, almost.
He manages to wedge himself between your thighs, and you feel his wandering fingers pull down your smallclothes. "Aegon-" "Don't say a word, don't say a damn thing," he interrupts, irritated by your unwilling mood. "Wouldn't it be nice to have another little babe to rock in your arms? Hm? We'll make more, yes? Enough to fill this fucking castle," Aegon grunts, pushing his fingers past your folds. A whine involuntarily escapes you at the invasive feeling, and even more so as he pumps his fingers in and out.
In and out, in and out, in and out.
You feel your body give into his ministrations and get wet. 'Betrayal,' you think. A pleased hum escapes from him as you leak onto his fingers, and you feel your cheeks burn with shame. This isn't right. No, no after what has happened.
"You weep down here too, did you know, sweet sister?" He mumbles, pulling his fingers out of you just to drag them along your dripping folds. A shiver runs up your spine at his actions, forcing you to bite your tongue to muffle any noises. You don't want him to hear you. You don't want to give him that satisfaction.
He fully retracts his fingers, and you know what is next. He undresses himself quickly, untying his breeches and tunic with a practiced speed before pulling your nightdress off of you, leaving you vulnerable and cold. He chuckles at your little shivers and the way you wrap your arms around yourself protectively. "Shh, do not worry, you'll be warm soon enough," he laughs as if this is a lighthearted moment between two lovers. Your stomach churns slightly.
"You're so beautiful, you know. I've never thought otherwise. So pretty like this, all for me," he whispers against the shell of your ear as he lines himself up with your cunt.
The burning stretch of the intrusion is what you feel first. It has been long since he bedded you, and your body had forgotten the feel of him. "F-Fuck, how are you so tight? Like you're trying to squeeze me to death," he groans against your neck, before suckling bruises into your soft skin. He bottoms out completely, and you feel his tip brushing against your sweet spot.
It's overwhelming for you. It's too much. You close your eyes and let your mind drift to happier days. Days long before you called Aegon husband, days when you would play with your sister by your mother's skirts. Days when the most daunting task was getting out of bed or letting the maids bathe you. It almost brings a smile to your face. Almost.
Your blissful daydreams and nostalgia are interrupted by Aegon gently slapping your cheek repeatedly, rudely reminding you of where you are now. "Hey, hello, where are you? Look at me, for fucks sake," he grumbles, slowing his thrusts you only now are noticing. He grips your face in his hands, forcing you to stare into his familiar violet eyes.
It's cruel to have to stare into your own eyes while this happens, you think.
"Don't do that again. Think of me," he whispers against your lips, his voice a bit shaky and heavy with lust. "Only me, and this."
His thrusts resume, and his lips are soon pressed against yours. He kisses you with a greedy, bruising force as if he's trying to devour you whole.
"Messy girl," he muses as he wipes drool off your chin with his thumb, and the action is oddly tender to you. The tip of his cock keeps brushing against your sweet spot, making your mind turn to mush and your legs turn to jelly.
You hate how Aegon has this talent to make your resolve slip with only a few touches and kisses. You could be upset with him for weeks on end, and yet all he had to do was hold you down and you'd soon forget whatever grievance you held against him.
"A-Aegon, brother, please-" you whine, even more so as he maneuvers your knees to press against your chest. He holds you down like this and the new angle allows him to push further into you. The sound of skin against skin reverberates in your chambers around you as he drives into you at a faster pace.
"Stay still, stay still. Quit squirming, don't you trust me, sweet girl?" He huffed, still irked by your light resistance. His hand reaches back down to your weeping cunt, and his thumb rubs gentle circles into your bud. The added stimulation makes you cry out with overwhelming pleasure, and you feel like your very bones are gyrating.
"There we go," he smirks, dragging out his words. He's found the combination that makes you fall apart around him and he finds it satisfying. "You like that, don't you? 'Course you do, sweet girl. You were made for me, made to take my cock and bear my children. You were born to be mine. Nothing more, nothing less," He groans, his own peak beginning to build up.
His words ignite a fire in your belly, and it feels so wrong. His words are mocking, demeaning even, and on any other given day and situation you'd have retorted and isolated yourself from him until you calmed down. But this night was not simply any other night. His words and his movements bring you closer and closer to the edge, and the coil in your belly tightens up as it prepares to snap.
"Aegon, gods, keep going, please don't stop-" you moan, lost now in the bliss of it all. You selfishly buck your hips against his, desperate for your own impending release.
"I got you, pretty girl. Go on, let go for me, sweet sister," and with his words, the tightly wound coil in you snaps. It is a white-hot pleasure that wracks through your body, and you feel as though you are floating.
You come to when you feel Aegon increasing the pace of his already rough thrusts. He is close, you can tell. You have no strength to tell him to pull out, to beg him not to finish inside. He's fucked you too good for that. Maybe that was his plan after all, you think.
"F-Fuck, I'm so close, sweetling. I'll fill you up, make sure you're nice and full with my seed. In nine moons time, we'll have another little boy, hm? Another silver-haired beauty," he pants, before his grip that still pushes your knees against your chest tightens. He brings one hand to squeeze around your throat, and you feel his fingers dig into the sides of your neck. There will be a bruise there in the morning, no doubt.
His movements are rough and fast as he chases his release, and soon, his steady pace falters and his hips stutter to a halt. "Gods be good," he moans, slumping over to bury his face into the crook of your neck. Spurts of his warm and sticky seed coat your velvety walls, a familiar feeling. Surely you will be with child by the next month.
Exhaustion is what you feel. Exhaustion, and a pang of sadness in your heart. Another babe you will have to labor into the world, another pawn in this war. Another victim of this needless bloodshed, as brother and sister tear each other apart.
Aegon gently kisses your lips, rubbing your stomach with his hand, no doubt imagining you are pregnant already. "I love you, I really do." He whispers, holding you close and breaking you from those thoughts of impending doom.
Violet eyes meet violet eyes, and you gaze upon his features that are not dissimilar to your own. The very same blood that runs through you, runs through him. The same blood that ran through your son, you think. You do not know what to make of his drunken declaration, and it is like your body speaks for you then;
"Do you, brother?"
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TWO WORLDS â p.sunghoon
PAIRING: sunghoon x fem!reader GENRES: angst, smut, slight fluff WC: 7.6k+
WARNINGS:Â some swearing, alcohol consumption, controlling father, a little argument. sex on the kitchen worktop, quick female masturbation, unprotected sex (pack before use, and do it safely!!!), cumming inside, sunghoon is too soft for now, i think that's it. lmk if i missed anything.
SYNOPSIS: you and sunghoon have known each other since university, but you belong to different worlds. that wouldn't be a factor that would prevent you and him from getting together, if it weren't for the fear of confessing to each other and, when that happened, you wouldn't be able to tell him that you were going away⌠to another country.
NOTES:Â i went through so many plots until i ended up with this one. it was my work after more than a month of writer's block, so i can't say if i'm satisfied with it or not. but at least it helped me write something. all feedback is appreciated, so i hope you like it!
part 2 | masterlist
You thought it would be a good idea to go into the bar even though you had cried for countless hours before being there. Hesitating in that particular place wasn't something new for you, after all, it was where your friends met every Friday night.
You just happened to be there alone and in the middle of a Wednesday. The stress of your daily life and the weight you were carrying for fulfilling the wishes of your self-centered and petty father only made your mind spin and you succumbed to an absurd urge to drop everything and run. And you ran to the bar you knew so well. But not because you needed a drink urgently â although you knew the alcohol would be consumed somehow â but because someone there was your refuge at times like these.
Park Sunghoon was the owner of the best-known and most popular bar. Because he was the epitome of beauty, kind, and polite even in a sea of people who were completely drunk and came to that place looking to dance, rub themselves, and wind up with someone. But he was also known as your best friend since university and the guy who stole your heart.
It was hard not to fall in love with Sunghoon when he treated you so well from the moment you and he shared a few classes. When he brought you a steaming cup of coffee twice a week from his grandfather's coffee shop because you'd been there once and said you liked it. How did he remember that? You wondered every time you took a sip of the drink. But Sunghoon only thought, how could he forget?
All the details surrounding you were hard to forget and he came to realize that this was part of the little feeling that was going on between the two of you, even though Sunghoon was afraid to ask you out. Not because it would ruin the friendship, he was very forward-thinking and knew that neither you nor he would be able to do that because it was something beyond what the two of you shared. But because the worlds in which you and he lived were completely different.
You were studying to improve your knowledge and take over your father's company. You wore social clothes, high heels, and the most expensive imported perfumes so that you could meet your father's clients, who would be yours in the future, while you drank expensive wine and listened to banal conversations. At the same time, Sunghoon studied to understand how the corporate world worked, and business and to be able to take over his grandfather's coffee shop. When he passed away, he left it in his name and turned it into the bar it is today. Wearing shabby clothes, torn jeans, and blouses stained with all kinds of drink and food that he had already lost count of.
The coffee shop would have been very welcome if he was still a university student looking for a part-time job just to make some extra money, but with the end of university and a life full of bills and supporting himself, a bar would make a lot more money because he was now an adult. And adults liked alcohol, loud music, and a lot of flirting.
That's what he thought when he changed everything, from the paintings on the wall to the name of the establishment. His best friends became his partners to help run the bar and that's what helped him get a bit more of a head start on sales and popularity. Because they were well-known people at the university, and with Sunghoon being part of the soccer team and the popular kids, this consequently attracted many people who studied with them to become regular customers there.
You and your friends were one of them. Although you also liked to go to see Sunghoon and his best friends who were also your friends. That's why Fridays became a casual get-together for your group of friends.
But it wasn't today and that made you a little more apprehensive and tearful because it was the first time you'd been to the bar alone. You didn't go in with a friend or one of the boys waiting at the door to take you to the table they'd booked for the night.
Your steps were dragged and nervous as you passed people, bodies sweaty and dancing. Loud conversations as you heard someone cursing a soccer team from last night, another group of friends talking about kissing someone at the next table. You focused on every corner even though you didn't want to focus on anything and just went to the bar, lucky if any of the boys were there.
As soon as you finally got close, a few more steps and you'd be near the counter, but not before stopping and taking a look. Quickly sniffling to try to keep away the tears that were still collecting in your eyes because you didn't want any of your friends to see you cry. If you were lucky, the light in the bar would be so dark that it would camouflage your true face and you could make up an excuse and say that you just stopped by to say hello because you were nearby.
Your hands were hesitant as soon as you touched the counter in the empty space when a couple walked away after picking up their drinks and heading for the dance floor.
"Hello, welcome. What can I doâ" Jay was one of Sunghoon's best friends and very much your friend too, not least because he was your best friend's boyfriend "Y/n?" his eyebrows arched in surprise and a small smile appeared on his lips as soon as he saw you.
"Hi, Jay" you tried your best not to sound shaky, although you knew that the volume of the music would mask your true feelings.
"What are you doing here?" he looked at you and then around "Is Stella or the girls with you?"
"No, no. I came alone" you pulled up a stool to sit down, your hands resting on the marble of the counter and your eyes darting to the numerous bottles behind Jay before you focused your gaze on him.
"Did you come for a drink?" he followed your gaze as you turned away momentarily, noticing that you were staring at the whisky bottles. After turning back to you, Jay sighed when you nodded slightly "On a Wednesday?"
"Are you monitoring me, Jongseong?"
"Ugh, I hate it when you all call me that, you sound like you're mad" he snapped and walked over to the side of the whisky bottles. Pulling out a bottle and a shot glass, Jay slid it in front of him and filled some of the contents.
Your eyes flicked to the label, slowly reading Hennessy. The brand was known to you, it was one of the whiskies your father used to drink. Feeling the burning sensation he supposedly felt every time he drank made you shiver, not from the alcohol itself, but from thinking about your father at that moment.
"Thank you" you said to Jay as soon as he held out the glass to you. A small smile captured his lips as you turned the glass over in one go.
"For God's sake, Y/n, take it easy" he warned "If you're having a bad day, this will only get worse."
"One more, please" you tried to ignore his caution. Jay just rolled his eyes and took the empty glass from your hand, filling it much less than the first shot.
Then the second, third, and fourth he didn't even want to say much. Although he had already put a glass of water in with the glass of whisky he had poured for you. Jay's silent request is for you to have at least a little more water next time.
You could protest and grumble at how overprotective he was, remembering how he was with Stella in the first place. Then with you and your other friends because, according to Jay, anyone who looked after his girlfriend also deserved to be looked after. That's why he was so protective and nice to you.
But this overprotection was nothing compared to Sunghoon's with you, and for a second your mind switched off from the fact that he could be there and would show up at any moment. You just didn't realize that it would be abruptly, knocking the glass out of your hand and slamming it against the counter.
"You've had too much to drink" didn't take a genius or being drunk enough to register Sunghoon's voice entering your ears. You only refused to turn towards him, but you felt the boy's presence right behind you.
"I think I'm a customer here today, so Jay, please" you ignored the fact that the glass was next to Sunghoon's hand and pulled it out to hand it to Jay.
You couldn't register his expression when he saw you pick up the glass, because your body was turned just in time along with the stool you were sitting on. Facing Sunghoon, who lowered himself to the level of your face.
"You're going home, right? I'll drive you" he said.
"Nope" you muttered back.
"We're not having this conversation here, Y/n."
"And nowhere else" your pout almost made him give in and lean forward to kiss you, but Sunghoon held back, his hands squeezing the upholstery of the seat you were sitting on and slowly rubbing the side of his thumbs against your leg.
He opened his mouth to say more, to force you out of there, or to make fun of the fact that he had been watching you for a while as you drank and talked to Jay while he served other people at the bar. He wanted to tell you more, to say that his heart was racing with worry because you were never one to drink like that and it was strange to see you so resistant. But all his words fell flat when Sunghoon looked deep into your eyes and saw you crumble.
You let the tears fall freely down your cheeks and the urge to sniffle and sob that you'd been holding in all night now surfaced when he wrapped his arms around you to hold you against his chest.
"Jay, you can take over here, right?" he asked.
"Sure, go ahead, mate" Jay said "Call me if you need anything, me and the boys will lock up here and run to you two."
You could imagine the sad smile Jay was giving Sunghoon to try and comfort him as he lifted you off the bar stool and walked with you through all those drunk people until he left. Still holding you against him for fear that someone might touch you or that you might disappear from his sight, Sunghoon didn't want anything to happen to you.
"Did you come by car?" he asked when the two of you arrived outside. The icy wind didn't even tickle your body because you were so immersed in Sunghoon's arms that you couldn't feel anything.
Pointing in the direction of the parking lot, he pulled you along with him until he was able to locate your car without too much effort.
"I need your keys" he asked, releasing your arms to turn towards you and look at you straight on.
Noticing every little feature of you since you'd arrived at the bar. The office clothes hugged your curves, and every piece of clothing looked great on you. The combinations of turquoise and gray further enhanced your beauty and every feature that Sunghoon had fallen in love with.
"No purse?"
"In the car" you said in a tearful voice, reaching for the keys in the back pocket of the pants you were wearing to hand them to him.
Sunghoon took them and unlocked the alarm for you both to get in, holding the passenger door for you until you sat down and he could close the door. Running to the driver's side and getting in too.
If it had been any other time, that silence between the two of you would have been comfortable and just what you needed amid so much confusion in your week. But it was killing you because you knew that Sunghoon looked furious. Maybe at you, you didn't know for sure, but you shrugged when you felt the tears still falling down your cheeks.
"I'm sorry" you whispered as quietly as you could, breaking the silence inside the car, which was still at a complete standstill.
The only sound coming from Sunghoon's lips were the interspersed sighs he gave, running his hands over his face and then through his hair countless times. Well, your apology shouldn't be accepted, after all, because on another occasion he would say that you didn't need to apologize. That it wasn't your fault or anything to comfort you. But Sunghoon wasn't saying anything and that made you cry even more.
