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cheri-translates · 4 years

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Gavin’s Official Art Book (Eng Translation)

Credits to @minjee98 for sending me photos of Gavin’s official art book and requesting this translation!

This post contains details on Gavin’s outfits, items, backgrounds, and interviews with his CN voice actor, the Copywriting Team, Art Team, and Production team.

More: Kiro l Lucien l Black Swan l STF l NPCs l Loveland City

💙 GAVIN’S OUTFITS 💙

[ Leather Jacket ]

Like a gust of wind blowing from a time of youth, coursing through very long years, Gavin appeared before you. An unruly and intractable smile, a relaxed tone, and the corner of his shirt riding up with the wind at the front seat of the motorcycle...

Back then, you wouldn’t have thought that he would be holding onto your hand like this, accompanying you through countless sceneries.

[Note] Something cute is that the word “sceneries” in Chinese is 风景 (“feng jing”), which directly translates to “wind view”

[ Uniform - Jacket Version ]

If it weren’t for Gavin bringing you to the Special Task Force and telling you about the Black Swan organisation, you would have continued living in ignorance.

Shouldn’t you be glad that he was willing to tell you everything? It’s only because of this that you knew you had been protected all along, and could finally stand by his side.

[ Gavin’s Shirt ]

If a rainbow is a delight after a rainfall, and two rainbows are a delight of a coincidental destiny, the three rainbows that you and Gavin saw must definitely be a unique miracle.

As long as you’re with him, the two of you can definitely create even more miracles belonging only to the both of you.

[ Shirt and Pants ]

The summer wind, his mildly bashful smile, the white shirt with its slightly rolled up sleeves, and the side profile with the blue coloured roof reflected in his pupils.

There’s no need to specially reminisce that summer day spent coursing through the river of love with Gavin. It’s definitely shimmering brightly in your memories all along, isn’t it?

[ Swimming Attire]

Riding the waves on a surfboard, playing the bass underneath the lights, using a light cough to cover his shyness... These are the most beautiful memories of that year’s summer.

Back then, when you had looked into Gavin’s eyes, did you suddenly feel that your entire life would pass like this?

[ Camo Jacket ]

On the day of releasing Pearly, the sunlight was warm and bright. A slight wind was blowing up strands of stray hair. Gavin held onto you, the two of you embracing the sunlight and wind.

Do you still remember? Him promising you the rest of his life back then, the bright amber of his eyes, and the answer you had given.

You said that you’d never let go of his hand.

[ Silver Grey Suit ]

You never would have thought the so-called “Meeting the Parents” would be such a nerve-racking thing.

It’s a good thing Gavin donned a well-fitting suit and appeared in time, protecting you from all sorts of tricky questions posed by your relatives. Or else you’d have been disorientated from the questions early on.

[ Swordsman Outfit ]

Which incident left the deepest impression on you during that year’s Qixi Festival? Was it Gavin’s swordsman appearance, his tender gaze under the moonlight, or was it... the sense of suffocation when you found out that his wire was broken?

If prayers truly worked, you would have been willing to make a prayer to the gods and spirits: Please don’t let him be put in danger again.

[ Wedding Attire ]

Although the wedding was just a filming activity, have you ever secretly anticipated it?

That path of fresh flowers the two of you walked along together, those bright and resplendent moments, and that person who had held onto you as you walked forward...

Being with him like this has commenced the true start of your lives.

[ Black Jacket ]

The first time you spent Valentine’s Day with Gavin, the first time you received an exorbitant gift from him, the first time the two of you drank from the same beverage...

On that day, you experienced so many memorable firsts. And to him, these memories are definitely just as precious.

[ Army Attire ]

The pitch-black uniform and gloves, medals flashing with a cold light, and ice-cold handcuffs... You’ve probably never seen such a Gavin.

But even if he doesn’t recognise you at all, he will continue stopping you from getting involved in danger, and will keep your lost bracelet properly.

No matter what, he has always been a tender person.

[ School Attire ]

He’s already hurt but still has a look of happiness and wants to play basketball - are all boys like that?

Can’t you easily imagine how a young Gavin was definitely the type to lead a bunch of small boys at the front with the broadest smile on his face as they ran towards the basketball court!

💙 GAVIN’S ITEMS 💙

Communication device - I carry it on me. It’s indispensable.

Gloves - An accompaniment when on missions. When I’m with you, I'll take them off.

Photograph together - Every moment related to us and worthy of remembering have been properly stored.

Photoshoot pictures - Because it has to do with you, I [ I CAN’T READ HIS HANDWRITING ]

Universe cake - Only you can fulfil my wish.

Astral stone - That was the last time [ I CAN’T READ HIS HANDWRITING ]

Cute hair tie - I’ll only be like this in front of you.

Touchscreen phone - Don’t bother about the rumours from school. Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell them all to you.

Shampoo - Next time, I’ll help wash your hair again.

Police badge - Memories of you in high school surface in his mind... it was truly a counter of a rebellious youth.

Bullets

Soft pillow

Ginkgo leaves

Letter

Phone keychain

Gavin’s house key

Lavender eye mask

Ginger tea

💙 BACKGROUNDS 💙

[ Gavin’s Room ]

Ever since the two of you reunited, life has gradually entered this minimalist-styled room. Without realising it, photographs of the two of you have appeared on the neat and tidy work desk. And the gloves you gave to him have been placed in the most eye-catching spot in the closet.

[ Gavin’s Kitchen ]

The kitchen, which didn’t have a full collection of ingredients, was gradually imbued with the smell of soot. The two of you have made several failed dishes together, but each time, he’ll smile and finish everything. The next time, will the both of you be able to overcome the curse of “dark cuisine” together?

[ Special Task Force Office ]

Here, you found out about the secrets of the Special Task Force, and also found out that the righteousness he has been steadfast in is hard-won. After that, he may never step into this place again. But you definitely trust in the conviction of his words.

[ Castle Steps ]

When he held onto you, walking up that serene spiral staircase, your heart was beating even faster than usual, wasn’t it? Did it stem purely from an anticipation of an unknown scenery, or was it from the unending stream of warmth from his palm?

💙 INTERVIEWS 💙

[ Interview with Ah Jie, the voice actor for Gavin ]

“I hope that while he remains steadfast to his convictions, he can live each day happily and optimistically.”

Q1: Teacher Ah Jie, having interacted with Gavin for such a long time, do you have any new insights regarding him?