You turned your face towards him to see if there was any glimmer of comfort or something you could cling to so that he wouldn't feel that way. Your eyes traveled down his figure, noticing the contrast in clothing the two of you were wearing. Sunghoon was wearing a beige shirt with a huge stain near the sleeve, probably a drink that some customer had knocked over or that he or the boys had made at the bar. There was a small tear in the collar and it was halfway down his hip. Sunghoon's torn and worn jeans gave the outfit a total charm and it made you smile through your tears because it was so characteristic of him.
"SunghoonâŚ" you decided to call him after you didn't get an answer from him, earning you his gaze straight away.
Sunghoon's brow furrowed at the sight of you crying next to him and his heart squeezed even tighter because he didn't know how to act in the face of so much worry and nervousness. He had seen you cry many times before, but what had gotten into him to act like that? Why was he being so rude when all you had done was go to his bar to drink and cry? Something was happening and he needed to act, but he wasn't thinking straight.
So he didn't think much of it either when he turned and raised his hands to hold your face, bringing your face close to his and leaning his forehead against yours. That act in itself was something between you and him beyond intimacy. Something the two of you shared, in a mute attempt to convey the will to go further. To break through that barrier to touch lips and kiss. But neither you nor Sunghoon had ever done that.
His thumbs brushed against your cheek, the delicate touch contrasting with the roughness of Sunghoon's skin against yours. His breath hitched against your trembling lips and you almost asked him to go further, but you held back.
"Are you going to work tomorrow?" he asked suddenly, in a whisper. His thumbs were still caressing your cheeks and you let out a shaky sigh at the question.
"I don't want to set foot in that place any time soon" you said.
Opening your eyes to find Sunghoon's gaze already on you, your heart nearly leaped out of your chest when he looked directly at your lips. But just as quickly as he did this, he managed to look away and back at you properly.
"So I'm spending the night in your apartment" he kissed your forehead, lingering his lips against your skin before pulling away and straightening up in the driver's seat "You need to tell me why you showed up here at the bar on a Wednesday, crying."
"And you'll need to tell me why you fought with me today" you pouted, hearing him laugh for the first time since you met that night.
Sunghoon agreed, starting the car's engine to get out of there and head straight to his apartment.
Staying up late talking about what had caused all this was the right thing to do, even if your body was begging for some sleep after a long hot bath. You remember telling Sunghoon that it was trouble with your father, as usual. The way the man wanted to control your life in the worst possible way, not content with having decided your future, he wanted to decide anything else that involved you.
But the subject was cut off there, you didn't want to tell your best friend that the real reason you were crying wasn't even your father's control over your life and his idiotic hunches, but that in a few weeks, you wouldn't be here anymore. You would no longer live in this country and, worst of all, you would no longer see Sunghoon. That was better left unsaid as you fell asleep in his arms, preventing him from leaving your bed after hearing all your wails, promising that you wouldn't cry about it anymore.
Even though it was hard to think that you would no longer be close to him. That, in all this time, you hadn't even managed to declare yourself or hear a statement from him. So now being in another country, with unrequited love â or so you both thought â couldn't be worse.
Either that or the little hangover that took over your body as soon as dawn broke and you opened your eyes. The slight difficulty in keeping them open when you groped around and didn't feel Sunghoon's warm body anywhere. Had he already left, then? Or had he decided to sleep in the guest room in the middle of the night? This last option is ruled out because you remember turning over a few times in the early hours of the morning or stirring in your sleep and feeling his arms around you. It was one of the times he slept in the same bed as you, doing so only when your friends went to sleep in your apartment and used the other two spare bedrooms. This was done more often than you thought, but it wasn't so important to think about it now.
Sitting up in bed after much pondering, you felt your head spin a little and your eyes finally open. Contemplating the moment when you should have been at your father's company â which would soon be yours â but here you were, in your apartment after a wave of hangover hit on a Thursday morning. It wasn't that bad, you remember doing it a few times while you were at college. The only difference was that the place would be full of university students, your friends who were supposed to meet up at the bar on Friday. But one of them was certainly there in your apartment at that moment, and you realized it as soon as you got out of bed to walk out of the room.
The smell of food invaded your nostrils as you walked down the corridor to the top of the stairs. Noises of cutlery and frying and an undeniable smell of coffee pulled you further and further into the kitchen of your apartment. Sunghoon was unbelievable and you knew he would do anything to see you well. You just didn't know that he would prepare an entire breakfast when the scene in front of you said so.
"Good morning" he smiled at you when he saw you leaning against the doorframe, sleepy and even more beautiful than he remembered.
Your smile soon followed and you almost fell back when your eyes finally caught up with him. He had slept without his shirt on, but seeing him like that right in front of you was too much. Sunghoon was wearing sweatpants belonging to Jake, who always left his or Jay's clothes at your apartment every time he went there with you, Stella, and his girlfriend. Sunghoon also had a few pieces here and there, but Jake's pants were the first he'd found the night before, so putting them on quickly to wrap you in a hug was the only thing he could think of at the moment.
"Good morning" you decided, pushing aside any thoughts and smiling at him, approaching in slow steps the slender, gorgeous guy who was preparing a mug of coffee "Is that for me?"
He hummed excitedly, putting a few things into the mug before turning and handing it to you.
"I found some things in your cupboard and I think I may have managed to replicate my grandfather's coffee, the one we had at university."
"Don't play games with me" you pouted as you picked up the mug "Are you serious?"
He leaned down to touch his lips to the top of your head, sniffing your hair and smelling the shampoo on your strands.
"You tell me" Sunghoon moved away to finish making the pancakes and arrange the bacon and eggs on the table on the other side of the counter, where he turned around and walked away from you.
Your eyes captured the whole moment as he took a long sip of coffee. It was just like his grandfather's, perhaps with a little more cinnamon and a hint of vanilla that you felt as the liquid went down your throat. It might have been Sunghoon's style, but the essence was completely his grandfather's from what you remembered from university. Smiling at this, you watched him set up the whole breakfast game while humming some tune you couldn't identify because your brain was focusing on his every move. The muscles flexed as he bent over to arrange the plates, or how his brow furrowed as he balanced the juice container on the table.
You didn't want to feel your heart squeeze at that scene because Sunghoon had already done it a few times. For both you and your friends, it was normal to see him excited about making breakfast or being so domestic. But it wasn't normal for you to feel like you might explode, that you needed to tell him that in a few weeks, you'd both be far enough apart that he'd â maybe â even forget about you.
"Hey, Y/n" his voice was desperate and snapped you out of your thoughts when you noticed him running away from where you were to come towards you. You only realized you were crying when he took the mug from your hand and ran his fingers down your cheek, collecting your freshly fallen tears "What happened? Did I do something wrong or�"
"No, you didn't do anything wrong" you sobbed quietly, your hands encircling his fists as Sunghoon held your face between them.
"So what happened?" he asked. "Is there something else bothering you?"
Yes. I'm practically moving out and we won't see each other for who knows how long. You choked on that thought as you looked into his eyes, the concern evident and the glint that adorned the dark orbs that you admired so much.
Your thoughts were consuming you as Sunghoon leaned towards you, trying to listen or hoping that words would come out of your mouth so that he could understand what was happening to you. In his mind, something at breakfast or the night before was completely wrong.
He may have overstepped the mark when he held you while you slept, keeping you close to his body the whole time. Or that he went through your kitchen and prepared a huge breakfast on a weekday when you were supposed to be in your office and you were here with him. But that didn't make sense and he just wanted to think that you were vulnerable from having bad times with your father and the weight on your back from trying to please him at all costs.
Sunghoon understood how burdened you were by this how much you disliked what you had and how your relationship with your father was, he understood from the moment you two met. That's what made you fall in love with him because he always understood you. And he fell in love with you because he saw you beyond any designer clothes you wore or jewelry your father gave you to put around your neck. He saw your eyes, your smile, he saw you for real.
And he was seeing it now, in front of him in your kitchen, and as your tears slowly dried until you stopped crying. Sunghoon thought about asking you again what had happened or if you wanted him to leave so you could be alone, but it was his turn to have his mind flooded with nothing but you when he felt your lips on his.
Suddenly, without any pretext, you simply leaned forward and kissed him.
Sunghoon's hands ran to your waist and pulled you against his body, afraid that this was his mind betraying him, or that he was daydreaming about your lips against his. But as soon as you whimpered softly to ask for permission to kiss him, he knew he wasn't dreaming.
Tongues soon intertwined and the taste of coffee in your mouth quickly passed into his mouth, making Sunghoon moan softly as he pressed you between his body and the kitchen counter. It was a repressed feeling since the time you two discovered such feelings and that you held onto until the present moment. If he had known that kissing you would be like this, that your mouth would fit perfectly on his, and that you would have the sweetest breath against his lips, Sunghoon would have kissed you much sooner. He would have taken advantage of every opportunity he had around you, your mouth, or the moments when you two almost kissed by accident. He should have done all this before because it was heavenly to feel your mouth move against his.
It was all too much and the way you were making him feel, but when your nails slid to the back of his neck, sanity had long since left Sunghoon's body. He slid his hands down your thighs and supported your body to place you sitting on the kitchen counter. The icy marble on your thighs and half of your ass where the shorts couldn't cover, you moaned against his mouth and leaned your body forward with a shiver running through you. Your chest pressed against his and Sunghoon fit between your legs, as little space as possible between the two of you.
Pulling away after a long while, he rolled his eyes to your lips to notice a thin layer of saliva and the redness of your bottom lip. Swollen and all beautiful while he wasn't much different. Your chest rose and fell to normalize your breathing and he kept his hands resting on the counter beside each of your thighs.
âY/nâ he called your name, voice hoarse like a plea for you to keep him between your legs even after the kiss was over.
"Yeah?" you answered him, hands running down his chest and feeling Sunghoon's heart speed up under your fingers when your hand stopped there. Your eyes stared into his as your legs pressed against Sunghoon's ass to press him between your legs.
âShitâ he moaned as the growing erection pressed between your legs, the heat of your still-covered pussy making him shudder.
Quickly Sunghoon's hands slid down your thighs and went to the waistband of your pajama shorts, grabbing the fabric without taking it out of place. You tightened your legs around his waist again and at that moment you saw him gain courage and roll your hips against his. Sunghoonâs dick was rock hard and you couldnât hold back your moan as the perfect movement made the head of his dick press against your swollen clit. The wonderful friction of dry fucking as he alternated his hips between rolling and going back and forth, only to be able to draw moans from your lips each time his dick got the perfect pressure on your pussy.
âSunghoonâ you moaned his name, hands moving down from his chest to his stomach slowly. The nail scratched all the way down forming a red trail against the white skin in front of you. You stopped with your fingers on the waistband of the pants he was wearing, swallowing hard when his hand on the waistband of your shorts went down.
"Yes, my love?" he whispered. So deep making your pussy clench around nothing, and it was pathetic how you felt like this while he had barely touched you.
âCan youââ your voice hitched, your eyes closed quickly when Sunghoon's fingers entered your shorts and panties, going straight to your wet clit.
His moan made you moan too, combined with the pressure of his fingertips rubbing circles on your muscles in need of attention. It felt so good not to have to ask him for much, knowing that the impulse to kiss him was making you do this kind of thing that you didn't even know would happen. Much less him.
Feeling like you had kissed him was something Sunghoon never thought would happen, especially since you were always shyer than him. All the advances and physical contact between the two of you came from him, so he thought that, if one day there was a kiss between you and him, he would definitely make the first move. But since it hadn't happened, Sunghoon was left to enjoy that moment because he knew he was giving himself as much as you.
You could no longer hold back the desire he had to have you in his arms, at his fingertips, wrapped around his dick. Sunghoon wanted to feel you.
"That is good?" he asked as he ran his fingers down your pussy lips, parting them with the obscene sound of your wetness spreading. You would be embarrassed just to hear it, but you no longer cared as his fingers worked wonders on your pussy.
âThat feels wonderfulâ you moaned as he circled his index finger around your entrance, feeling like you had clenched around nothing. As impatient as he is.
With a movement away, you almost cried when you no longer felt Sunghoon's fingers in your pussy. Almost grabbing him back and shoving his hand where you needed him most. But everything calmed down when you saw that he was grabbing your shorts and panties, asking you to lift your hips so he could remove what was getting in the way.
Soon the pieces of clothing were on the floor and you thanked the gods for being free down there, with his hand returning to surround your clit in circular movements. Sunghoon's nimble and skilled fingers made small drawings on your pussy while his other hand went up to your face and held it. Cupped between your cheek and neck so that he kept your face close to his while the fingers in your pussy were slid to your entrance.
âDonât hide your sounds from me, okay?â he asked as he introduced two fingers at once, watching you bite your bottom lip hard. Sunghoon smiled when you opened your eyes to look at him, nodding as you let your moans come out freely.
The stretch of your pussy felt divine to him, his fingers covered in arousal and your walls clenching so deliciously as he went deeper with slow movements. Not because he wanted to torture you, but because he was taking his time as he felt you getting wetter and wetter so he could take his cock.
Meanwhile, his hands reached down with difficulty to the waistband of the pants he wore to sleep, pushing it down just to free the head of his dick. Because you didn't have enough strength to continue the work since Sunghoon's fingers in your pussy took away any concentration you had. He chuckled softly at your snort of displeasure at not getting what he wanted to do, then he leaned in to kiss your lips.
A tender, slow, and affectionate kiss. With your tongues moving against each other romantically, silently conveying that you two loved each other, even if it was never said in the first place.
Sunghoon removed his fingers from your pussy with a pornographic pop due to the amount of juices coming out of there. He took the opportunity to lower his pants to his feet and use his fingers, wet with your essence, to wrap around the head of his dick and smear it along with the precum that came out of there. That scene could be worth any orgasm he had as you watched him slowly masturbate in front of you, with his finger full of you and his precum. This was making you so hot that you decided to take off your pajama shirt, now matching his nudity.
You pulled him by the back of his head and kissed him. Wanting to occupy your mouth or something other than focusing on his dick that was already throbbing to be inside you, soon feeling him pull you closer to the edge of the kitchen counter and feeling his dick against your thigh.
âLet me know if itâs too much, okay?â he asked gently against your lips, you sighed softly and agreed, whispering a slow âyesâ to him.
As if he already knew your body, Sunghoon was precise in positioning the head of his dick in your pussy and sliding it from your clit, the soaked lips, and your entrance. Collecting even more of your juices until the head of his cock was in your hole. Slowly entering your pussy with almost stopping movements, just so that you felt comfortable each time he moved inside you to penetrate a little more.
Your nails scratched every inch of his skin that was visible and touchable to you, and he smiled, satisfied, knowing that those marks would remain on his skin for a long time. Not that it was a bother because Sunghoon would happily tell anyone who asked that it was his girl who had done it.
âFuckâ you grunted as his pelvis finally slammed against yours, his dick completely inside you. Big and throbbing, touching your spongy part in a slow movement that he made as he started to pull out and re-enter your pussy.
âAre youââ he moaned âFuck, Y/nâ Sunghoonâs lips found yours again.
Your hot pussy sucking his cock was the best feeling Sunghoon could have felt in his life. It was as if your pussy had molded itself to him in just a few seconds while he was inside you, no longer wanting to come out.
âYou can move now, Hoonieâ calling him that nickname always made something in Sunghoon light up, but the way you whimpered and then moaned, made Sunghoon's hips slam hard against yours.
He would even apologize for how careless he was in fucking you like that because he wanted to take it slow and take his time. He wanted to enjoy every movement, but the excitement of hearing you call him made something click in him.
Responding to your requests, Sunghoon began to move between your legs. His cock moved in and out slowly but hit you hard every time his pelvis met yours. The sound of skin slapping together, accompanied by the moans you two shared was the soundtrack of that kitchen. Sunghoon went back to cupping your face in his hands, cupping each side of your cheek to keep your face in place as he fucked your hips against his. Your legs wrapped around him pressing your thighs against his waist to press him further as he bottomed out, his cock reaching your cervix with each hard thrust until the end.
âYou feel so good, loveâ he moaned close to your mouth, his gaze falling between your bodies to see his cock being swallowed by your pussy. The white ring of his excitement wetting his dick to his pelvis when he got close to your pussy.
The lazy smile he gave you when he looked back at you, his face fucked up and his eyes focused on his every move.
âHoonieâ you called him.
"Yes, love?" he leaned in, mouth brushing against his and hip movements never stopping as he tried to hear what you had to say.
It could be the horniness taking over you, or the need to say it because you didn't know when you would have another opportunity. And if it would have. He could run away and never see you again, but you would need to take that chance while you were being fucked by him in your kitchen.
Your hands reached for his hands on your face, sliding one of them along the prominent veins on Sunghoon's forearm. He sighed softly at the touch, smiling against your mouth.
âI'm in love with youâ your voice followed by a loud moan as he slammed his hips against yours, his cock entering your pussy completely.
The action itself was a shock because he wasn't expecting it. Maybe hearing you say that he was doing great, that his cock was something amazing, or something related to the sex you two were sharing. But never something he looked forward to hearing, not when his dick was buried inside your pussy.
Sunghoon slowed down the pace of his thrusts, remaining with his hands on your face before taking your lips in a slow kiss, sucking the tip of your tongue to your lower lip.
âI've always wanted to hear thatâ he sighed breathlessly, one of his thumbs going down to your bottom lip and pressing there âBecause I've been in love with you since we met, Y/n.â
It would be romantically beautiful if he didn't have his hair disheveled, sweaty, and plastered to his forehead. And if you weren't oozing excitement from your pussy onto the kitchen counter and his dick if your body wasn't on the verge of exploding. But no matter how you and him were, hearing that made things a little better for you.
âThen show meâ you whispered âMake me cum on your cock.â
He just nodded without having the courage to contradict you or say how sexy you were commanding him like that. Because Sunghoon also wanted to cum and it wasn't much different from you.
Returning the ministrations of your hips against his and burying his cock in you, he accelerated the pace of his thrusts, and the sound of skin slapping filled the kitchen again. His cock buried itself deeper and deeper into your pussy and soaked between your thighs and his abdomen each time he went even deeper into you.
Sunghoon pressed his thumb again on your lower lip, collecting some of your saliva so he could wet his finger and go down to your clit. Spreading your saliva there to stimulate the neglected muscle as he fucked his dick inside you.
âCome for me then, love. I want to hear you moan my nameâ he whispered close to your ear, sliding his mouth down your neck and biting the place eagerly.
Teeth dug into your skin as he sped up his thrusts as he felt his cock pulse inside you and your pussy squeeze him against its walls. Sunghoon could scream right then and there when he felt you contract around him, moaning his name as he asked and writhing on the kitchen counter. Your nails dug into his shoulders as a way to balance himself, taking possession of the man who fucked you so good and squeezed your clit until he extracted the last drop of your cum.
âI want you to cum inside meâ you whispered close to his ear, taking advantage of the fact that Sunghoonâs lips were still on your neck âPlease, Hoonie.â
You could be a huge motherfucker and he had never seen that side of you until now. But it also wasn't complaining that you were like that with him, on the contrary. It was great to see this side of you from the angle and position he was in.
Sunghoon gave a few more thrusts into your convulsing and overstimulated pussy, going deep with his dick until jets of cum painted each of your walls white, feeling the heat take over your pussy as he slid his dick inside you. Pulsating and incredibly skilled, pushing harder and harder until he stopped cumming inside you.
He was stunned and panting, teeth sliding across your skin and a hickey left in place before he pulled away to rest his forehead against yours. Still keeping his cock inside you to have the heat of your pussy envelop him a little more.
âYouâŚâ he started saying, clearing his throat when he felt it dry. You knew what he was going to say, trying not to show any sadness and just focusing on the moment he was having. âYou really meant that, didnât you?â
âAbout being in love with you?â you asked, seeing him agree with a shy nod. As if he didnât still have his dick inside you and had fucked you just a few minutes ago âOf course I do.â
âGoodâ Sunghoon smiled at you, kissing your lips to get out of your pussy and prevent you both from moaning loudly at the feeling of each otherâs emptiness âNow letâs clean ourselves up, shall we?â
It was your turn to agree, accepting his help to get off the counter and go to your room.
You didnât want to say anything to him about not seeing each other anymore or about how you were leaving. Many possibilities were running around your mind and you thought of something that might work. But none of them were involved in facing Sunghoon face to face after today.
"A letter? Who would send that nowadays?â Sunghoon laughed as he took the envelope from Jay's hand, rolling his eyes and pulling out a chair to sit down.
It was close to lunch and the bar wasn't even close to opening, but he and his best friends always went at that time to have lunch together and clean the bar before the night was full of the customers they always used to come to.
It was Friday and he was excited because he knew he would spend time with his friends and, more than that, he would spend his time with you. He would finally have you with him after telling you he was in love with you and hearing that you were in love with him back. Sunghoon could have sworn this was all a dream because less than two days ago he heard it, waiting for a long time since college.
But if all the waiting was made up for with the sex you two had in the kitchen, then continued in the bedroom and ended up in the bathroom of your apartment, he would be completely happy with having waited so long.
âOpen it already, dudeâ Jay whined âOr Iâll do it and read it out loud.â
Sunghoon denied all of Jay's theatrics and rolled his eyes, opening the envelope that had no sender, only the recipient. He sighed as he unfolded the paper inside.
âItâs a letter from Y/nâ he smiled at the paper when he recognized your handwriting.
Jay also smiled, remembering the day before when he received Sunghoon's call after he left your house. Telling everything that had happened, maybe omitting some details so it wouldn't be so embarrassing for Jay, but he still wanted to tell about the small statement. About how he saw the sparkle in his eyes when he heard that you were in love with him and how you shivered in his arms when he heard that it was reciprocal.
But also, how could it not? Sunghoon would be crazy if he wasn't in love with you back. He would call himself every name possible for not realizing how amazing you were and how passionate you were too.
As he read that letter, the smile disappeared and Jay did the same, not understanding why Sunghoon seemed so apprehensive reading something you had sent him. Not after the time the two of you shared.
âHey, dudeâ Jay called him, but all Sunghoon did was crumple up that paper and throw it on the table.
Leaving without saying a single word he rolled up the bar door and disappeared from there.
âWhat happened to him?â Heeseung appeared next, startled by the noise the door made as soon as Sunghoon left.
Jay was just as confused as he was, not wanting to invade his friend's privacy, but he was worried and knew that Sunghoon or Heeseung would do the same for him if they saw him like that. So the boy did the most sensible thing, which was to crumple the paper to read the letter you had written to Sunghoon.
His eyes widened with each word before reading specific things you had written, one of them being the reason why Sunghoon had left there like that.
Maybe it was our last moment together because, in a few weeks, I'm moving to Switzerland. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I just⌠I was scared.
Jay put the pieces together little by little. So that was the reason that made you go to the bar crying on Wednesday, you were moving to Switzerland. And you would lose Sunghoon one way or another because you certainly had your father's hand in this decision, which certainly wasn't his.
Now all that was left was to know what the boy would do with this information, because the way Sunghoon left that bar, he hadn't taken the news very well.
Š ikeuverse, 2024. do not copy, translate or steal my stories.
#enhypen smut#sunghoon smut#enhypen sunghoon#enha smut#sunghoon angst#enhypen angst#sunghoon x reader#enhypen x reader#enhypen hard hours#sunghoon hard hours#enhypen masterlist#enhypen imagines#bay writes.
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may I ask for a oneshot with jinx like introducing her girlfriend, fem!reader to vander/warwick? and for a while he's like just sniffing and eyeing her suspiciously or whatever until he sees her and jinx in a super like intimate and sincerely loving moment?
also! may I be đŤ anon? :3
Hi! Yes you absolutely may! i loved this request, and I hope you love what I wrote based off of it!
'How I met your grandfather'
pairing: Jinx X Fem!Reader
genre: fluff, maybe a hint of hurt/comfort
Wc: 2835
You sigh as you enter Jinxâs hideout, shoulders sore and the bags under your eyes growing heavier and heavier. You'd been out with Sevika keeping the lanes in check after the Stillwater breakout, and it was tireless. Enforces had been down your throats the entire time, and balancing keeping the enforcers from beating angry zaunites while also wanting to beat the shit out of them yourself had taken its toll.Â
The lanes have been a never-ending job since Silco died.Â
You felt horrible for leaving jinx alone after the attack, but she understood. You worked for Silco when he was here, and now sevika. She knew what your job entailed and was used to you being gone for days at a time.Â
Stepping onto the still wings of the fan, you were confused by the noise or lack thereof. Her hideout was never quiet, always the sound of her tinkering, or having dance parties and bug-boxing matches mixed with Ishas giggles.Â
âIâm home! Anybody here?â you call out into the air. The only response is the echo of your own voice. âIsha? Jinx?â you call out once more. Confused, you walk up to her workstation, cluttered and disorganized as always. You're met with a note on her desk, your name in her distinctive scribbly handwriting on the front page.Â
âHey trinket, we found Vander. Took him to some mystery healer on the edge of Zaun. Meet us there if we aren't back before you.
Love yaâÂ
Your eyes widen as you scan the letter once more, her lack of detail slightly worrying. Questions flooded your brain as you flipped her vague note to find directions on the back.Â
Scurrying to get your things together as quickly as possible, you take off in the direction of this âmystery healerâ, your heavy boots loud as you run to find your girlfriend and her back from the dead dad
________________________________________________________________________
You're slightly panting as you reach the gates she directed you to, having sprinted half the way there, and jogged the other half. Pausing for a moment as you catch your breath, you make eye contact with a man standing in front of the gates.Â
His eyes are white, and he's covered in these bubbly pearlescent patterns, donned in the strangest clothes you've seen. You manage to mutter âThe fuckâŚâ before heâd beckoning you closer.Â
You slowly stand up straighter, distrust evident in your features as you begin to approach him.Â
Deciding that you in fact, do not want to open the can of worms that is the freaky-looking man with a blank expression, you attempt to walk straight past him, eyes set on the entrance in front of you, searching for any sign of wild blue hair or large semi robot beast.
You're stopped by Mr. Freaky before you can waltz past, his thin frame swerving in front of you. âI must ask that you turn in any weapons before entering,â he says, an odd cadence in his voice that you've never heard from a zaunite. You scoff at this request, âyeah, no thanksâ you reply before attempting to shove past once more.Â
You stopped once again, his tone firmer this time. âI must insist, as it is the policy of the Machine Heraldâ. You consider just socking the guy in the face and making a run for it but decide that you don't know what kind of crazy superpowers this guy might have, and to be quite honest you don't want to find out.Â
âLook, not gonna happen. Not sure who this âmachine heraldâ is, but I'm looking for someone else. Just let me pass, iâll be on my merry way and you can keep doing whateverâŚ. This isâ the annoyance shameless drips from your voice now, you have places to be and this guy is single-handedly keeping you from said places.Â
He once again denies you access, and you lose your shit. You're now (loudly) in a full-blown argument with this guy, neither of you budging. His voice is only starting to rile you up more, and you're an inch away from executing your hit-and-run plan from earlier when you hear the raspy voice of your lover calling your name.Â
You freeze immediately, fist pausing mid-air as your eyes dart behind the man to see Jinx, leaning against the entrance, arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face.Â
âStand down, sergeant. No beating the greeter.â her voice is sarcastic and teasing, and you sigh in defeat. Arms dropping and face annoyed as you reluctantly hand the man your pistol and several pocket knives that you keep strapped to you in various places.Â
Once unarmed, the man simply smiles and steps aside, and you make sure to knock him in the shoulder before stomping over to your girlfriend.Â
Your annoyance subsides as you see her smiling face, your arms immediately wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her close. You feel her relax into your embrace, strong arms circling your waist and giving you a good squeeze before pulling back.Â
âWhat the hell is this place, and why did that fish-man never change his facial expression once?â you question your voice laced with confusion and slight concern.Â
She simply shrugs her shoulders and turns to start guiding you through the odd community full of tents and more people with white eyes and pearlescent patterns. âVi said she knew of a healer here in the lanes. Said he was performing some miracles or some magic bullshit.â she spins on her heel to look at you while continuing to walk backward. âPersonally I think he's just some weird purple fortune teller, but Vi trusts him and Vanders actually getting better, so..â her voice softens during the last part of her sentence, voice trailing off as her eyes cast slightly downward.Â
You pause in your tracks, shock evident on your features. âWait, Viâs here?â not even attempting to hide the surprise in your voice at the mention of her estranged sister.Â
She sighs, once again avoiding eye contact. âYeah, I mean, it's her dad too. Didn't feel right not letting her know that he's alive, at least.â you slowly nod as you come to terms with her reasoning.Â
âAnywho! Now we're here at this weird commune run by a metal fortune cookie that can read minds and I dead honestly think this place is a cult. Everyone here is weird. And the only good food is the fruit. The only snacks are trail mix and it's all eighty percent raisins,â her lip curls in disgust, shaking her head slightly before continuing. âI fucking hate raisins. Just give me a grape, I don't want its juiceless corpse as an alternative.âÂ
You snort at her wording, but can't help yourself agreeing. Raisins suck and it's a crime to ruin perfectly good snacks with them.Â
You continue to follow her, passing tents all full of people dressed similarly to the first man you met. Some were in tents that looked more like workshops, cooking, and sewing, and some in tents that looked more like homes, full of pillows and blankets and small furniture pieces.Â
She continues to ramble about this place, she mentions that Isha is off in a tent somewhere helping a group of women weave a blanket (boring), how the healer (who you figured out is the machine herald from earlier) somehow knew her childhood name, and how Vi had turned into some emo looking alcoholic and lost another fight to jinx in an underground tunnel.Â
Finally, her walking begins to slow as you both reach a greenhouse near the middle of the village. It's a dome made of detailed stained glass, and you can vaguely make out the shape of the massive frame of Vander inside. You spot Vi sitting on the edge of what seems to be a water well, and Jinxâs description isn't too off. You make a mental note of the poorly done hair job and vow to make fun of her for it later.Â
When Vi looks up and spots you, she sends you a nasty glare before stomping away with an excuse of finding Isha. You roll your eyes, so what if you've tried to kill each other a couple of times? No big deal, honestly.Â
Jinx also rolled her eyes and dismissed her sister with a wave of her hand. âSheâll get over it, don't worry. She was just as dramatic when I went to find her.â
She simply crossed her arms, leading you to a bench outside the greenhouse. Once sat, she slumps into your side, shoulder pressing against yours and head leaning against the side of your own.Â
âIt's weird, you know? It's him, he remembers me and Vi but⌠heâs also part of this beast he's trapped in. Vi keeps asking for my opinion on⌠All of this, but I have no clue. I think I'm still in shock from when I realized it was him.â She shakes her head, letting her voice trail off. You sit in silence for a moment, letting her words marinate in your brain.Â
You weren't sure how to respond, for Christ's sake, you barely even knew your own parents. What the hell do you say to someone who killed two of her dads, and then found out the first one is actually alive but trapped in the body of a hostile science experiment?Â
Deciding that there was nobody on the planet who could find the words to comfort someone in this situation, you simply grab her hand instead and allow her to rest against you. She knew what your body language meant when words failed you. She always did.Â
You sat like that for a while, enjoying each other's company and the quiet. It wasn't often that there was peaceful silence in Zaun, as silence usually meant danger. You both relished the feeling of letting your guard down for the first time in years.Â
Eventually, a man⌠or.. Robot? You weren't sure, steps out of the greenhouse. His body is a mix of purples and blues, looking like a painted night sky, and he is adorned in a cloak similar to those worn by the others on the commune. He approaches the both of you, still sitting on the bench, an aura of confidence and peace to him. His accent is thick when he finally addresses Jinx.Â
âI've decided to end our session today. Your father's condition is improving slowly but I can see him growing tired, and I fear pushing him too far may bear consequences.â he nods his head at you in a greeting as he finishes his sentence, before turning and walking away.Â
Jinx grumbles a response, something of a âthank youâ mixed with some sarcastic remarks, and you think you hear an âaluminum psychicâ mixed in there, but before you can think too hard she grabs your hand pulling you towards the greenhouse.Â
You stumble slightly, but follow her as she impatiently hops towards the door. Pushing the large door open, she drops your hand and runs inside. You're met with the smell of fresh plants and herbs as you follow her inside, slowly looking around the room and taking everything in as she runs over and wraps her arms around her father, asking how he's feeling.Â
His eyes immediately snap to you, a look of distrust and unease in his eyes as he stares you down. Jinx notices, and slowly steps back from her hug. She keeps her eyes on vander as she backs towards you, grabbing your hand before speaking.Â
âVander, this is my girlfriend.â her voice is soft as she begins to slowly walk towards him, hand still locked in yours.Â
Fuck, you were not prepared for the whole âmeeting the dadâ part of all of this. Sure, you've met one of her dads before, but that's because you worked for him, so the stereotypical introduction wasn't necessary at the time.Â
Attempting to calm your nerves and make a good impression, you clear your throat and lift your hand as an offering for a handshake. âHi- um, hello. Nice to meet you, sir. Big fan of your work. Both the daughter and the, uh, other stuff.â your voice shakes as you attempt a joke to try and relieve some of the tension growing in the small greenhouse.Â
Your introduction is met with silence, and then more silence, as Vander just stares at you, occasionally glancing between you and Jinx.Â
Finally, your girlfriend decides she's seen enough to rescue the situation, stepping between the two of you before breaking the screaming silence. âWell, this has been wonderful. Weâll let you get some rest for now, though.â she grabs your hand again, speedily leading you out of the greenhouse back into the peaceful village of tents.Â
Once outside you feel her drop your hand and pause, looking over to see her with her arms crossed and eyebrows raised, amusement causing the corners of her lips to curl up. âNice one! Real smooth, babe.â she teases. You shake your head, biting the inside of your cheek and resting your hands on your hips. âI don't wanna talk about it.â
_____________________________________________________________
Vander glances around at the smiling faces surrounding him. Sat at a small picnic table outside the greenhouse sat his family. His eldest daughter to his right, and the miniature Powder to his left. A feast of fruits, salads, and roasted vegetables covered the table. A dinner cooked by a group of people on the commune.Â
Across from him sat grownup Powder and her⌠girlfriend.