Ah Jie: Mm, I do, a little. The most obvious thing would be how he has recently returned to his original self. Actually, things related to his mother, and the attitude his father adopts when interacting with him, have to a large extent changed his personality and the way he handles things. I still hope that while he remains steadfast to his convictions, he can live each day happily and optimistically. Love can make one more cheerful and carefree, and it’s pretty good.

Q2: Are there any characteristics of Gavin you appreciate a lot?

Ah Jie: I find one thing good about Gavin - the way he strongly perseveres in what he has decided upon. No matter whether it’s in terms of righteousness, his convictions, or feelings - once he decides on it, he’ll move forward without hesitation.

Q3: What do you think of Gavin’s Evol?

Ah Jie: I initially wanted to possess it, but... it’s not very useful considering Beijing’s weather. If his Evol was sufficiently powerful, could it blow away the smog? I’ll find a chance to ask him some other day.

Q4: Is there anything you’ve always wanted to tell Gavin, but haven’t?

Ah Jie: Even though he isn’t the type who knows how to hold a conversation with girls, he has changed for the better recently, and it’s a very large improvement. However, there’s no need to specially change. I think girls like how he is right now.

Q5: Has Teacher Ah Jie recently chanced upon a restaurant which you want to bring Gavin to?

Ah Jie: I recently discovered a very delicious and very spicy place. Next time, I’ll arrange to have supper with him there, haha.

[ Interview with the Copywriting Team ]

“He should be free and unfettered.”

Q1: The storyline of the game has several science fiction elements. What made you consider including science fiction elements in a game targeted at females?

Actually, we felt that romance is often underestimated. Love isn’t simply effete language without substance, or honeyed words. Love can give us courage, and bring us to a whole new world, opening new journeys, finding your unlimited self. A romance story is naturally appropriate to be melded with any other motifs. In love, we can explore various issues: personal growth, contradictions in society, the truth of civilisation, the rise and fall of history... The story we wish to convey to the players is one of “the cruel competition between love and power”. This isn’t just a complex story with science fiction elements. Actually, it’s also very related to the lives of every person.

Q2: As an Evol agent, does Gavin work 365 without rest?

No, but he has to be prepared to accept sudden missions.

Q3: Why couldn’t Gavin keep Greenie alive?

He watered it too much.

Q4: If he uses his Evol, what’s the highest point Gavin can reach through flight?

As long as he wants to, he can fly as high as he wants.

Q5: Does Gavin really like eating noodles?

It’s not to the extent of "really liking” it. it’s just that he finds it convenient.

Q6: When deciding on Gavin’s Evol, were there any special considerations?

We felt that he should be free and unfettered, just like... a gust of free and easy wind.

Q7: In the process of interacting, does Gavin have any difficult-to-spot “moe points”?

His slightly clumsy way of expressing his care and consideration. For instance, asking “Were you happy to ride it once more” after taking the Ferris wheel.

Q8: In the 2018 Qixi Festival event, Gavin’s ancient garb left a deep impression on people. Why did you design Gavin this way?

A swordsman who comes and goes without a trace. A swordsman who can rush to the skies even after falling off a cliff.

Q9: Is Gavin a dog or a cat person?

Dog.

Q10: What do you think is Gavin’s most classic line? How did you think of it?

“As long as you’re in the wind, I can sense you.”

It just came out very naturally in the plot - that Gavin would say something like that.

Q11: In relation to Gavin, are there any scenes that you’ve always wanted to write but haven’t fulfilled yet?

More scenes imbued with the feeling of a youthful romance. For instance, kissing at the rooftop staircase. I hope it can be arranged soon.

[ Interview with the Art Team ]

“Your photograph must be placed even on the workbench of the secret base!”

Q1: In relation to the various scenes in Loveland City, are there are any real life references?

The answer to this question has already been discovered by some meticulous players. We have indeed made references to a few real sceneries, such as the The Bund.

We want to give players the sense that the romance is happening right next to them, which is why we’ve brought our city’s scenery into the game, so everyone can feel a sense of familiarity and realism.

Q2: Art Sisters, what you think of the “Papergames Art Style” as coined by players? What is the biggest difference between the art style in Mr Love Queen’s Choice and other games by Papergames?

Actually, we don’t really understand the meaning of “Papergames Art Style”, and we don’t know what it means specifically. It probably refers to how the tone and atmosphere are more clear and romantic? Even our own department finds that the art styles from different games are very different. In making a comparison, Mr Love Queen’s Choice is much “harder” (laughs). After all, our main characters are four adult men. Right now, the style is basically “hard but not coarse” - there are parts which require meticulousness and delicateness, yet can’t be too soft.

Q3: Have you ever considered changing Gavin’s hairstyle, for instance giving him a crew cut?

Based on his personality, he might have thought about it. After all, a crew cut is very convenient. But come to think of it, does everyone really want to see him with a crew cut?

Q4: Where does Gavin typically buy his clothes? Online or in the shopping mall?

When he thinks it’s about time to buy clothes, he’ll find time to go to the mall. Occasionally, he buys them online.

Q5: How many different scars does Gavin have on his body?

There are some especially obvious scars on his collarbone and back. There are many other non-obvious ones in other places.

Q6: Why is there such a big difference between Gavin’s initial design and the final design? Initially, why did you give him that somewhat “smart” hairstyle?

Actually, we tried out many different types of hairstyles in the beginning. Then, we selected the one which was most suitable, and then refined it. The “smart” hairstyle was just one of many.

Q7: How many different outfits does Gavin have currently?

It’s difficult to say. After all, he does keep buying new clothes. A guy’s closet is the same as a woman’s - forever missing one shirt, a pair of pants, a pair of shoes, a watch...

Q8: Flowers appear frequently in the game. Could I ask the Art Team which flower best suits Gavin?

White lilac.

Q9: When it comes to Gavin’s home decor, what do the Art Sisters find the most special?

What’s special lies in “the warmth only you know about”.

Although the monochrome colours appear cold and cool, the details reveal the dribs and drabs of your lives: Outside the windows, you can see ginkgo trees which a harbour special meaning to the two of you. Atop the shelf in front of the window sits the strong “Greenie No. N+1″. Your photograph must be placed even on the workbench of the secret base!

Q10: What’s most difficult to grasp about Gavin?

The ahoge on Gavin’s head should point in the opposite direction of the wind.

[ Interview with the Production Team ]

“He gives people a sense of security, like the ‘Ah Sir’ in Hong Kong films!”