Vander was already struggling to come to terms with the fact that his daughters were now grown. It felt like no time had passed in his mind, but the years had left their mark on the girls nonetheless, and now he has to come to terms with his youngest daughter being out in the world of romance. His little girl, all grown up and dating women he'd never even met before.Â
He continues to stare at the two of you, giggling and talking with the others at the table, shoulders occasionally brushing together. His eyes were weary as he watched you two, despite the fact that Powder seems to trust you with everything, nothing changes his distrust and distaste towards seeing his little girl all grown up.Â
He continues this internal battle in his mind, struggling with the growing protectiveness only amplified by the traces of the beast still in his mind. Even the tiny powder trying to get him to eat and offering him water couldn't help distract him from the affection being shown from across the table.Â
He could tell you knew he didn't trust you, as every time you made eye contact your eyes would dart away, face casting downwards.Â
Eventually, the sun sets, and the conversation at the table begins to slow as the food in front of him is quickly destroyed by the hungry teens accompanying him, miniature powder having fallen asleep against his leg not too long after.Â
He watches as Powder begins to grow tired next to you, her eyes drooping and shoulders slowly slouching as she tries to keep herself awake. You notice, and gently nudge her before deciding it's time to call it a night. You stand, and pull Powder up from the bench she's sat on.Â
âC'mon, sleepyhead,â you grumble as you turn around and lean over. She turns around and throws herself onto your back, her legs going around your waist as you catch her and lift her until she's snuggly pressed into your back, her head leaning into your neck as her eyes close once more.Â
His eyes soften as he watches you make your way to his side of the table to pick up the miniature powder from his lap and lift her to your front, one arm wrapped around her keeping her small frame firmly against your chest, the other arm still hooked under one of Powders knees to keep her balanced against your back.Â
The act reminds him of when Powder and Vi were young and would fall asleep on the couch or at the barstools while he cleaned up the bar after a long night. The memories caused a pang in his heart, chest contracting at the memories of when they were young, reminding him of all the years he must have missed.Â
As you slowly begin to walk away towards the tent Vi directed them to, he speaks up before you're too far away.Â
His gravelly and deep voice calls out behind you, âIt was nice meeting you too..â you pause in your steps, turning your head to look at the man behind you to confirm you weren't hearing things. Upon seeing your face, he glances down before continuing, âYou seem like a good kid, you're, uh, good for Powder.âÂ
Your face slowly splits into a grin, simply nodding your head at him once, before turning and continuing your trek into the night.Â
Meet the future father-in-law: check.Â
____________________________________
A/N: ahhh first one shot let's go! hope you guys enjoy this one :3 luv my girl jinx that's my wife fr
#fanfic#fanfiction#arcane fanfic#arcane#arcane x reader#jinx arcane#jinx x reader#jinx#league of legends#jinx and isha#vander#warwick
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yesterday while feverish i wrote about how boats can moor next to each other like pigeons, cooing with the gentle rap of water against their hull. you once said that that the way i see things - birds in the water, feathers in marina paint - was "childish and naive." you said i'd been misdiagnosed - "it can't all be adhd. you might be just kind of stupid and lazy."
i still do certain things like how you taught me - turn the pillow case inside out before putting it on. drive defensively. hate myself entirely.
the prompt for this poem is "mahler's fifth." i wish it wasn't, but mahler's fifth was our song. it ended up in my book. every person that knows your name has promised me they'll give you one swift rabbit punch, right to the face. dean read the book and showed up on my front porch, drenched in sweat from running the 8 miles at 4 in the morning. he was shaking. pacifist and gentle - he works with children - i'd never seen him furious. a punch isn't going to do it, he said, and then said i'm sorry. i had to come to see if you were okay.
mahler's fifth was mine first, like my girlhood. i like the way each movement piles onto the next movement, each instrument bleeding into the next. i like the horn version the best. before i met you, i danced to it on grass still-wet from sprinklers.
later you would tell me that the way you heard it was somehow better. you understood something in it that i couldn't quite wrap my fingers into. once, on our anniversary, you asked the classical music radio station to play it for us. we missed hearing it because we were fighting. one of the things people get wrong about abuse is that sometimes victims are, like, brutally aware of the stupidity of our situation. what do you mean that you thought i wasn't good enough for you? you? you're just... nothing.
sometimes people can pull the poetry out of your life. i watched my words become clothesline, and then thin out into kite twine. i watched you chew through every good syllable of me. so many good songs and places and moments were ruined. i am glad you didn't like most of my music - less to tie back to you.
but still mahler's fifth. the music swells, and i am 21 and throwing up in a bathroom on my birthday. a woman i will later refer to as lesbian jesus runs a cool hand down my back, her perfect pantsuit starch-pressed. she told me to leave you. she said - and this is true, and not an invention of rhyme or fantasy - i'm you from the future.
i am 22, and i got home from an award ceremony, and i remember you telling me - you act so proud of yourself when you're actually so fucking embarrassing. i took you to disney world. you took my virginity. i gave up visiting spain for a week with my family - i instead choose you, to spend the time just-cuddling. you called it "our fuck week." the music swells. it probably should have been a red flag that for about 3 years - i just gave up on crying. my grandfather died and you said nothing. my uncle died and you ghosted me for 3 weeks. you said i need to protect myself from your ongoing tragedy.
every so often i come back to the memory of one of our last afternoons in person. i had just told you that i wasn't going to law school, despite the free ride - i was going to join a creative writing program. master's in fine arts. i was going to finally do it - i was going to follow my dreams. this blog was already internet-famous. however reluctantly, i would occasionally refer to myself as a poet. i got into umass amherst's writing program for fiction authors. it is one of the the top 5 programs in the country.
wait are you seriously considering actually attending that? dumbfounded, you turned completely towards me in your seat. for the 3rd time in our relationship, you almost crashed the car. you actually want to be a writer?
the first time i went viral, it was for a poem i wrote about you:
he wants to say i love you but keeps it to goodnight because love will take some falling and she's afraid of heights.
every time i see that, i want to throw up. you weren't in love with me, you were in love with the control you had over me. a little truth though: i am afraid of heights. you caught a rabbitgirl and skinned her alive.
mahler's fifth still makes me sick.
give me that back. give me back music. give me back everything i had before you. give me back fearlessness. give me back bravery. give me back a scarless body.
give me back what you took from me.
#nosebleed club#sorry stephen not ur fault#just like. thinking#writeblr#spilled ink#warm up#every time nat is like - oh let me get that for u#im like .... this is a trick right like ur gonna be mean now bc u did something nice rn#so obviously if ur being nice now either u did something mean and im about to learn about it#or you're going to BE mean#or ur gonna hold this over my head forever and i'll never get a nice thing ever again?#and every time nat is like .... babe i just actually like u#lesbian jesus story is 100% real btw. she also told me not to be an event planner#literally changed the shape of my life
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ᥣđŠ WE WERE BORN SICK
FEATURING: dazai osamu
SUMMARY: that sinking feeling that's been looming over you both has finally come to fruition. truths are revealed, questions are answered, but one big one remains: is love enough for you and dazai's relationship to survive this?
AUTHOR'S NOTES: happy fridayyyyy, i can't believe we only have one chapter left of civzai, it's actually makin me emotional </3 this chapter was quite a doozy to write, and i hope it's equally a doozy to read HAHAH no no jkjk , i hope you enjoy. also do u guys want to add an arcane au to the dazaiverse .. ive been thinking heavily about it. comments & reblogs appreciated
GENERAL WARNINGS: fem!reader, port mafia executive!reader, civilian!dazai, dazai's struggles w suicide & sh, reader partakes in mafia business, dazai isn't dazai without a bit of obsessiveness and possessiveness (the possessiveness doesn't come til later but the obsessiveness starts from day 0).
CHAPTER SPECIFIC WARNINGS: hardly edited. angsty chapter. explicit depiction of suicide (past recollection of dazai), implications of past self-harm (dazai), very toxic thought processes at certain parts (dazai), past (and a bit of current) suicide ideation (dazai), manic behavior (reader).
SEE: WASTELAND, BABY! SERIES MASTERLIST
âIâve been eager to meet you for quite a while. In all of the years Iâve known her, my little hime has never let something as trivial as a boy come between her and our work⌠I knew you must be special, but I never couldâve imagined just how special. Iâm so pleasantly surprised.â
Dazaiâs head throbs as he comes to his surroundings. Heâs laying in an uncomfortable bedâa hospital bed, he thinks, he can smell the unfortunately familiar scent of antiseptic, but the walls arenât the typical white heâs used to. He winces as he sits up, unable to recall where he is or what happened to him. Everything is too fuzzy, he remembers being with Fitzgerald, the car ride to the tea house, and-
And he remembers you.Â
He remembers you.
He lets out a shaky breath as he recalls the way youâd pulled him into your arms, cradling him close as soon as you got him back from Fitzgerald. God, he only got to be with you for what felt like a second. It wasnât enough time. It wasnât nearly enough time. You sent him off, he remembersâyou sent him with two of your subordinates, the weretiger and that freaky little girl, and thenâŚÂ
âShhh⌠Donât speak. I want to get this done and over with.â
The gun to his back, Atsushi and Kyoukaâs cries of shock, the baton to his head.
âNo can do, weretiger. On orders from the boss.â
His mind tracks back to the words that had been spoken as he was teetering on the edge of consciousness, mouth going dry and eyes widening as he becomes acutely aware of the other person in the room with him. His gaze flicks up to where a vaguely familiar man sits at a desk watching himâstraight chin-length black hair, inquisitive purple eyes, a long black coat, Dazai isnât sure where he recalls this man from but he knows that theyâve met before.Â
âWhoâŚâ Dazai asks, voice wavering as pain shoots through his head with every little movement. âWho are you? Have we⌠met before?â
His wrist hurts. His motherâs nails dig into his skin so deep that it draws blood, and he doesnât know whatâs going on. Heâd just been sleepingâis he still sleeping? He isnât sure. Heâs stumbling over his own feet trying to keep up with her, he keeps asking her whatâs going on but she doesnât answer him.Â
They turn a hall and his mother stops so suddenly that he slams right into her, nearly tripping over onto the ground. He doesnât even regain his footing before his mother is pulling him back the way he came, he looks over his shoulder trying to figure out what caused his mother to panic so badly and he looks atâa man?Â
Who is that?Â
Why is he coming from grandfatherâs room?
Is that-
Blood?
âShuji! Shuji, donât look back! Keep moving!â
Shuji? Whoâs Shu-
âI think you know the answer to that already.â Dazai is startled out of the memoryâwas that a memory?âby the manâs voice. He sounds amused, and from the way that his eyes are glittering, Dazai can tell heâs finding great entertainment out of this situation. It pisses Dazai off. âDonât you?â
âTane-chan, you know you wonât be able to hide him forever. Youâre just making this harder on yourself.â
Dazaiâs breath catches. He shifts backward on the bed to press his back against the wall. Everything is wrongâthe air is too cold, his bandages are itching, his head hurts, and he doesnât know whatâs going on. Who is Shuji? Why is he thinking of his mother after all of these years? And what⌠what was he remembering?Â
Memories of his youth have always been sparse and fleetingâhe can vaguely recall the faces of his siblings, the anxiety he felt around his grandfather, the lonelinessâbut something like this⌠The panic on his mothers face, the pain in his wrist, the way she was dragging him around, the fear in her voice when she screamed at Dazaiâwas he Shuji? But then whyâto not look back, to keep moving. He would remember something like that. That would be⌠crazy to forget, right?
What is going on?
âYouâre Mori,â Dazai breathes out, clearing his throat. He hopes he doesnât look as disconcerted as he feels, but he thinks he must. âYouâreâŚâ
The leader of the Port Mafia.Â
The closest thing you have to a father.
So, how does Dazai remember him from years ago? It doesnât make sense. He couldnât have been older than thirteen, maybe fourteen in that memory. What did he forget? When did he meet him? Whatâs going on? Dazai wants to scream, his mind is still slow from just waking upâhe doesnât even know how long he was unconscious, it couldnât have been that long.
Moriâs smile widens as if Dazai just walked right into whatever trap that had been laid out for him, violet eyes flashing with a type of cruel amusement that makes Dazai sick to his stomach. Dazai has to circle back to remember what he just said, he needs to snap out of the daze heâs in. He needs to think. He made a mistakeâDazai made a mistake. He shouldnât have admitted that he knew Mori. That was a mistake.
How does he fix it?Â
Can he fix it?
âYou do know,â Mori says, like he didnât actually expect Dazai to admit that he knew him. Like heâs pleasantly surprised. Again. Like Dazai just made things much easier for him. Shit. âInteresting.â
Heâs going to use it against Dazai. Dazai knows it. Heâs going to use it against him to hurt you. He remembers everything heâs learned about your relationship with Moriâhow he pit you against that other girl, Yosano, to get results from you. And he already said it. He already said that Dazai is getting between you and your work, heâll do the same thing here. Heâll pit you against him.
Heâs going to tell you that Dazai knew who Mori was, and that Dazai is someone that heâs notâwho is Shuji? Why doesnât he remember his own name? Is that really his name? How does Mori know all of this? Who is Dazai?âand Dazai needs to be able to say something. He needs to be able to explain. How does he explain this when he doesnât even know whatâs going on? Dazai needs to remember; he needs to remember now, he needed to remember yesterday, because if heâs not the one to tell you this⌠If he canât explain thisâŚ
This cannot be happeningâit canât. Right when he thought everything would be okay, when he would be with you. His throat starts to clog as anxiety clouds his head and weighs on his chest, a panic attack that he canât afford right now. He needs to think, he needs to figure out whatâs going onâMori knows something about Dazai that he doesnât know himself, and heâs going to use it against him to drive a wedge between the two of you. Heâs going to tell you, and-
Dazaiâs world feels woozy. Why canât he remember? How does he know Mori? What was happening that night with his mother? He needs to snap out of this, needs to think, but he canât even breathe. Fearâthe mind killer.