Q1: Why did you produce a game like “Love and Producer”?

Producers: Since 2015, our company has already started producing this game. As a mobile game with romance at its core, it’s something not many companies have tried before. The company had a lot of discussions on the possibility of it. In the end, we decided to do it, and the reason for making constant iterations, updates, and persevering after three years is especially simple. No matter what age you are, no matter whether you’ve dated before, no matter whether you're married and have your own family, we believe that in every woman’s heart, there remains an anticipation for romance and heart-stirring experiences. Which is why we believe “Love and Producer” has a reason for its existence. This belief has always guided our production and operation process, and we hope we can continuously bring even more beautiful romance experiences to everyone in the future.

Q2: Where did the name of the game “Love and Producer” come from?

Producers: I don’t know if anyone remembers that in the very beginning, our tagline on the official website has always been “Love and dreams need to meet their match.” Why is this game called “Love and Producer”? That’s because the link between you and him not only encompasses the narrow scope of love, but also permeates into to your life journey together.

Q3: Are there any deeply hidden “Easter eggs”? Could you disclose them to us?

Producers: They aren’t really that hidden, but there are indeed some “Easter eggs” which should have already been discovered by some players. For instance, you can see a certain poster during City Strolls. In “Go See Him”, the coupling of certain outfits and sceneries could bring out a few hidden lines. We welcome everyone to give it a try.

Q4: If you were to catch criminals together with Gavin, how could you help him?

Producers: After much thought, we might only be bait...

Q5: What do the people in the Production team call Gavin?

Producers: Gavin, Old Gav, Lil Gav, Bro Gav.

Q6: How do the males in the production team view Gavin?

Producers: An envoy of righteousness, he gives people a sense of security, like the ‘Ah Sir’ in Hong Kong films!”. But sometimes, he’s like Andy Chan.

Q7: If you had Gavin’s Evol, what would you use it for?

Producers: Of course, I'll go for a flight!

Q8: If there comes a day when you can be as fearless as Gavin, what would you want to do most?

Producers: Serve... serve the motherland?

Q9: Lastly, do you have anything to say to the players?

Producers: This interaction between the Production Team and the players is already sufficient enough to cherish. The world we created has only become perfect because of your participation. Our days alongside Loveland City have already become an important stamp in our lives. This world is still constantly becoming richer and broader. Kindly look forward to it!

#mlqc #mlqc gavin

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avengerscompound · 5 years

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Catch and Release - 13

Catch and Release: A Captain America Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers x F!Reader

Word Count: 2785

Rating: E

Square filled: @star-spangled-bingo - "It's probably too late to go to the bathroom right?”

Warnings: Smut (MMF bisexual threesome. Oral sex, Anal fingering, Double penetration - vaginal and anal)

Synopsis: When you overexert yourself on a mission with Steve and Bucky, the boys admit to having fantasies that involve you. Fantasies that you share. But with one Super Soldier needs intimacy and the other is still dealing with being touch starved, exploring those desires without anyone catching feelings is a little tricky.

Chapter 13: Return to the Wild

The two weeks you had between accepting the new job in LA and actually going out there to do it, were intense. It felt that the only free time you had was when you were asleep and that had been lacking really. Hill was a hardass about you learning what you needed to know before you left, and there was a lot to learn. Even with the fact you understood the paperwork and there would be your very own AI named Jocasta there was a mountain of procedures and protocols to learn. Not to mention you were now being let into Hill’s secret underground world of moles and networks. Every workday was two to three hours more than average. Then you’d spend a couple of hours on the internet or phone organizing your things being moved into your new home and office or talking to Clint about leads that would need following when you go there.

Then when you were finally done with all that, you’d go spend time with Bucky and Steve. You’d had sex with them almost every day since talking over whether you should take the job or not. Partially the three of you were making the most of the last time you have available to you. They were your best friends and you wanted to make the last days you had together count. Even outside the sex you were eating and watching movies and playing board games. Steve sketched a picture of the three of you together to take with you while you and Bucky played Mario Kart against each other. There was the sex though, it was stupid to pretend you weren’t going up there to squeeze every last ridiculously fun drop out of the arrangement you had. This was it. Maybe when you visited New York again you might hook up, but more than like you wouldn’t. Who knew what things would be different by then anyway. They might decide to adopt a child. You might have met someone finally. It was best to act like this was the last hurrah.

Not to mention, they’d been patiently preparing you for your request. Each night there had been some anal play. First getting you used to the sensation to make sure that was definitely something you wanted, and then training you with thicker and thicker devices so when you did take one of them you’d be ready. It was something they each had experience with given how well endowed they both were and the fact until each other neither had ever been had anal sex before.

You were grateful for it. Up until now, you had led the show. It was nice seeing them being the smug ones. Well, Steve more than Bucky. Bucky was cocky whether he earned it or not.

By the time the going away party was being held on the party deck, you were exhausted. You’d attended a few parties hosted by Tony Stark, but this was the best attended you’d seen. Clint was one of the originals and everyone old and new wanted to see him off. There were people there that weren’t officially Avengers who had just worked with Clint or the team from time to time and Tony and Pepper had shown up. The room was noisy and alcohol flowed freely.

You sat at the bar watching Clint absolutely destroy anyone who came near him at darts while you nursed a drink. You didn't want to get drunk tonight. You wanted to go away tomorrow remembering absolutely everything.

“You keep an eye on my bird for me, won't you?” Natasha said coming over and stepping behind the bar. She started fixing herself a drink as she kept her eyes on Clint.

“Can I ask why you didn't take the job yourself?” You asked, turning your attention to Natasha. “I know he must have had you at the top of the list.”

Natasha gave a small shrug and dropped a cherry into her martini glass. “I'm not sure I could take orders from Clint and I would hate to undermine him,” she said. “And I know what Hill’s job entails and it's not for me. Don't get me wrong, I'd be amazing at it, but I have enough pokers in a whole slew of fires as it is, I don't want to juggle that level of responsibility too.”

“Aren't you going to miss him though?” You asked.

“Yeah, of course, I am. I'll probably end up visiting all the time anyway. And who knows? Maybe I am more codependent than I'd like to admit and I end up just joining the team,” she said swirling a stick in the shimmering pink liquid. “I did once follow a man to California. It didn't work out so well. But what about you? You're leaving your super-soldiers behind.”

You looked over to where Steve was playing a game of pool with Sam. “They aren't mine,” you said. “But yes, I'll miss them. I'm gonna miss all of you. But them especially. Steve told me you gave them the shovel talk too.”

Nat took a sip of her drink and nodded. “You all did better than I thought. I was sure by now there would have been some drama or you'd be living together.”

“They’re good people. They weren't going to hurt me. They'd have stopped it before it got that far,” you explained as you turned back to her. “And they're not mine. I've known that all along. They're my friends and they were safe but it's time to join the real world.”

Natasha smiled and raised her glass. “To losing our fuck buddies,” she said playfully.

You laughed and clinked your glass against hers.

When the party started to wrap up Natasha collected up Clint and dragged him off (though far from reluctantly) to do what you assumed was in the ballpark of what your plans were for tonight. You took it as a queue to go seek out Bucky and Steve.

They were cuddled up on a recliner looking out over the city. It was rare seeing them with their guards down so low in public, but then a lot of people had left and most of the people left were friends rather than acquaintances.

Bucky held out his hand to you when you reached them and pulled you down on top of them. “Did you have fun?” Bucky asked.

“Yeah, it’s been good seeing everyone,” you agreed. “Could have done without the ‘moving forward’ speech.”

Bucky started laughing while Steve swatted your thigh. “Too bad, I’m the boss, and I’ll do as many boring speeches as I like,” Steve teased.

“You gotta get one last one before you go anyway or you’ll start missing them,” Bucky added.

You chuckled and curled in against them both. “Yeah, I’m gonna miss them. I bet Clint will give completely different speeches.”

“They’ll include puns and mentions of getting pizza after,” Bucky joked.

Bucky’s hand slid up your thigh and he nosed at your neck.

“You want to head down to bed?” Steve asked you.

“Mm… you make that sound so innocent, Stevie,” Bucky rumbled. “What she wants is to have us fuck her so hard it takes her through until next year. Isn’t that right, darlin’?”

“I wouldn’t not like that,” you said, stifling a laugh.

“Don’t be modest now,” Bucky growled against your ear. “You want to be pinned between us as we both rail into you, don’t you?”

“Mm-hmm…” you hummed, wriggling on top of them.

“Alright, enough flirting,” Steve said, getting up. “We’re all sure things and we know it.”

You and Bucky followed him to the elevator. Bucky pulled you against him as you rode it down, and he kissed your neck from behind as his hands slid up under your shirt and massaged your breasts.

You moaned softly and Steve turned to you and leaned down, kissing you deeply. It was annoyingly brief though, as the elevator stopped on Steve and Bucky’s floor and the doors opened.

As soon as you got into their apartment the three of you started shedding your clothes, leaving them in a trail from the door to the bedroom.

Steve spun you to face him when you were down to just your underwear and he kissed you hungrily Bucky moved up behind you and as Steve unhooked your bra Bucky slid your panties down to the ground. Steve’s hands ran down your back to your ass and he lifted you. You wrapped your legs around his waist and rolled your hips against him. He was still in his boxers and his cock pressed against you through the thin fabric.

Bucky picked up the lube from the bedside table and squeezed it on his fingers. He came up behind you and as you ground your hips against Steve as he massaged the lube on your asshole. You moaned loudly and tried to relax, popping your ass out toward him. Steve held you in place, kissing your neck and sucking at your earlobe as Bucky slowly eased first one finger into your ass and then another. You tensed and rocked against him, rubbing your aching cunt against Steve’s clothed cock as Bucky slowly and gently fucked your ass with his fingers, stretching you in readiness for what was to come.

When Bucky took his hand away you mewled needily and rocked your hips against Steve. Steve responded by lifting you. You shrieked as he raised you up above his head and guided your legs over his shoulders. You grabbed fistfuls of his hair and linked your ankles at the back of his shoulders. “Steve!” You squealed as you tried to steady yourself.

Steve didn’t answer, he just buried his face into your cunt and began to eat you out like a starving man. His tongue swirled around and wide, lapping at your folds and dipping inside of you. You moaned and held on, your legs trembling and your heart hammering in your chest.

Bucky moved up behind you, putting his hand on your back. “Relax,” he soothed. “We’ve got you. You’re not gonna fall.”

You relaxed as best you could and Steve began to focus on your clit. His fingers dug into your thighs as he held you in place. Bucky’s hand stayed on your back and your let yourself lean against him a little, though your hands stayed firmly tangled in Steve’s hair. With each jolt that ran through you, you’d moan and pull on Steve’s hair and he would, in turn, moan into your cunt.

Adrenaline coursed through you, heightening your senses and making everything more intense. Your clit twitched with every flick of Steve’s tongue and your muscles clenched and spasmed. Your orgasm built and when it broke, it crashed down on you making your legs kick out and your hips buck against Steve’s face. “Fuck!” You screamed arching back.

Bucky caught you and helped lower you down, taking you in his arms and moving to the bed with you. You felt high on a mix of adrenaline and endorphins and you were still panting when Steve and Bucky rolled on condoms and got into position on the bed. You straddled Bucky’s waist and with shaky legs, you lowered yourself down on his cock. He watched on as you rolled your hips in a figure of eight while seated firmly on him. Steve moved up behind you and kissed your neck you leaned back against him and captured your lips. He moaned into your lips and rutted against your ass, his hands sliding up your stomach to cup your breasts. When you broke the kiss you lay down over Bucky, pressing your body against his.

Bucky’s arms wrapped around you and held you close. “You sure this is what you want?” He whispered against your ear.

“Yes, please,” you begged. “Give it to me.”

Steve pressed his palm to the middle of your back and squeezed more lube on your ass. The head of his cock pressed against your tight hole and he eased it in.

You keened and curved your back at the burn in your ring muscle as his cock stretched you. Bucky began to thrust his hips up into you, distracting you from the pain that was blossoming and changing it too. Steve was patient, he took his time to let you adjust. When you began to relax he began to thrust.

You were full to breaking and it felt like a wildfire was running through your veins as your two best friends thrust into you, giving you the thing you had asked for and brought you apart doing it. They held you between them and kissed your neck and back and caressed your skin. Your second orgasm of the night hit you hard, you screamed out with it and shuddered between them. Bucky grunted but he kept thrusting, fucking you through it. That high feeling you had deepened. Your head felt floaty and soft while your body crackled and buzzed.

“Oh god,” you mewled. “You feel so good.”