âI donât know whatâs going on,â Dazai rasps, his voice is hoarse, and he feels sick, and he hates admitting that he doesnât know whatâs happening, but he needs Mori to believe it so that he doesnât tell you something thatâs not true. âI donât know how I know you. I donât-â
âYou might believe that,â Mori says amused, âbut will she?â
Dazai stares at Mori, his stomach churns violently and his vision swims as the answer becomes abundantly clear to him.
He doesnât know.Â
âââ
The gun in your hand weighs heavily.
You hid it in the inside of your blazer to get up to the conference room. No weapons are allowed up past the thirty-fifth floor unless youâre one of the Bossâs hand-picked personal guardsâeven executives are forced to disarm themselves before going up, but security is much more lax for the upper echelon. Because youâre youâthe hime, second-in-command, the Bossâs daughterâthe guards outside of the elevator that goes directly to the top floor wave you past the metal detectors to go on up.
A mistake.
(Who is Tsushima Shuji? It canât be Dazai. You know Dazai. Mori must be wrong.)
The smile on your face is bland and doesnât meet your eyes as you walk down the hall to the conference room attached to Moriâs office. You greet the guards, and they donât notice how off your demeanor is, too starstruck over the fact that theyâre being acknowledged for once. They also donât notice the way your hand is curled around the grip of your gun in your blazer.
A mistake.Â
(Mori is never wrong. Do you really know Dazai?)
When you reach the end of the hallway, you toss them one last brilliant smile. This one is a bit more genuine because youâve realized that youâve gotten through the top notch security of the upper levels of the Port Mafia headquarters without a hitch. That youâre one step closer to finishing this. Theyâre so blinded by the beauty of your smile that they donât realize your teeth have sharpened into knives and the floral perfume you wear masks a putrid bloodlust.Â
A mistake.Â
(Itâs always been odd, hasnât it? The way he approached you. The way he was so insistent on pushing himself into your life. You always questioned it. There was a sinking feeling that something wasnât as it seemed. Why didnât you question it more?)
You keep your back turned as you slip into the room. You can feel four presences behind youâKouyou, Piano Man, Chuuya, Ace. No Mori. No Dazai. Thatâs fineâyou have something to take care of before they show up anyway. The conference room is soundproof; Mori designed it that way because he didnât want the guards outside to overhear any discussion of sensitive topics. Even if he handpicked them for their loyalty, he understands that money can make the most devout manâs faith waver. Still, itâs not them rushing in that youâre worried aboutâitâs the people in the room with you rushing out, so you very carefully twist the nub of the lock and then reach up to fix the deadbolt. It wonât stop them, but it will slow them. You can feel their eyes on you as you make sure the door is locked, but none of them call you out for it or try to stop you.
A mistake.Â
(Mori always told you that the Tsushimas were like cockroaches. If they all werenât killed, one would eventually return to reclaim their grandfatherâs empire. Thereâd be a power struggle between the factions loyal to the new regime and the ones that still hid in the shadows believing that the Tsushima blood belonged at the head of the organization. Everything the two of you had built would crumble to ashes.)
You turn to make your way over to the conference table where the four of them are sitting. You havenât decided how you want to go about this yet. You donât know who all was aware of what Mori did, and because of that, you donât know who needs to die. Treachery has always faced a death penaltyâyou donât care if Mori ordered it, you donât care that the Bossâs word is absolute, you have bled and breathed for the Port Mafia. Youâve sacrificed everything youâve ever owned and wanted for the Port Mafia. You have made the Port Mafia into what it is today with your efforts abroad and at homeâforeign governments, foreign criminal organizations, the Japanese government and other domestic mafias, all of them are just puppets that you pull the strings of to ensure the Port Mafia stays on top. Treachery against you will face the same penalty one would receive if they betrayed the Port Mafia, because you are the Port MafiaâMori has made sure of that.Â
Chuuya and Piano Man share a look with one another as you approach the table. Neither of them say anythingâis it confusion? Is it guilt? Did they know? Were you the only one unaware of the schemes going on around you? Were you the only one loyal? The only one you could trust?
Did they know?
Did they know?
(No one could ever love you without your ability at work influencing them. Youâve known that since the very beginning, but you were so quick to forget that when you discovered Dazaiâs ability. You should have had more questions, you should have been more suspicious. Mori had been right from the very beginning. You were emotionally compromised. You were weak.)
Ace opens his mouth to speak.
A mistake.Â
âIt was nice meeting your-â
Aceâs head hits the conference table with a hard thunk, his eyes wide and glassy, his mouth open around the words you didnât let him finish speaking. Blood seeps from the bullet hole in his temple and pools around his head and the ground beneath his chair, staining the glass table and the white floors.Â
Instead of lowering your arm, you shift it so that the gun is pressed against Piano Manâs temple next. Chuuya says your nameâitâs awful, something caught between a gasp of shock and confusion, heâs never said your name like that before. Like he doesnât know what youâre doing. Like he doesnât understand you. Like youâre something unfamiliar. Unrecognizable. You ignore him anyway, and the pangs that come along with it, and instead, you keep your gaze trained on Piano Manâs face.
Heâs not as panicked as Chuuya, but you can tell that heâs just as caught off guard from the way his lips are twisted. He watches you carefully, waiting for you to say whatever youâre going to sayâif you were going to pull the trigger, you wouldâve done so immediately, he knows that. Heâs always been good at reading you, better than even Chuuya sometimes.
âDid you know?â
Your voice is steadier than you expect it to be. Cold almost. Distant. You donât recognize it yourself, you suppose itâs no wonder that Chuuyaâs staring at you with such a foreign expression. You watch him just as carefully as he does you. He has a tell when he lies: he squints. Not an obvious squint, just the barest hint of his eyes squeezing shut like heâs calculating exactly what he wants to say, in what tone and with what fluctuation he wants to say it.
A subtle tell, but a tell nonetheless.Â
âNo.â
He stares at you steadily as he says it. Thereâs no squintâheâs telling the truth. You donât let out a breath of relief, but you certainly feel the weight off of your shoulders. You lower the gun, satisfied with his response, and then you walk over to where Chuuya is sitting.
You donât raise the gun to his temple immediately. He looks up at you, you look down at him, a whole conversation is had in the silence between you, and eventually he lowers his lashes in resignation, telling you to do what needs to be done for you to feel more at ease.
Heâs always put others before himself.Â
You lift the gun at the same time he lifts his gaze to meet yours. He could activate the Tainted Sorrow and end this before it starts, but he doesnâtâyou know in your gut that if you pulled the trigger right now, he would accept the fate you delivered. Probably would take it as a better one than he deservedâit being at your hands rather than Arahabaki.Â
âDid you know?â you ask. The words taste bitter, rancidâthey donât belong there, Chuuya would never betray you, but you had to hear it from him.Â
Chuuya doesnât have many tells when he liesâheâs a good actor, much better than people give him credit for. If he wanted to lie to you, he might be able to get away with it. But he wonât lie to you, not when heâs looking you in the eye.Â
âNo,â he says, voice soft and raspy like he canât believe he has to say it.
You let the gun drop to your side. It weighs heavier nowâheavier than it did in the elevator, heavier than it did in the hallway leading to the room, heavier than it did when it was pressed against Piano Manâs head. You can hardly bear to keep holding it, but youâre not done yet.
Slowly, your gaze turns to Kouyou. Her expression is cold and unreadable, gaze pinned on you in the same way a lion stalks its prey through the tall grass⌠No, thatâs not right. She stares at you with the same look in her eyes that a snake does when itâs curled in a corner, rattle shaking and hissing to try to scare off the predator that has it trapped.
âYou knew,â you breathe out softly in disbelief. Your voice hardens and tightens as you repeat, âYou knew!â
Before you can raise your gunâbefore you can pull the trigger four, five, six times, before you can riddle her body with holes because how dare she know, how dare she know and not tell you after what the previous boss did to herâthe door that separates the conference room from Moriâs office opens, and your attention is drawn to the one person who caused all of this.
âOh my,â Mori says airly, looking between you, Aceâs body, and Kouyou with an expression that is frustratingly amused. âI see youâve been busy.â
You donât even know what to say to that. You almost want to laugh. You think you do laugh, actuallyâsomeone does, and you think itâs you, because you feel yourself walking away, you lift your hands to your head to tug at your ears in frustration. Your vision is blurryâare you crying?
âYou betrayed me,â you finally say, voice quieter than you intend, so you raise it as you repeat yourself. âYou betrayed me. You. Of all people I never thought you would be the one to-â
You canât even finish the sentence, your voice cracks over the words. It makes you feel sick, it makes you angry, it makes you want to crawl out of your skin, because how could he? To you? You donât know why youâre so angry, why youâre so betrayed. Mori has always made it clear that his priority is the Port Mafia, but still, to do this to you. To do this to his-
To his what?
Youâre not his daughter. You hate when people imply that you are, you hate being called hime, you hate being called âMiss Moriâ, you hate when people give you respect because of your perceived relationship to him.Â
Heâs the only father youâve ever known. Almost every decision youâve made has been with the motive of making him proud of you. When he seeks out your opinion specifically during meetings, your chest becomes warm with pride.
You donât love him. How could you? Look at what youâve become because of him.Â
Then why do you feel so betrayed? Why did you think he would be the last person to do something like this to you when you know the type of person he is? Why does your chest feel like itâs caving in? Like your heartâs been ripped right out of it? Why does this hurt as muchâwhy does this hurt more than Dazaiâs potential betrayal?
And he certainly doesnât love you. He never would have done this if he did.Â
Heâs killed people for disrespecting youâhe hardly ever gets his own hands dirty, but he does when itâs you and your dignity on the line. He spends hours meticulously picking out birthday presents that he knows youâll like. He gets sad when he invites you for lunch and you donât join him, reminiscing about the days where you clung to the back of his coat.
He touches your shoulder, and your finger twitches on the trigger of the gun. You want to lift it, press it to his temple and pull the trigger just like you did to Ace, but you canât. Your arm feels like lead, and when his hand slides down to your bicep to force you to turn around and face him so that your back is to the rest of the executives, you dutifully follow along.
His expression is unreadable as he looks down at you, violet eyes swimming with an emotion youâve never seen in them before. He lifts his hand to wipe away one of the tears that had spilled over your cheeks with his knuckle, and then taps your cheek twice, chiding you silently.Â
Do not cry here, little hime. Not here.
âYou have always been so dramatic,â Mori hums just loud enough for you to hear, but the words are fond, and the corners of his lip curl up as he looks down at you. âI would not betray you. Not ever, dear.âÂ
You look at Ace pointedly in response and then back to Mori, the man sighs dramatically and gives you a disappointed look. The nerve, you think bitterly, narrowing your eyes on him as you wait for his explanation.
âI told you,â Mori says. âI did this to protect you. I wanted to get ahold of the boy-â
âBecause you have some mistaken belief that heâs a Tsushima,â you interrupt coolly. âHow did you even manage to come up with that ridiculous theory?â
Moriâs eyes flicker with something akin to interest, but shifts quickly into pityâyou canât tell if itâs genuine or mocking, and you donât know which would be worse. He must be mistaken, he has to be. You donât think you can handle the implications of if he isnât, of what it might mean for you. For Dazai. Your whole relationship with him. How much was manufactured for him to get information about the Port Mafia? So he could get a foothold in the organization? Get in contact with the remaining loyalists to his family?
âSit,â he tells you, guiding you over to the seat at the right of the head of the table. âIâll explain everything, but first⌠Shuji-kun, why donât you come out and join us?âÂ
Your breath catches at Moriâs words, gaze twisting to the side over to the door that heâd come out of. You watch as the door creaks open, and the achingly familiar sight of his face finally comes into view. Youâve missed himâyouâve missed him, and you hate this. You should be back at your apartment with him, you should have him curled up in your arms, you should be listening to him complain about how long he was stuck with the Guild.Â
This shouldnât be happening. You shouldnât be sitting at the executive roundtable with Aceâs dead body a few feet away, and Dazai entering the room, questions of his identity, of whether or not heâs been using you for information and opportunity to take back his grandfatherâs legacy.Â
You hoped that Dazai would enter the room angry, irritated by the kidnapping and the accusations, but you donât think youâve ever seen Dazai look like this before. He looks a mess, fidgeting, brown hair matted to his forehead, dark eyes wide and swirling with emotion. When he seeks you out, theyâre pleading, imploring, like he already knows that whatever is about to be said is going to be bad for him.Â
He looks⌠frazzled. Nervous. Confused.Â
He looks guilty, and you know that Mori is telling the truth.Â
How much of this was a lie? All of it?
Your throat feels uncomfortably tight, gaze sliding from Dazai back to Mori.
âTell me.â
Who are you, Dazai Osamu?
âââ
Despite his body being wracked with a strange sense of guilt, Dazai pushes open the door to enter the room where he assumes youâll be waiting. Youâre not the only one there sitting at the tableâthereâs five⌠no, four othersâbut Dazai canât help the way he immediately seeks you out. He recognizes his mistake instantly. That highly unwelcome, and highly misplaced, guilt amplifies the moment his gaze meets yours and he sees how crushed you are by all of this. His face twists into something that he knows condemns himself more. and from the way you instantly look away from him, directing your full attention to Mori, he knows he has.Â
Now, you wonât meet his eyes at all.
Dazai sits stiffly across from you to the left of Mori. Nakahara Chuuya is on his opposite side, glaring holes into the side of Dazaiâs head, but he canât drag his gaze from you. Heâs never seen you like this beforeâeven back at the beach house when youâd been so close to breaking down under the weight of everything on your shoulders, youâd held yourself together as best you could.Â
Youâre unraveling now; he can tell youâre still trying to hold yourself together, but itâs as good as trying to pick up water with your fists, your emotions spill out through the cracks carved into the walls you used to hide yourself behind. Mori hasnât even begun talking, yet your breath is unsteady and your eyes are swimming with emotion; your fingers are still wrapped tight around the grip of your gun, and Dazai is very acutely aware of Aceâs dead body slouched over the table not even a few feet away.Â
And you wonât even meet his eyes.
Maybe itâs a good thing, he realizes, because Dazai isnât sure what you might see if you do. You clearly didnât like what you saw the first time. He just feels so guilty, and he doesnât even know why he feels guilty because heâs not-he didnât do any of what Mori implied. He didnât use you, he didnât know who you were before meeting you, it wasnât all some scheme to try to take over the mafia. Thatâs ludicrousâheâs a literature student at YNU, not some gang lord. He just-
He loved you. Loves you. No ulterior motives. No strings attached.Â
âI said tell me,â you snap when Mori doesnât immediately begin talking. âYou love talking, so why are you holding back now? Tell me, or Iâm leaving.â
Dazai feels a bit sick to his stomach when you say âIâ with no implication of taking him with you. He tries to get you to look at him again, silently pleading with you to just spare one glance in his direction, but youâre irritated now. He can see it in the way your fingers flex around the gun, knuckles whitening and finger twitching on the triggerâitâs pointed at the woman sitting next to you, who is very acutely aware of the fact from how stiff she is.Â
âDo you remember the night we took over the Port Mafia, dear?â Mori asks her, voice a low hum.Â
âWhat kind of question is that?â you answer tightly. Your lip curls up in irritation, Dazai can see you become more and more antsy and angryâheâs never seen you so out of control before. âOf course, I do.âÂ
âAnd you, Shuji-kun?â Mori turns his attention to Dazai and he wants to spit in his faceâhis name is Dazaiâbut his voice fails him when he sees the way your face twists at the sound of the unfamiliar name. He stares at Mori instead, hating how amused the man becomes at his silence. âIâll take that as a no, allow me to refresh you.â
âEight years ago, a coup was staged against your grandfatherâs regime,â Mori says, and Dazai feels like heâs being studied under a microscope. All eyes are on him nowâeven yours, but now, he canât bring himself to look at you. He doesnât know what heâll find, and heâs scared itâs going to be something he doesnât like. âYour grandfather was mad, killing civilians and mafiosos indiscriminately, something had to be done, and nobody was willing to do it, so we did.â
âWe had to wipe out the whole family, and any loyalists. I was fourteen when I killed someone for the first time. She was a girl my ageâthe previous bossâs grandaughterâŚâ
Dazaiâs gaze drags over to you. Youâre staring ahead now, gaze listless and expression eerily blank like youâre slowly starting to realize what this means. Dazai hasnât come to terms with it yet, because if even a little of what Mori is saying is true thenâŚ
âWe wiped out the whole bloodline and as many loyalists as we could,â Mori continues, âor we thought we did, at least. My dear hime was who I sent to kill the heirs, I trusted in her to make it quick and painless. We didnât realize one of the grandchildren were missing until it was too lateâhe wasnât in his bedroom, apparently liked to wander around at night because he couldnât sleep. His mother was able to swoop in and get him out of the estate before our men took over the building⌠Tsushima Shuji, the youngest of the previous bossâs grandsons. Does this sound familiar yet, Shuji-kun?â
He has the best view of the night sky from an alcove on the fourth floor of the estateâhis grandfatherâs floor. Itâs where he likes to go when he canât sleep at night, and ever since his cousins and siblings started fighting over their grandfatherâs legacy, thatâs been just about every night: half because of fear now that things have started escalating to violence, half because heâs not even sure why heâs still here.
His knees are tucked tight to his chest, arms wrapped around them and head resting against the cool glass as he looks up at the stars. He hears a commotion happening somewhere downstairs, but thereâs always a commotion happening at the estate, so he thinks nothing of it. He submerges himself in the darkness instead, letting his mind float away as he stares up at the skyâitâs the only time heâs able to relax, escape from the shadows of his own mind.
Heâs not sure how long he sits there admiring the night, time passes immeasurably when heâs lost in the starsâheâs only snapped out of it when he hears feet slamming against the ground in his direction. He stiffens, eyes wide, wondering if another one of his cousins has finally turned to bloodshed as the way to inherit their grandfatherâs legacy, but instead his mother turns the corner, her smooth face contorted in a type of panic heâs never seen on her before.
âMotheâŚâ he starts to say, confused, but he doesnât even get a chance to finish the word, gasping as his mother grabs his wrist and yanks him off the cushioned seat in the alcove.
âShuji, we have to go,â she gasps, âwe need to get out of here. Itâs not safe.â
He stumbles after his mother, struggling to keep up with her quick pace and longer legs. Her grip was painful, nails digging into the bandages around his wrists, right into the fresh wounds they covered. He grimaces in pain, breathing heavy as he follows his mother down the hall, assumingly toward the steps near his grandfatherâs room.Â
âWhatâs going on?â he asks. âWhat about Bunji? Akane? T-â
His mother chokes over what sounds like a sob and his eyes widenâheâs never heard his mother cry before.Â
âThereâs no time,â she chokes out, âwe have to leave without them. We-â
They turn a hall, she skids to a stop and-
âIt seems that it does⌠Allow me to continue then,â Mori hums, drawing Dazai out of the memory. He sounds unbearably amused, and Dazai would be angry if he wasnât so shaken. He pulls his hands off of the table to rest them in his lap to hide the way his fingers are trembling. âYour mother was able to hide you from us for half a year, I warned her that she wouldnât be able to for long and since she didnât share your grandfatherâs blood, promised to spare her life if she gave you up to us, but she refused. She tried to take you out of the Kanagawa Prefecture, but our men were catching up to her, and she took⌠drastic measures to ensure we couldnât track you down. That Iâm sure you remember.â
âMother,â he whispered, staring up at the rope, her limp body, gaze trailing down to the kicked over chair. âMother, I donât⌠why did youâŚâ
He takes a step closer. A step back. Another step closer. He reaches out, fingers brushing the white nightgown sheâd worn the night before while getting him settled in bed, but he snatches them back instantly like heâd been burned, clutching his hand to his chest.
Heâs not breathing, he realizes when his lungs start to burn. His eyes sting painfully, unable to draw his eyes awayâunable to even blinkâis it a nightmare? Is he hallucinating? She swaysâsways like when she used to distract him when he was settling into a depressive episode by putting on music and forcing him to spin with her in the kitchen, sways like the wind chimes she keeps outside because the house doesnât feel homely enough without him, sways-
âShuji! Shuji, get away from there!â The voice that calls to him is familiarâAunt Kiye? Why is she here? âGod, I tried to get here earlier. Nee-san, forgive me.â
Aunt Kiye grabs his wrist, yanking him away from his mother, dragging him out of her bedroom and down the hall. His voice is hoarse as he screams, he doesnât know what heâs screaming, if heâs even screaming anything intelligible. He doesnât stop until heâs out of the house and sheâs kneeling in front of him, shaking him out of his panic.
âEnough, Shuji! We have to go, we canât stay here, theyâll be here soon,â Aunt Kiye shouts at him, expression twisted and eyes pooling with tears that she doesnât let spill over. âWe need to go, and we-we need to change your name, change everything. I promised I would hide you, I-â
âWe canât leave her there,â he argues, voice shrill. âI donât understand, why did she do that? What did I do? It was my fault, It was my fault, wasnât it? It-â
Aunt Kiye doesnât answer his question. She looks bitter, angry, hateful. âWe have no time. We have to leave,â she whispers, dragging him to the car despite his protests. She continues talking, more to herself than to him, but the words make his chest cave in. âI told her not to get involved with that family. Their blood is black, cursed. Everyone knows nothing good comes from associating with those people.â
His fault, he realizes, breath becoming thin and shallow. Itâs his fault, his blood, his fault that his mother-
âYes, quite the unfortunate scene we walked into,â Mori says dismissively. âShe was smart for it though, she never wouldâve survived a night with our sweet hime interrogating her. You should see what she did to that despicable journalist. Of course, she wasnât as fine-tuned with her ability back then, but that wouldâve been at your motherâs expenseâher first few attempts at conditioning were quite⌠unfortunate for her test sub-â
âEnough,â you spit out, interrupting him. Dazai wants to believe that itâs because you can see how uncomfortable heâs getting, but heâs not even sure that you care. Heâs not even sure you remember heâs in the room. âGet to the point. You think heâs the Tsushima kid we missedâthat doesnât prove shit. It doesnât mean-â
You donât finish what youâre going to say, but you do look at him, and Dazaiâs breath catches when his gaze finally meets yours again. He canât tell what youâre thinkingâthe expression on your face is entirely indecipherable, something caught between being accusatory and guilty. Dazai doesnât know if heâs going to make it out of this room alive. Even if by some miracle, you decide to believe him, thereâs a good chance that Mori will order his death anyway, and heâs not sure if youâll pick him over the Port Mafia.Â
That being said, Dazai doesnât even know if he wants to make it out of here alive. His brain is fogged with memories that he locked so deep within him that they never shouldâve resurfacedâevery time Mori speaks, Dazaiâs recalling something new, something awful, something that proves that heâs every bit the freak people have always claimed him to be. Every bit as bad. Every bit as wrong. Not like other people. A monster whose mother killed herself because of him, a monster who's been cursed since the day he was born.Â
â... blood is black, cursed⌠nothing good comes from associating with those people.â
More than that, he doesnât see how the two of you are going to be able to come back from this, and that scares him more than anything. Youâre the only good thing left in his life, and he doesnât think heâll make it without you, but he doesnât think that after all of this things are just going to work out. You killed his siblings. His cousins. And yeah, Dazai was never close to themâthey thought he was too quiet, too strange, all of the things that the other students at school whispered, his family was the first toâbut⌠they were still his family, and if Dazai had been in his room that night, he wouldâve been just as dead at your hands as the rest of them.
You killed his family. You would have killed him. The Port Mafia is the reason his mother killed herself, the reason why he walked into her bedroom and saw her hanging from a fan. The Port Mafia is the reason his aunt hated him so much that she couldnât even bear looking at him, the reason why he was left to die in Suribachi City.Â
Would you ever be able to get over the guilt of that? Would Dazai be able to accept it? You had a heavy hand in ruining his life, is it enough that you saved him years later? He doesnât know, heâs hardly even processed it, he just knows that he has to cling to what little he has left, dig his nails in and not let go even if it makes you choke on guilt, even if it makes him sick with shame. He wonât let go.Â
âSo impatient,â Mori sighs. âYour aunt hid you for almost another half a year, but she wasnât able to move out of the Yokohama area. She did well though, Iâll give her that. We had our best trying to find you, but she was very careful. It was partially our own fault that we didnât get our hands on you back thenâsome loyalists to your grandfather snuck under our radar, told her when we were closing in on the two of you. She got rid of you before we got to her⌠but we did get to her. Kouyou-kun was the one who handled her, if I recall it got quite⌠messy. I canât imagine how it must feel knowing that your mother and aunt sacrificed themselves to protect you only for you to throw it all away in an arrogant attempt to reclaim your grandfatherâs legacy.â
Dazai doesnât even zero in on the last bit of what Mori says because heâs too busy trying to wrap his head around the rest of it. Aunt Kiye didnât⌠die for him. Aunt Kiye hated him. He remembers that clear enoughâhe remembers how she could hardly stand to look at him, he remembers the way she was always so cold and rough with him, he remembers-
âYou have to go, Osamu.â Aunt Kiye is shouting at him, and heâs sitting in the passenger seat of her car. He doesnât move, he thinks maybe if he sits still enough, she wonât see him there and wonât make him leave. âOsamu, get out of the car and go, we donât have time! Theyâve found us.â
The name is still unfamiliarâheâs not used to it, and he doesnât know if he likes it, but Aunt Kiye insists that Tsushima Shuji is dead and that name can never be uttered again. She gets mad when he doesnât immediately answer to it, tells him not to let his motherâs death be in vain, and thatâs usually enough to get him to stop being stubborn over it.
âOsamu, go!â She grabs his bicep hard to try to get his attention, but he flinches and squirms out of her grip, still not responding to her. He canât remember the last time heâs spokenâhe thinks maybe since they left the cabin that morning. âYou-â
Aunt Kiye sounds angry now, but he canât bring himself to look at her. Itâs only when he hears her unbuckle and feels her start reaching over him that he starts to panic. He reaches up to grab her bicep, trying to stop her from grabbing the handle of the door to open it, but sheâs stronger than him. Heâs hardly been eating lately, and heâs never been particularly strongâhe was always the smallest among his siblings.Â
It takes no effort for her to bat his hands away, pushing open the door and unbuckling his seatbelt. He struggles against her as she tries to push him out of the car, and sheâs still speakingâshouting at him, begging him, he thinks she might be crying too, but he canât even tell. His mind is fogged with panic and fearâhe doesnât want to be alone in Suribachi City, he doesnât want to be alone at all. He wants to stay with Aunt Kiye even if she hates him because he doesnât want to be alone.Â
Eventually, Aunt Kiye wins the fightâeven with him fighting tooth and nail, she manages to push him out of the car. He hits the ground hard, gasping when he lands poorly on his elbow. Heâs stunned for a moment by the shock and pain, and Aunt Kiye takes the chance to toss out a backpack from the back seat and close the door behind him, locking it quickly.Â
âNo!â His voice is raspy from lack of use over the past few months. He scrambles to his feet and tries to pry the door open but canât. Aunt Kiye wonât even look at him, she stares ahead as she switches the car into gear and he slams his hands against the window. âAunt Kiye! Aunt Kiye, donât leave me here! Donât leave me here, please, Iâll be better, Iâll do better, just donât-â
He stumbles back as she pulls the car away, falling when he trips over the backpack onto the asphalt, scraping up his hands and forearms. Heâs not sure how long he sits there staring after where the car disappeared waiting for her to come back for him.
She doesnât.
She didnât die for him, Dazai thinks again, nails digging crescents into his palm. She didnât die for him, she couldnât have. Dazai wonât believe it. Aunt Kiye hated him, she abandoned him in Suribachiânone of this can be true. It canât. His mother killed herself to be free of him, not to protect him; and Aunt Kiye abandoned him because she hated him, not to save him.
Thatâs the truth. It has to be. They couldnât have died for himâfor him. It doesnât make any sense. He doesnât want to remember all of thisâhe was better off thinking that they hated him, that they wanted to be free of him.
He can feel you looking at him now, but Dazai is back to being unable to look at you. Heâs staring down at the glass table looking at his reflection, his eyes are wide and dark and far too blackâhe looks warped, inhuman almost. His expression is blank, none of the turmoil within him is reflected on it, and he doesnât even understand why. He thinks itâs probably just making him seem more guilty.
âWe figured she left you somewhere in Suribachi City, but we werenât able to track you down,â Mori says flippantly. Dazai wants him to stop talking, but he has a sick feeling things are only going to get worse from here. âNot until you ended up with Oda Sakunosuke, at least, weâŚâ
Dazaiâs ears ring at his old friendâs name. Mori is still talking, but his words become a distant buzz. Everything starts coming back to him at onceâhis time alone in Suribachi City, the weeks he spent rationing the little food he had, getting the shit kicked out of him by some low rung gang who stole his motherâs ring from him. He remembers giving up, questioning the point of his own existence with a detached logic that left him with only one answerâthere was no point to his existence, so he was as good dead as he was alive.Â
He remembers seeing on a sign that it was the eve of his fifteenth birthday, and he remembers dropping himself in the bay during a storm, hoping that the tide dragged him so far beneath the surface that heâd never see the light of day again.
He remembers waking up the next morning to an unfamiliar face at his bedside, brows knit in disapproval and lips turned down, and he distinctly remembers feeling put out by a stranger looking at him that way.
âWhatâs your name, kid?â
Dazai couldnât remember anything but the name Aunt Kiye had drilled into him over and over again the past few months.
âDazai Osamu.â
âHm. Oda Sakunosuke. You got a family, Dazai?
Odasaku brought him in.Â
Odasaku saved him.Â
The doctors said heâd been dead for almost three minutes when Odasaku found him washed up on the beachâsaid his memory might return over time, but it might notâbut Dazai didnât even care, because Odasaku brought him in. He gave him a roof over his head, food to eat, and a reason to live. He sent him to school so he could feel like a normal kid his age. He played board games with him and didnât even care when Dazai was a sore loser and quit mid-game when he realized he wouldnât win. He humored Dazai when he faked being sick because he didnât want to go to school. When Dazai was going through bad depressive episodes, Odasaku would sit with him silently and write his book so Dazai never felt alone. Odasaku introduced him to Ango and they were-
They were his friends.
Family, maybe.
They were all he had, and they were all he needed.Â
And then-
âWe were the ones who killed him.â
Dazaiâs gaze drags up from the table to focus on Mori. The manâs lips are curved into a cruel smile, his eyes are sharp, and Dazai is moving before he can stop himself. He lunges across the table, but Mori doesnât even flinch because Nakahara Chuuya grabs the back of his shirt and yanks him back down into his seat.Â
âYou-â Dazai spits, voice raspy and angry.
âDonât look at me like that, we were trying to get to you,â Mori says casually as if the words donât shatter Dazaiâs entire world. âWe wouldâve loved to have Oda Sakunosuke amongst our ranks. His death was unfortunate. Collateral damage. He was an assassin for a long timeâone of the best in the world. He was pretty much unkillable, his ability allowed him to see six seconds into the future. I never understood how our sniper managed to get him that day, but now I do. He saw you getting shot with his foresight and tried to pull you out of the way, but your ability is nullification, so when he touched you to save you, he damned himself. In those split seconds when he was pulling you to safety, he couldnât see the future, and couldnât see the bullets aimed for you that lodged into his chest instead.â
Dazai canât do this anymore. He tries to push himself up to his feet but his legs are numb and uncooperative, and he canât move his hands or arms. Moriâs lips part to continue speaking but Dazai canât do this, he canât hear anymore of this. Heâd always known in his heart that Odasakuâs death was his fault even if he couldnât remember much about his mother and Aunt Kiye and their desperate attempts to hide him from the Port Mafia. Heâd known, but hearing it-hearing the confirmation, itâs too much for him.