“So do you, darlin’,” Bucky soothed, stroking your hair.

With another cry, you came again, your core clenching and squeezing them tight. Bucky jerked up hard into you and groaned loudly as your orgasm dragged his over too. You could feel the pulse of his cock as he emptied into you.

Steve kept thrusting into your ass, but he wasn’t too far behind, he leaned forward and his thrusts shallowed. “Steve,” you whimpered. “Steve, come on my back.”

Steve groaned and got up on his knees. He pulled out and pulled off the condom, tossing it hastily into the wastebasket by the bed as he jerked himself off. He made a soft grunt sound and released, painting your back in hot ribbons.

You collapsed down on Bucky, breathing heavily and he gently ran his fingers through your hair. “Good?” He whispered.

“So good,” you hummed.

The following day you had breakfast with Steve and Bucky before going to your apartment to shower and pack up the last of your things. When you went down to meet Clint at the Quin Steve, Bucky, Sam, Natasha, Rhodey, Wanda, Vision, and Bruce were all there to see you off. You and Clint hugged them each in turn and when you got to Steve and Bucky they both engulfed you in their arms at the same time. “I’ll be coming to check things out in a month,” Steve said. “But you’ll hear from me before then.”

“Yeah, I know,” you said with your face pressed against his chest.

“Did we ever thank you for … you know… everything? What we did together… I think for most people, that stays as a fantasy. I’m so grateful that we got to explore that with you.” Steve said.

You pulled back and looked up at him. “We did it together, Steve,” you said. “I got just as much out of it as you.”

He smiled and pressed a kiss on your forehead. “Still. Thank you.”

You kissed his cheek and turned and kissed Bucky. “Take care of yourself, darlin’. And call us tonight.”

“Will do,” you agreed. “Talk soon.”

“Come on slowpoke, we have air currents to catch!” Clint called.

“Shit, alright!” You called back.

“Fly safe,” Steve said and hugged you one last time. You waved to everyone as you followed Clint onto the jet.

He got into the cockpit and began the take-off procedure and you took the seat beside him. “I thought we’d be flying with the kids,” you said as you went through the procedure with him.

“They went via America Chavez express. They’ll have completely trashed the place by the time we get there. Unfortunately, the jet needs to come too, so we have to do it the old fashioned way,” Clint explained.

“This is old fashioned?” You teased.

“In comparison to teleporting it is,” Clint laughed. “You ready?”

You looked at him and smirked. "It's probably too late to go to the bathroom, right?”

“Not to worry,” he said as the jet took off. “There’s a really horrible one back there if you need it.”

“Oh good,” you said, laughing with him.

“Oh and,” Clint said, looking at you through the side of his eye. “If you’re looking for another fuck buddy. My card is now open.”

You snorted and nudged him. “Gee, thanks, Clint,” you said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He patted your leg. “We’ll be alright. Besides, there’s In and Out. Get a few of them in you and you won’t even remember what you were missing.”

You broke down into laughter and relaxed back in your chair. It was time to look forward and start your new life.

~ END ~

#SSB2020 #steve rogers #bucky barnes #steve rogers x reader #bucky barnes x reader #stucky #steve rogers x bucky barnes #stucky x reader #steve rogers x reader x bucky barnes #captain america fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #reader insert #smut #catch and release #return to the wild

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ragnarachael · 4 years

Text

the valiant arsonist — affection

Pairing: Loki x TVA Agent!Reader

Word Count: 1,613

Summary: Loki comes to you for some (un)professional medical assistance. While you end up rambling, you catch him staring at you.

Author’s Ramblings: it’s one of those weeks. i haven’t slept yet today (it’s currently 11:10 am as i write this actually) and man. i missed TVA. so, i’m breaking my own promise with myself and posting this series kinda out of order since i can’t follow my own timeline. but, you get soft content so who’s complaining! (and yes once i sleep, i’m updating my masterlists it’s been a time and a half here at HQ.)

Warnings: reader is basically tending Loki’s wounds. why does most of my Loki content revolve around that?

LOKI TAGLIST: @sadwaywardkid @myraiswack

MASTERLIST ! FEEDBACK ! AO3 LINK !

Your Friday nights were slowly becoming nights where you practiced your medical skills thanks to Loki. He didn’t trust the nurses at the Med Bay for anything.

He only trusted you.

You really knew you were close with him when he told you about his true parentage. You wished you could say your research prepared you for it, but nothing really could. But you weren’t scared. You were quite intrigued when his pale skin started to fade into a blue shade while his eyes slipped into an evil shade of red while marks grew onto his skin.

You were glad he had someone he could rely on. You didn’t expect it to be you to gain his friendship after he joined the agency to regain his freedom, but you didn’t question it. You let him in your apartment with open arms - as well as an open first aid kit in hand.

Like tonight, for example.

Mills was assigned a tougher mission than usual for his team. It took a lot longer to plan an attack than you had thought. You saw the answer clearly, but it wasn’t your place, considering you’re on Love’s team. Loki was the key.

Well, more like the bait.

It angered you to even admit what he was in the plan you overheard some agents talking about it. Loki shouldn’t be considered bait. He was a person just like anyone else on the damned team.

You didn’t see Loki until late that night. Even though it had been three hours since he was back from the mission, he looked to have showered properly, changed out of the agency clothes and into more comfortable, baggy attire than the tight fitting jeans and clingy fabric of the collared shirts that were required.

He looked... attractive. You shouldn’t be thinking that when he’s holding his side tightly with a pained smile when you answer the door.

“I’m in need of some assistance.”

You smiled wide, easily stepping aside to let him in. “Allow me to assist you.”

Loki let out a pained huff of laughter before he practically limped in and over to your couch where you already had your kit and a glass of water waiting. The water did have ice a mere 30 minutes ago; the fresh condensation was clinging to the glass since you had yet to turn your air down to make it cooler in your apartment.

“Make yourself as comfortable as you can, I’ll turn the air down so you’re not sweating,” you said quickly once you shut and locked the door behind you, carefully stepping around Loki to get to your thermostat.

However, Loki was quick to reach his free hand out to grab your wrist.

“I’ll be fine. Just—” Loki let out what sounded like a sigh mixed with a groan “—please work your magic.”

You felt your face heat up then, both feeling his hand on your skin and at the fact he called your slight medical training magic. You nodded and gestured to the couch.

“I’ll get some of the rags and I’ll get to work. Do what you’ve got to do.”