Before Mori can say anything, Dazai is startled from his spiraling thoughts when you stand up so abruptly that your chair goes flying back. Your expression is haunted and youâre not looking at him again, but Dazai is glad for it, because he thinks heâs about to throw up.
âI⌠I need a minute. I just need a minute,â you say shakily before fleeing the room into Moriâs office so quickly that you almost trip over the chair you knocked over.
The room is silent in your wake, and after a few impossibly long moments, Mori stands to follow you into the other room. The three Port Mafia executives left in the room donât say anything for a moment, and Dazai is just trying to breathe. Heâs trying to breathe and process what Mori just said, but heâs failing miserably at it.Â
Itâs the woman, Kouyou, who speaks first.
âSheâs going to kill me for knowing about this,â she says simply, sparing a glance down at the dead body on her opposite side. âIâve never seen her like this before. Even when Chuuya-kun went missing for a few days, thisâŚâ
âWell, maybe you shouldnât have conspired against her,â Piano Man sings, looking entirely unperturbed. âI mean honestly, after what the previous boss did to you, I wouldâve thought youâd be more sympathetic. Silly me to think you arenât a cold-hearted bitch.â
Dazai tries to pay attention to what theyâre saying, he tries to ground himself with the conversation happening so he can forget the feeling of Odasakuâs blood all over his hands, staining his clothes, smeared on his face. He tries to replace Moriâs echoing words with what theyâre saying but he canât.
âWe were trying to get to you.â
âIt has nothing to do with sympathy,â Kouyou snaps, but she does look ashamed. âItâs a security threat, itâs bigger than love. This boy could spell the end of everything weâve built.â
âShe wonât kill you, Ane-san,â Chuuya finally speaks up, his knuckles are tight around the armrest of the chair heâs sitting in. âIâll talk to her, I just-â
âWhen he touched you to save you, he damned himself.â
âChuuya-kun, she almost killed you,â Kouyou says so dryly that the words almost donât even register to Dazai, but when they do, theyâre the only thing that effectively draws him from his spiraling thoughts. He looks at Chuuya sharply to see if what Kouyou said was true, and his eyes widen when he only grimaces and looks down. âYou and Piano Man. She didnât even hesitate before pulling the trigger on Ace. Sheâs unstable right now, thereâs no talking to her.â
âBut she didnât,â Chuuya says tightly. âIâll talk to her, but firstâŚâ
Chuuya looks at Dazai so suddenly that he almost wants to snap his head away and ignore him, but he canât. The ginger studies Dazai so intensely that it makes him want to crawl out of his own skin.
âDid you know?â Chuuya asks, voice low. Heâs angry, Dazai can tell from the way a dark red color starts to flicker around his hands, but heâs trying to keep it together. âTell me. Did you know who she was and use her to get closer to the Mafia for revenge? Iâll spare her the pain of having to put a bullet through your fucking head and kill you myself right now. Did you know who she was and purposely-â
âNo,â Dazai interrupts, voice hoarse. âNo. I didnât-I didnât know.â
Chuuya stares at him for a few seconds, studying him like he doesnât know if he actually believes him, but after what feels like an eternity, he finally shakes his head and looks away, rubbing his face with his hands.
âFuck, this is such a mess,â Chuuya breathes out, voice strained. âFuck. She-â
Chuuya doesnât finish his sentence because the door to Moriâs office reopens and you step back into the room, Mori at your heels. Your eyes are red, but your expression is withdrawn now, void of the tumultuous emotions that had been raging across it just a few minutes before. You settle back in your seat. Your eyes flit over Dazai like heâs not even there before focusing on Mori.
Dazai suddenly has a bad feeling.
âIâm not quite sure how you escaped us after that,â Mori continues where he left off, and Dazai is so sick of the manâs voice that he almost wants to rip his own ears off. âProbably Sakaguchi-san from the SDUP, I recall him and Oda-san being close⌠but that brings us to the present, doesnât it? Four years later, you stumble into our lovely hime⌠Come, dear, let me tell you my running theory, and you tell me how accurate I am, yeah?â
Mori is looking at you now, eyes glittering as he waits for your response. Dazai has his own serious issues with the man, but he thinks itâs sick the way heâs enjoying your clear discomfort and increasing distress. Your jaw tightens a bit, but you nod, signaling for Mori to speak. Dazaiâs nails dig into his pants as he waits for Mori to continue. Neither of you look at him, and Dazaiâs lips part to speak so he can preemptively deny whatever Mori is about to accuse him of, but he canât push a single word out.Â
âYour first meeting with him wasnât by chance. A cafe, maybe⌠a bar?â Mori offers, watching your face carefully for a reason. You look away at the second option, and the manâs lips curve up. âA bar, then. One you frequent, I bet. The one in Hodogaya-ku, perhaps? Your first meeting, but not Shuji-kunâs first time seeing you. Ui Koutarouâhis journalism professor at YNUâwrote his first article implicating the Mori Corporationâs connection with the Port Mafia in February of this year, around a month before rising fourth year students register for classes. Shuji-kun, naturally, has been following anything related to the Port Mafia closely, so when he sees a class being offered in the fall by the same man who has been openly targeting the Port Mafia, he sees an opportunity and signs up for the class.â
No, Dazai tries to say. His lips form the word, but the sound doesnât come from his lips. No. No, no, no, no. You look haunted suddenly, and Dazai remembers the argument he had with you during the government event in Tokyo. How cold and withdrawn youâd become. How when he confronted you next, you accused him of working with Ui Koutarou and blackmailing you for money. Mori is reigniting all of the initial fears you once had.
âUi-san has had his sights set on you for quite a while, dear. You donât need me to tell you that, youâre very well aware of the manâs hatred of you⌠When Shuji-kun started classes in the fall, Ui-san roped him into his plans, and you became his project. That wretched man had many documents on you. I had the Black Lizards raid his apartment after we captured himâmost were harmless, detailing places you frequented and people seen around you, but when Shuji-kun became involved, he started using that information to manufacture meetings between you. I imagine that after you met him that first time, he started appearing around you rather regularly. Bump-ins at that cafe you like in Minami-ku, on the streetsâhe even started renting an apartment on property that we own after he realized the opportunity he had with Ui⌠heâs only been living there since the summer, you know?â
His last apartment wasnât close enough to the school, Dazai wants to argue desperately. Heâd been lucky that a cheap apartment opened up in Hodogaya-ku before the semester startedâheâs been trying to get one since his first year. It has nothing to do with-
Dazai suddenly feels nauseous again, everything is spinning around himâhe still hears Aunt Kiye screaming at him, he still hears the creaking of the rope his mother hung himself on, he still hears Moriâs confirming that Odasakuâs death was his fault. And now this, and youâre not looking at him again, and heâs not saying anything, why isnât he saying anything? Why isnât he denying this?
âHe attached himself to you quickly, didnât he?â Mori asks rhetorically. âToo quickly, Iâm sure you had doubtsânot even your ability makes people reliant on you as swift as he became. How long did it take for him to start prying for information? Trying to make you slip up and implicate yourself with the Mafia? Confess yourself as an ability user?â
The night of the earthquake when you showed up at his apartment, he remembers dizzily. He started pressing you on your political opinion because he remembered Ui saying that all of the criminal syndicates in Japan are going to do whatever it takes to prevent the military bill from passing. But he wasnât⌠doing it to prove anything? He just wanted to know more about you, he was curious, he was finally putting the mystery that you are together. It wasnât maliciousâhe just wanted to know you. Thatâs all it ever was, heâs only ever wanted to know you.
âWhen did you tell him about your ability? More about our organization? Around when the Guild started making their move in Yokohama, Iâm sure. He never told you about his ability until his hand was forced. In fact, Iâm willing to bet he lied and said he didnât know he had one, but tell me, do you really think an assassin of the caliber of Oda Sakunosuke would not realize his ward had an ability that negated his own? That he wouldnât be trained in how to use it⌠Most importantly, if all of this wasnât a scheme of revengeâif he really did love youâthen why did he never get rid of the flash drive that contained the proof that his journalism house published? The proof that got you thrown in prison?â
Youâre crying.
Dazaiâs throat swells when he sees the tears silently tracking over your cheeks. At once, he realizes that heâs never seen you cry before; he itches to reach over to you, to grab your hand or wipe away the tears. He doesnâtâpartially because he doesnât think he could move if he tried, but mostly because he knows that heâs the reason youâre crying.Â
He wants to assure you that none of this is true. He had nothing to do with the Guildâthey kidnapped him for fuckâs sake. He didnât know about his ability, he didnât even know Odasaku was an assassin. And he was just⌠careless with the flash drive, and he shouldnât have been, but there was always so much going on, and he was so new to having someone in his life that really loved him that he was quick to bask in it and forget everything else.
He doesnât assure you of anything, instead he watches as Mori reaches out to do what Dazai wants to do. He brushes away your tears and turns your face to look at him, a disgustingly sympathetic look on his face.
âI know you were eager to believe that someone could love you without your ability at work influencing them, dear,â Mori murmurs, âbut people like us will never find a love that pure. There will always be other factors at work sullying itâwealth, revenge, threats. You understand now what this was, donât you?â
No, Dazai wants to scream at you. He does love you, this wasnât some ridiculous revenge plot for family he hardly remembered until this meeting, that-
âI do.â
Dazai finally is able to make a noise when those two words leave your lips. Itâs weakâsomething caught between a wheeze and a whimper that sounds too loud in the silent room. He feels eyes on himâChuuya and Kouyouâs in particular. Not yours. You stare down at the table.
âOgai-dono,â Kouyou clears her throat. âIf I may⌠perhaps we could⌠send the boy away. Abroad. Ensure he never comes back to Japan so we donât have to risk him coming back and disrupting things.â
âWe could give him a seat at the table,â Chuuya interrupts, ignoring the wide-eyed look both Kouyou and Piano Man give him because of the radical idea. âWeâre down an executive anyway. We tell people who he is, that he supports the new regime. Itâs what you wanted to begin with, right, boss? You wanted one of the grandchildren to legitimize the passing of power. We could make it work.â
âItâs too risky.â Mori isnât the one to speak, Piano Man is, but he doesnât look happy to do it. âMaybe back then it couldâve worked, but the Port Mafia killed his friends and family, and hunted him down. Too much has happened, heâs an unpredictable variable that we canât risk. We canât trust that heâll just accept it all, that he wonât work behind the scenes to take us down. Giving him any leverage in the organization is the last thing we should do, but what Kouyou-â
âLeave him alive and we risk everything weâve built falling apartâa civil war igniting, Yokohama being caught in the crossfires and all of our foreign enemies crawling into the city to reap the benefits of our fall. Itâs one life or hundredsâthousands, even,â Mori interrupts, voice cool. He turns his gaze onto you. âI trust you know what has to be done, dear.â
Your expression is resolved, a heavy emotion in your eyes that tells him your answer before you even speak. âYeah, I know.â
You stand up, and Dazai knows that itâs over. When you look down at him, itâs with a type of apathy that makes his stomach twistâheâd rather hate than nothing. His lips part to speak but he pauses when you shake your head slightly, so subtly that he almost doesnât even notice it.
âGet up,â you say flatly, and then glance at Chuuya. âChuuya, will youâŚ?âÂ
âYeah,â Chuuya replies without you even needing to finish the question. His voice is hoarse, he looks more than a little disturbed. âYeah. Of course.â
Chuuya rises to his feet and then grabs Dazaiâs bicep to pull him up to his feet too. Dazai doesnât even have the heart to give him a dirty look in response, following along as he leads him out of the conference room and into the hallway.Â
For a split second, Dazai really believes that maybe youâre just trying to fool Mori, you made him think you were taking Dazai to have him killed so that you can get him out of here safely, but even once youâre out of the conference room without Moriâs eyes carefully watching you, you donât look at him.
âGet one of the clean up crews up here,â you tell one of the guards waiting in the hall instead as you frown at your phone, typing out a quick text to someone. You pointedly ignore how alarmed they are by the offhand comment to click on the button to the elevator.
When you look back at the two of them, itâs not to look at Dazaiâitâs to look at Chuuya. The two of you are having a conversation, Dazai can tell that much, and he thinks that maybe he should be putting in the effort to figure out whatâs going on, what you have planned, but heâs just⌠tired. Heâs not even sure if he cares what happens to him anymore, and he figures the worst case scenario is that he dies at your hands, and of all of the ways he could go, he thinks that would be the most preferable, because at least you would be the last thing he saw.
He doesnât try to speak again until the three of you are in the elevator and the doors have closed.Â
âI-â
âStop.â
Dazai is startled by the sharpness in your voice. He looks at you, but youâre still not looking at him, your lips are curved down as you stare at your phone, typing furiously. He glances up into the left corner of the elevator, noticing the camerasâmaybe thatâs why, he thinks a bit unsurely, deciding to stay quiet until out of the building.Â
When the elevator doors open, itâs Chuuya that urges him to keep walking by nudging his shoulder. You donât touch him, donât look at him. Thereâs nobody in the main entrance of the building, which Dazai thinks is a bit odd, but he bites back any comments he might have when he sees a black car waiting outside the building.
The doors to the building open at your approach, and Dazai inhales the crisp, fresh air greedily, not even having realized how stifled heâd felt in that room with Mori, you, and the other Port Mafia executives. He thinks maybe that youâll sit in the backseat with him and heâll finally be able to talk to you, but you donât. You open the door to the passenger seat and sit there without even sparing him a glance.
Dazaiâs throat starts to swell again, stopping in his tracks as he stares at where you disappeared behind the car door. Chuuya pushes him forward, not letting him linger for longâhe opens the door to the backseat and pretty much manhandles Dazai into the car before taking a seat next to him.
He recognizes the person at the wheelâAlbatross, your friend. Heâs driven you and Dazai around before, every time Dazai gets in the car with him, he makes a sharp comment aimed to embarrass you in some manner. This time, he doesnât even look at Dazai through the rearview mirror. He just puts the car in gear and starts driving.
A pit starts to form in Dazaiâs stomach. Dazai tries to initiate conversation with you again now that youâre outside of the Port Mafia headquarters within closed quarters, nails scraping against his pants as he decides what he wants to say.
âI d-â
âStop.â
When you cut him off now, Dazaiâs stomach flips. He stares at the side of your face, trying to understand why you wonât even listen to him. You canât actually believe what Mori was saying, you canât. You were faking him out, tricking him into thinking you fell for itâyou had to be, you have to be. You canât possibly believe him.Â
âYou wonât⌠even hear me out?â Dazai asks you quietly.
âThereâs nothing left to say.â
Oh, Dazai thinks to himself, withdrawing. He stares at you for a moment before turning away stiffly, expression tight and strained as he stares out the window, watching the buildings pass by as they get closer and closer to the ports.Â
You believe it, he realizes dully. You believe that it was all just a scheme. You believe that everything was manufactured, that he used you for some fantastical revenge plan, that he never loved you. You believe it.
But it doesnât make sense, he thinks desperately. He doesnât understand how youâre not seeing through it, and if you are, why arenât you at least giving him some hint? He should try to say something againâhe knows that, but he finds himself unable to. Heâs a smooth-talker, quick on his feet, but never when it comes to youâsince the day he met you, heâs been fumbling over words awkwardly, but now itâs costing him everything. He finds ash in his mouth preventing him from salvaging anything he mightâve had with you.
Dig your nails in and cling, he reminds himself, but his nails have become rounded out and blunted from how long he was scratching at his pants and skin while remembering all those memories he locked away. He tries to dig his nails in and cling, but his voice fails him and his nails canât even find purchase on your skin, you slip out of his hands as easily as an eel.