It was routine at this point. Within a few minutes you had the last bits of what you needed before you found Loki shirtless on your sofa, still holding his side that had what looked like a red piece of cloth.

It took you a moment to process that the cloth most definitely wasn’t originally red after you tried to avoid taking in his shirtless form.

This was... new territory.

“So what happened?” You questioned gently, sitting near his injured side carefully. Loki grimaced as he shifted, waiting for your hands to relive his own from holding the drenched cloth.

“There is a reason as to why I would rather work alone than with a team.”

You didn’t need to push further and decided to get to work rather than question further on Loki’s night.

The gash was long, not too deep, but deep enough to where the bleeding had been close to stopping thanks to the pressure Loki must have applied to it. It even looked like he had already had it patched up. Once again, you didn’t press as to what he had done before this. You didn’t really want to know. All you wanted was to patch him up and offer your ear if he was up to talking.

Momentarily, while you focused on stitching his wound, you found yourself just.. taking in his physique.

He was toned. Far more toned than you had thought to imagine. You always assumed he was lean, and just didn’t have any muscle for show. However, as your eyes took in his relaxed muscles where you could notice the light outline of his abs as he breathed, you realized that wasn’t much the case.

You remembered occasionally admiring Loki from afar—purely because of boredom in the workplace—and noticed that his arms certainly had some bulk to them.

You bit your lip from the memory before going back to focusing on the task at hand.

“How was your day?” Loki questioned lightly after your look over of his body. You barely shrugged as you gently pushed the needle through his skin.

“Okay. Did some research on Doctor Doom again. Realized that I would rather curl into a ball and cry than encounter him.”

Loki couldn’t help the chuckle slipping out from his lips as his head fell back.

“That sounds horrific.”

“It was!” You exclaimed lightly, not letting your eyes move from your task. “He could control my mind. I don’t need that.”

“Mm,” Loki replied quietly.

You stopped stitching when Loki asked to shift around a bit, grabbing the rag you were using to gently dab at the blood that was still dripping down his skin.

“Did... Did you win?” You questioned suddenly. You let your eyes look up into his as he let his left arm stay over his head so you could keep your access to his side.

Loki took a deep breath before exhaling slowly.

“In the end? Yes.”

“That’s... good,” you determined. Loki nodded and continued to reposition before he gave you the go ahead to continue your work.

It was comfortably quiet between the two of you. You tried to work quicker to get the rest of the pain out of the way for him. He probably wasn’t in too much pain as a regular mortal would be, but you still worried.

Thankfully, you finished stitching without having to rethread the needle and found yourself talking about any and everything. You mentioned the dogs you had seen from the window at your meetings for the day. You talked about how your co-worker Jamie had broken up with her galactic boyfriend she wouldn’t shut the hell up about.

You even started to talk about those cute cat sticky notes you found hidden in some drawer of your desk.

“And they were just sitting there next to some old files I didn’t archive! There were a few black cats and some tuxedo cats—” You cut yourself off when you looked up at Loki after gently disinfecting the area for good measure to catch him already looking at you fondly.

He seemed entranced by what you were saying. And you were just talking about cat sticky notes. There was some emotion in his eyes you couldn’t quite read as he slowly sat up, the space between you slowly lessening.

You noticed his eyes flickering down towards your lips the same time yours did.

That’s when you realized oh, this is happening. Like, really happening.

You swallowed heavily as you tried to properly prepare yourself, feeling your heart speed up suddenly as you felt Loki’s hand land just a few inches away from your thigh as he shifted his body to face yours a bit more.

He was practically pining you to the armrest of your sofa, and you certainly didn’t mind it.

“Is.. Is this alright?” He questioned quietly, his lips just barely brushing over your own. You let your eyes peek at Loki’s lips, noticing just how soft they look up close.

God, yes.

You heard Loki let out a soft chuckle, ducking his head down gently so his nose just barely brushed against the tip of your own. You didn’t need to ask that he heard your thoughts loud and clear in that moment.

Thankfully, you didn’t have time to be embarrassed. Loki took that as his cue to lift his head back up and press his lips to your own.

Your eyes did widen out of shock momentarily before fluttering shut and leaning into the kiss, your hand sliding down the expanse of his side that didn’t have the stitches in. You found that your hand easily anchored on his hip right where the elastic of his sweats lay.

His lips against yours felt wonderful. They were as soft as they looked, and you couldn’t get enough of it.

Loki’s hand finally found it’s way up to rest on your waist rather than supporting his weight on the sofa cushion as you felt his teeth nip at your bottom lip.

Before you could grant him access to anything past that, you found yourself pulling away, your chest heaving with deep gasps of air as you kept your eyes closed, completely content with the actions you and Loki had just done.

Loki was breathing just like you were, his thumb rubbing against your side over the fabric of your shirt gently. You didn’t hesitate to let out a giddy laugh as you leaned forwards to press your forehead to his own.

“Could we do that again?”

#loki x reader #loki layfeyson x reader #loki odinson x reader #loki odinson imagine #loki laufeyson imagine #loki laufeyson #loki odinson #loki imagine #loki drabble #marvel fanfiction #marvel imagine #marvel drabble #marvel writer #tva #rachael writes

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anika-ann · 5 years

Text

Hands Too Cold, but Heart of Gold - Pt.6

The Closure

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader, Matt Murdock x reader (no SR x MM x r)

Word count: 2750

Summary: Avenger!reader AU, love triangle. Two weeks after the mission, things are getting back to normal. Except they aren’t, not really.

Warnings: swearing, mentions of violence and injury, tooth-rotting fluff and light angst

Story Mastelist

────── ·❆· ──────

Steve Rogers was a lucky man.

You knew that wasn’t entirely true, but momentarily, you envied him enormously. The serum kicked in and within two days, he was perfectly fine, if not a little out of shape. You, on the other hand, were still healing like the regular human being you were, being lucky enough to have your stitches removed after only six days. Of course, something hurt all the time.

Yet, there was a bright side; when Steve had visited your hospital room the day of his release and heard you whining about lying in a hospital alone, he had convinced everyone you had been good to go, he would take care of you and he would make sure you would rest. He hadn’t been lying (because he was always honest); the workout he had started with when returning to the tower had been body-lifting. Your body-lifting to be precise. You had laughed so hard as he had carried you to your room that you had almost pulled some of your stitches. He was the sweetest guy to ever walk the Earth. And a very handsome nurse.

You believed that being in the company of your friends slash family helped you heal faster too. A little over a week after your release, you were heading to the gym for the first time, Steve by your side. He seemed tired, which meant something, coming from you.

“You sure you should be getting back into your full training mode, Steve? I mean-“ you started, only to be cut off by his slightly amused smile.

“Sounds rich coming from you.”

“Touché. But seriously, I’m just starting and you-“ He stopped in his tracks, his hand covering your bare arm, his thumb caressing the skin.

“Snowflake, stop worrying about me,” he demanded, his voice too soft for you to take it as an order. You didn’t quite believe him anyway – you suspected he liked when you were worried about him, proving that you cared, just like you liked when he did.

“I demand an easier task, Captain.”

The corner of his lips twitched. “Request denied, soldier.”

“Go to hell, Rogers.”

“Language.”

It made you burst out laughing – the note with his eyebrows raised suggestively, knowing exactly what he would cause. “Oh, you’re definitely better, okay. Let’s go punch something.”

────── ·❆· ──────

To your surprise, punching sent your thoughts to places you not only hadn’t seen coming, but also hated. Your body remembered the last time you were hitting something – or someone. Your mind wandered to the mission and the outcome, and given the fact Steve was living and kicking just few feet from you, your mind got occupied with another man who had been present. The man in the Devil suit.

You hadn’t talk to Matt ever since you had… practically kicked him out of your hospital room, where he had apparently spent about four days straight, waiting for you to wake up. He hadn’t visited again and it made your insides twist in guilt. Because he had been nice and supportive and while he might have made a decision for you, it had been a perfectly valid one. He had been just trying to protect you from sabotaging your own body and your only response to that had been being an utter bitch.

“You should talk to him, you know,” Steve hummed after you placed particularly powerful hook to the punching bag. You were definitely pushing yourself. You didn’t care. The lying around and doing nothing thing had become old very quickly. Even with Steve carrying you.

“To whom?” you played dumb, placing another blow, mindful of not going with your full strength.

“Frosty.”

“Steve.”

“You know, they told me what he did. I’m gonna talk to him for sure. He played a big part in saving my life by keeping you calm and focused. ”

You punched the bag with unnecessary force again. You knew that. You also knew you had been an ass and the man had been just trying to save your life and you had been dramatic. You also knew you would feel very differently if the outcome would be worse for Steve, but it wasn’t and now you were truly embarrassed about walking out on Matt and barely looking back.

“And he kept you alive. That’s not something I take lightly.”

You met Steve’s genuine eyes, disturbed and caring gaze watching your face closely. You would drown in the sea of blue; and for some reason, you were slowly realizing that you wanted to find out if maybe you could drown in brown pools with golden edges too. Which was making things even worse.

You hit the bag again. “It wasn’t his call. He didn’t have the right-“

“He’s a vigilante, Frosty. He was trying to save your life. He’s a hero. How could you expect anything less from him?”

“Wasn’t. His. Call,” you repeated like a broken record, hiding the tears of shame. Steve caught your wrists, reading you like an open book.

You looked up, pressing your lips together to bury the flood of emotions. Embarrassment. Anger. Sympathy. Gratitude. Fear. God, still so much fear of what could have happened.

You gave in as Steve’s strong arms pulled you against his warm chest, wrapping you in a comforting embrace. You didn’t care you were sweaty, just hoping he didn’t mind either and you buried your face into his t-shirt. He cradled your tangled bodies lightly, pressing a soft kiss to your hair.

“Hey, hey, I got you…. You did it, you saved me, shh… we’re okay.”

Of course he knew exactly where your had thoughts gone. You sobbed like a freaking child, only to be rewarded by him squeezing you tighter, his big hand caressing your back in soothing motions.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled, your embarrassment reaching a new level.

It wasn’t the first time you were crying in front of Steve – god no, this was the guy who had found you freaked out by your powers more than once as well as the good friend who handed you a handkerchief when you got ridiculously emotional about a movie –, but in the past few days, you were being just pathetic.

His body shook with shushed gentle laughter. “Nothing to be sorry about, Snowflake. That’s why I’m here.”

“To be my shoulder to cry on? Wow, you really got the worst job ever.”

He retreated a little and you barely supressed a whine when he did so. You received a kiss to your forehead instead though, your eyes falling shut at the tender gesture, tears escaping from under your eyelids.

“I can be your shoulder to cry on if that’s what you need at the moment. I’m here for you, okay?”

Your heart fluttered at that, melting in a way you almost forgot was possible. You wrapped your arms around him properly, hugging him as tightly as you managed, wishing to just merge with him. He let out a surprised huff, but his hand rubbed your back again.

“Thank you, Steve.”

“Of course.”

You stood in the embrace for what could be seconds or minutes as well as hours. You weren’t in a rush to end it or break the silence, but in the end, it was you.

“I don’t want to talk to him. I’m— I’m ashamed,” you admitted tentatively, loosening the hug and finally letting Steve breathe in.

“I know, Snowflake. But you can’t avoid him forever.”

“Watch me.”

He chuckled, his chest shaking with the quiet sound. “You want me to escort you?”

“God, no. That would make me not only a bitch, but also a coward.”

“Language.”

“Oh, shut up, Steve,” you let go of him completely in favour to smack his arm.

“He stayed in the hospital to be sure you would make it. You should pay him a visit.”

“I know. Can we drop it now, please? I promise I’ll go see him.”

Someday, you added mentally.

────── ·❆· ──────

You went at night. It only made sense, because you didn’t want to stalk Matt via Tony’s database to find him and confront him in his home or God forbid, his work place, wherever that was. You were nervous like a student getting called into the director’s office, trying to convince yourself that the sooner you would be over with it the better.

Daredevil was relatively easy to find – Hell’s Kitchen wasn’t really that big. Plus, he was hanging around rather shady places.

“Thought you didn’t want to see me,” he greeted you flatly and you honestly wanted to spin on your heels and run.

You felt like your heart was in your throat instead of your chest. It was really hard to talk.

“You’re right, I probably don’t, good talk,” you exclaimed, spinning on your heels to complete your plan of escape. Stupid, stupid, why were you even here-

“Wait! Wait, I’m sorry, that was mean-“

You tilted your head back, facing the sky and whimpered. That was even worse than him being hostile. You turned to him once again, coming a little closer. A small curious smile played on his lips.

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Matt. I really hope you know that, because if I actually did make you feel guilty for doing what you did, I’m officially Queen B.”