Heâs going to lose you. He mightâve lost you already.
Dazai thinks thatâs worse than the realization that he really might be about to die.
The car comes to a stop much quicker than Dazai had hoped, and he stiffens when you waste no time before getting out of the car. He makes no move to join you outside, and Chuuya sighs next to him.
âGet out,â Chuuya says flatly. When Dazai doesnât budge again, Chuuya snaps, âGet out of the car-â
â-and go, we donât have time! Theyâve found us.â
Dazai draws his knees to his chest, breath becoming a bit labored as his auntâs voice echoes in his ears. He doesnât even realize that Chuuya has gotten out of the car until Dazaiâs car door is pried open. For a split second, he confuses the executive with his aunt as heâs yanked out of the carâheâs fourteen again and being abandoned by the only person he has left, and he can just barely bite back the âdonât leave me here!â that almost spills from his lips as his knees hit the ground hard.
Dazai is instantly hit with a thick scent that makes him gag. Itâs noxious, almost entirely unbearable, clogs his throat to the point he almost struggles to breatheâa blend of rot, acrid chemicals, and something he doesnât recognize, but itâs sickeningly sweet. As he pushes himself to his feet, he notices you pass your gun over to Chuuya, but in that moment, Dazai is more concerned with figuring out where he is, and when he does, his stomach drops.
The dumping grounds by ports stretch endlessly under the heavy, overcast sky. Mounds of trash rose like grotesque hills patched with scraps of torn plastic and suspicious lumps that Dazai doesnât have to get close to know what they are. The ground is uneven and treacherousâa mix of sticky mud and sharp shards of discarded glass and plastic, and pools of murky water shimmering with oil slicks.Â
Itâs disgusting, and Dazai has a feeling it might be his final resting place.Â
He trails over to the side of the road and his gaze tracks down to the ground directly below him. Itâs not a far drop, hardly a foot or two, and certainly less gross than some of the other parts of the area, but thatâs a low bar to meet. He tears his eyes away from the scenery around him to look back at you, lips parted to speak but he doesnât say anything.
Youâre leaning against the front of the car, watching him with an expression that Dazai canât describe. Sad, maybe, resigned. Chuuya is back in the car, from what Dazai can tell, he's still fiddling with your gunâhe wonders if this is his way of letting the two of you say goodbye in private.
âI do love you,â Dazai says. His voice cracks over the words. âNo ulterior motives. No schemes. I just loved you. Love you.â
You donât say anything for a moment, eyes drawing from him somewhere over to the side like youâre looking for something, but after a moment, you look back at him, your face a little softer than it was before.
âI know,â you tell him quietly. âI know, Osamu.â
Dazaiâs lips part to say something backâhe doesnât even know what he wants to say, because confusion fogs his mind. If you know, then why-
Why are you doing this?
He doesnât get the chance to ask. The car door opens and Chuuya steps back out, he passes your gun back to you and Dazai sees you subtly slide something into his hand too, but he canât tell what it is. You sigh as you look down at the gun before looking back up at him again, he holds his breath as you make your way closer to him.
His lashes flutter shut, expecting to feel the cool barrel of the gun against his forehead, but his breath hitches when he instead feels the familiar warmth of your hand cradling his cheek. Your fingertips are flaked with Aceâs dried blood, but Dazai still leans into your touch, eyes sliding back open to look at you.
Up close, your expression is twisted with regret and⌠is that fear? Dazai canât tell, he doesnât care, heâs more preoccupied with memorizing the image of you before he runs out of time to.
âForgive me,â you whisper so faintly that Dazai almost doesnât hear you.
âI do,â he replies just as softly.
Your face crumbles as you look away. You take a step away from him, and your hand drops down from his face. Dazai instantly mourns the loss. You let out a heavy, shaky breath, sparing one last look down at the gun in your hand, one to Chuuya who stands half a step behind you, and then you look at Dazai again.
âForgive me,â you say again, this time as you lift the gunâyour voice is raspy, breath uneven.
Your fingers tremble so violently that the whole gun is unsteady, but Dazai doesnât even care to look at it, gaze focused on your face instead.Â
âI do,â Dazai repeats.
You pull the trigger.Â
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A DC X DP IDEA #37
Progenitor
Imagine disâŚ
I saw a TikTok about this and some A03 fics inspired me as well.
It is about the eldest daughter being parentified by her parents towards her younger siblings.
Many fics portray Danny as much closer to Jazz as she is the one who raised him since their parents are so focused on their ghostly research, and even during crucial days like holidays are filled with arguments.
There are very few where I saw Jazz feeling motherly love towards Danny, doing things only a mother would dare to do for the sake of her child.
âŚ
Danny was originally born as Danyal Al Ghul, the lesser twin of him and his older brother, Damian Al Ghul. Danyal has the softness that no Al Ghul should have, the innocence that seems to bloom within his heart that seemed impossible to grow under the harsh desert sand and discipline within their grandfatherâs rule. He tried to open up to his twin, after all, they came together, so there must be something to be linked between the two brothers.
Yet it was naive thinking of him, it had met him a deep scar on his right cheek for such an act.
He also tried to reach out to his mother, surely the woman with whom he shared a connection both blood and flesh, and the woman who had carried him and his brother within her womb instead of the artificial womb that grandfather insisted for their development for future advantage.
He received nothing but a slap and an hour under intense torture that no toddler should ever experience.
He also tried to reach out to their guard, the guard with hazed eyes. Damian had immediately lost interest in their supposed guard but he stayed. He observed the guard found little things that he quite enjoyed with the guard, the nameless guard would hold the book as if reading but now actual movement reading, so he would occasionally sit on his lap and let him read a book and read it out loud, sometimes he would see him nod along or a slight twitch of his fingers or face.
He got attached to his guard, and despite being catatonic he still had the moves of a deadly fighter so Danyal began copying him, learning from him, every time he got as much as a scrape his guard would kneel and stare at the wound as if he could stare the injury away. It made Danyal smile as he knew that his guard was trying to make it better but knew nothing of how.
Under those glazed eyes Danyal heard him speak for the first and last time. It was another day for Danyal and his guard yet when he entered his chamber he was gone, leaving Danyal to care for his heart that had been broken for another time.
Slowly but surely he made a wall around his heart, he loved so much, he loved so much yet no one stayed for him. No one gave their love and devotion back to him. So he put up walls, so that his fragile heart that had been torn into pieces by those he gave his heart to, would never further break.
It was a normal day really, a small time group of assassins that had been absorbed by the League a long time ago held loyalty to their former leader who had been executed by Ra. In an act of revenge, the remaining assassins poisoned the two heirs of the Demon head and immediately killed themselves.
As Danyal lays down on the cold floor of their private chambers with Damian already unconscious he begins to wish, from the books he manages to read with his guard he learns of a legend, wish upon a star tell no one and your wish will come true, he began to wish for his next life for someone to love him with all his heart.
âŚ
He was reborn, the moment he blinked his eyes he noticed that had regressed into a mere baby. He was born into a family of scientists, if he can call them that, ever spent most of their time tinkering away and discussing their l; latest project. It did not bother Danyal Daniel much as he had experienced firsthand how to be compared and be ignored in favor of your much in favor of brother.
But this time it was different, instead of being left behind by the older sibling she stayed. Jasmine or Jazz as she preferred, stayed and looked after him, which confused him for a bit, being the more favored sibling both by their parents and the desolate town around them, she could left him to fend for himself, but still, she stayed.
She read so many books that reached passed her height, about parenting and how to take care of a baby. It was all new to him that he didnât know what to do with all of the attention and love that seem to radiant from his sister to him.
He saw some of his age group civilians see how they look at their guardians and parents and how said guardians/ parents would act towards them and made a realization that he finally found the one, the one where he could lower his walls and give his entire heart to, mother? Or father? Titles that whispered inside his head. Whenever he needed help she was there, whenever he was in distress she was there to comfort her. Each time she was there, both mother and father she had filled both roles despite having the opportunity to go away and be great using her intellect and own means she stayed just for him.
He physically fumbled and tripped at what to do with the amount of love that he could ever wish to have, not only that 2 more joined in loving and caring for him. Samantha Ingrid "Sam" Manson and Tucker Foley are friends who are with him through thick and thin, even at the moment of his death they were there.
To get back to them forever loving him, he defended the town where his precious people lived.
Ellie was a surprise he sometimes wished to have a younger sibling to care for, it may started rough but both are going somewhere. Then there is his older self from the future, he saw himself if he managed to lose the most important people in his life. Dan knew both in and out the things he kept secret and every thought he made, both made a slow and shaking bond but when something clicked within them, it was there to acknowledge.
It had been perfect, Daniel Dannyâs life had been, a family that loved him it was all he ever wished for. If only Maddie and Jack never did discover who he was, being cut open and witnessing how your very insides move and twitch made even the hardened soldiers faint. Jazzâs scream echoed the deep lab that coated his blood at every nook and cranny.
The moment he woke up he felt nothing but dread, he was backâŚ.
Deep within the walls of the League, a lone boy let out a silent scream to the skies.
âŚ
Danyal woke up three days after Damian woke up, He could not get into his head, he still retained the memories of when he was Danny, some scars that only Danny ever had yet it all felt like a dream, a haze and illusion that his mind had made. From that day on he began moving through the motion, without putting any life or force in each swing, being the good little soldier that all wanted. Slowly the light in his eyes was lost and if you were to observe him from afar youâd see an asset, not a boy walking through the motions of the day.
Ra was pleased, the tool that he had seen but a dull knife was slowly sharpening itself, while both Damian and Talia remained indifferent.
âŚ
The twins were 10 when they were sent off to their father in Gotham.
Richard âDickâ Grayson immediately took a liking to Damian as he not only saw Jason in him but also a child that needed guidance, which was cemented when they all thought that Bruce had died, it was right then that moment when Dick ensured to be the guidance that Damian needed, all while leaving Danyal.
Jason tried to be closer to the demon brat but whenever he tried to initiate some of his old habits back when he was in the League and back when his mind was still hazy he was met with a sword in his face he thought that he was shy and kept on trying to connect with said baby brother, all while leaving Danyal.
Tim is reserved and becomes guarded when Dmain threatens him and cuts off his line, he also sets up expectations towards the silent twin who seems to be a wallflower most of the time but that doesnât deter him, so when Tim and Damian begins working on a relationship, they just didnât see the other twin that had been left behind again.
Bruce has many regrets in his life and when his biological kids appeared he swore to be there for them, it was when he was lost in the time stream that he promised himself to be more involved in all of his kid's lives, from Dickâs job as a cop in Bludhaven to Damianâs artwork at school. He made sure that he had the time for all of them, never repeating his mistakes, yet he also left Danyal behind.
âŚ
Constantine is sweating, as much as he rather summon another bloody demon to deal with the problem at hand, he knows that even the strongest demons he could call forth could not defeat a denizen of the Realms. He already explained to the rest of the JL that only a denizen that is either equal or greater power can defeat whomever it is making the citizens of Metropolis depressed and being murdered left and right. As he drew the summoning circle to summon the strongest that could catch this call, he just hoped it was something he or the JL could pay.
As he activated the circle, large blue flames began to surround the entire JL base that are both cold and hot. He closed his eyes shit at the sheer intensity of this beingâs raw power to the point every JL member from both Dark and Maine is pushed 5 feet back at the intense power when he opened his eyes to look at what kind of being he just summoned he immediately paled to the color of paper.
There she is, in all her glory, blue flames that flow down to her back, standing 8 feet tall carrying a javelin, she wears a stunning navy blue gown that combines elegance with a militaristic edge. The sculpted shoulders, embellished with gold-embroidered epaulets, gave her a commanding presence, while the fitted bodice embraced her figure with effortless grace. A satin belt with a gold buckle tightened her waist, and the A-line skirt fell just past the knee. Subtle gold accents traced the seams, giving the clothing a regal appearance. The garment, worn with tailored slacks underneath, gave her freedom of movement evoking the authority of an empress.
He just summoned the bloody Mother of the Infinite Realms, the mother of the prince of the Infinite Realms that defeated the tyrant Pariah Dark. He immediately prostates himself alongside the rest of the JL Dark realizing whom John Constantine just summoned.
âŚ
The rest of the JL that remained standing looked in awe and caution at the being that Constantine managed to summon, as well as the rest of the JL Darkâs behavior towards the being. All sweaty and bowing in reverence. In the most polite tone they ever heard from the con artist he asked for their assistance in containing a rouge denizen and their payment for such an endeavor.
The being looked at each of them slowly, feeling their very instincts to bow at least at the being when they felt their eyes on them and ultimately paused on Batman. She pointed her weapon at the Bat cladded hero and asked him for him as payment, not anything that Constantine was thinking but hearing his skill as a great detective their payment was for Batman to look for her treasure that she had lost and at moment she had felt the moment they stepped into this universe. Batman agreed after they had smoothed over the details of said contract. The empress, Nightigale, summoned her knight and told him to deal with their denizen and toss them back into Walkerâs prison.
Looking blankly at Batman, he had no choice but to let Empress Nightingale follow him back to the cave for her to foresee the investigation of her treasure and to ensure he fulfilled his end of the deal.
âŚ
The moment Bruce stepped inside the cave he noticed Empress Nightgale had also stopped dead in her tracks and looked intently at his youngest, Danyal, who had been training at one of the caveâs training mats. Whatâs more interesting is that Danyal also stopped and stared at the visitor that Bruce brought along. Just as he was about the introduce the two, he saw Danyal the ever-quiet child sprung into life and tackled the empress, while Nightgale herself had her long arms wrapped around Danyal.
Bruce saw Danyalâs eyes spring into life, tears welled up in his eyes and a pure smile stretched across his youngest face. Suddenly Bruce felt Bane had punched him again, he had never seen his youngest so happy, so full of life ever since he met him. He always thought that his youngest was independent, so quiet that he had left him with his devices, somewhere within Bruceâs mind whispered that he was too late once again.
âŚ
News about Danyalâs sudden change of attitude had reached all of the members, even in the deep corner of space.
Dick, Jason, and Tim are now seething with rage and disappointed at themselves for the wasted time they wasted in being Danyalâs life. Who has now an older sibling that despite his menacing appearance adored and teased Dnayal in a way that erupted laughs and giggles from the boy?
Dick forgetting that they were twins, Dick kept reassuring himself that he was too busy but with each memory that he visited Danyal is always right behind them looking at them with lifeless eyes, as if he had just made a different choice back then.
Jason for forgetting his ward that had adopted when he was in the League, probably the only thing that kept him sane as the green clouded in his mind when he was dunked in the pit was the fact his little chick was within the walls and the thought that he might hurt him halted his massacre.
Tim who had now noticed the small notes scattered on his desk that were not the handwriting of anyone he knew yet the initial DW, always assumed that it was Damian who was quietly helping him in cases but the revelation that it had been Danyal made him want to turn back time. He had noticed early on that Danyal wanted to be closer to him, but pushed the boy away for expecting to be like Damian.
Damian is seething with jealousy as he notices that Danyal begins spending most of his time outside with the demon that stole his brother. He kept bringing up to his father that the being that Constantine summoned was a demon already mind-controlled Danyal. But even though he cannot stop and drink in the joyful face that Danyal has whenever he is with Nightgale, he keeps remembering the time Danyal acted this way towards him.
Talia is also seething beneath her mask of indifference how dare this thing claim to be her sonâs parent? It is not she who had given birth nor she is the one who ensured they both survive, but the fact that thing gifted Danyal the head of the Joker and her fatherâs head after revealing to her son her own fatherâs plan that even she is not privy on made her want to revive her father herself and be the one to end his pathetic life, how dare his father plan that horrendous ritual behind her back.
âŚ
PS: If someone out there wants to continue or make a fic about this you are free to do so, donât forget to tag me though.
PPS: An inspiration bug bit me and would not let me rest until I finish this.
PPS: Got too long for my liking again.
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