He opened his mouth and closed it again. He titled his head to side, looking a bit confused. “Queen B?”

“Queen Bitch. Crowned Bitch. The Original Mean Girl. Take your pick,” you supplied helpfully and this time it was him who shortened the distance, now standing only two steps from you.

“You’re not… that.”

“I really am, Matt. I’m sorry. I was being incredibly mean to you and all you did was being helpful, having my back, making sure I wouldn’t die and then you apparently guarded my bedside for days. It’s… thank you for that. And I’m really sorry. I know I don’t deserve you to even accept the apology, but-“

“I forgive you,” he pronounced with a soft smile and you stopped in the middle of your speech, too shocked to continue or even remember what you were saying.

“What?”

His smile grew wider. “I forgive you. I understand. You were worried, you were in pain and I know I crossed a line I probably didn’t have the right to cross. It was just… I couldn’t let you die – and if I’m being honest, I should have stopped you sooner, but you seemed so desperate to help him…”

You licked your lips, suddenly feeling even worse. Great. Now he also blamed himself for letting things go so far. As if it was his fault. Jesus.

“Wow, I really need to stop hanging out around people who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.”

Daredevil chuckled, hesitantly taking your wrist. “That would be a shame.”

You almost had a heart attack, remembering how tactile he had been during the mission – especially during Steve’s stabilization. Had it been for your sake or his own?

“Are you always this tactile?”

The question left you mouth without consulting with your brain. You instantly wanted to take it back, especially when he retreated his hand – you caught it with your own. The action baffled him.

“I… I’m just curious. Sorry. I was wondering if it was a thing, because… because… I’m sorry, there’s really no subtle way to say it, because of your blindness? ‘Cause I was wondering a lot, okay? I had plenty of time to process the fact Daredevil was blind and I can’t really say I wrapped my head around it,” you admitted and his fingers caressed your wrist again.

“There’s really not much to wonder about. It is what it is. And you don’t need to… try to figure out a way of watching your tongue around me. I’m not sensitive about the matter – I had enough time to adjust and I’m actually not too happy with people who are treating me like glass.”

“Well… I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… yeah. How does that work?”

He shrugged as if it was nothing, as if it was perfectly normal for a blind person to be a freaking ninja vigilante. “Everything else is so amplified that I have a mental picture precise enough to do what I do. I still need a braille reader for work, because reading regular prints is too hard and few more things, but… I go by.”

You stared at him, amazed. “That’s incredible. What… what do you for living?”

He smirked. “Lawyer.”

You burst out laughing. “No. No way! You’re pulling my leg! You are a lawyer and a vigilante? Isn’t that-“

“Ironic? Not really. What the law can’t do, the vigilante can.”

“…that’s a fair point actually. I can see why you are a lawyer.”

The smile that had appeared a while ago hadn’t disappeared since. You felt its warmth washing over you. Your breath hitched when his free hand followed his right one, both of them enclosing yours.

“As for one of your previous questions… no. Not really. I’m very sensitive to touch and trust me, taking a subway in the morning can be much worse than you already think it is. But… with Foggy and Karen – those are my closest friends – it’s okay. I am pretty tactile with people I like,” he lowered his voice and your heart started pounding at that.

Did he just… did he-?

“Oh.”

“That okay?” he asked almost shyly and you found yourself wishing to take off that stupid helmet of his and examine his expression.

Was it okay?

“Yeah. Yeah, I would say it’s pretty okay, Matt.”

He squeezed your hand a little tighter.

“Okay enough for me to ask you to dinner?”

Your mouth fell open. You were sure you looked like an idiot, but that was a piece of information stuffed in the darkest corner of your mind now.

Matt just asked you out. Matt, Daredevil, the very same man you had been an actual Queen B around, liked you and asked you out.

“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. It’s okay to say no.”

You shook you head, snapping from your shock.

“No! I mean— yes. I-“ you let out an incredulous laugh, covering one of his hands with your free one. “Yes. It’s just… did you hit your head? Did I hit your head when on the jet? Because… I was… really awful to you, Matt-“

“You weren’t at your best, I’m not gonna lie-“

You laughed again, taken aback by the blunt note, but not actually offended, because it was the truth. “Is that so? Wow, Matt, smooth, you know how to get the girl fall for you…”

He pressed his lips together, the corners of his mouth twitching.

“Is it working?” he teased you and you just giggled at the ridiculous situation you were taking part in. “What I mean is that you weren’t at your best and I still kinda liked you. I would be really happy to know the girl behind Frostbite’s mask better, hopefully when she’s not stressed enough to get a heart attack any second.”

And just like that, the laughter in your throat softened and you melted. Yeah, okay. That actually was pretty smooth. When he held out an old phone in your direction, you entered your number without hesitation.

“You’re free on Friday night?”

“Yep. I should be,” you agreed, returning the phone. He slipped it back into his pocket with silent thanks.

“Great. I’ll text you the details.”

“Good. Looking forward to it…. You should probably come back to patrolling your streets, huh? Sorry to keep you.”

“Are you joking? This was the best patrol night I had in a very long time,” he said warmly, but took several steps back. “Wanna join me?”

You chuckled, shaking your head as you started walking backwards too. “Nope. I’m still not in a top shape – I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Really? Am I that special?”

“Hey, don’t get too full of yourself! I can still change my mind about Friday!”

He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, but he was still grinning. “Please don’t.”

“I’ll see,” you called after him and began to create your path home. You waved at him the last time, hoping he could perceive it with his senses and then your ways separated.

You were leaving with one single thought.

Shit. I have a date.

────── ·❆· ──────

Part 7

────── ·❆· ──────

Tags: @mermaidxatxheart, @murdermornings, @elisaa-shelby @ask-hellbent-tweek

You want in, send me an ask/a message, you want out, do the same, yada, yada.... I’ll be happy to hear from you :-*

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satanschild01 · 4 years

Text

No All Might? That’s Alright Prt3

Izuku Midoriya Fanfiction

A/N: In all honesty this took me way too long just to finish writing this chapter, but I pushed through so I guess it’s fine. I’ve created a AO3 account recently and I’ve posted all of my previous fanfictions there so if you want to check me out, you can find me as SatansChild

Hope you all stay safe and wear a mask if you can't physically distance.Hope to update soon!

Catch you on the flip side ~ Em

Photo used in this fic was referenced from original picture from anime, I did draw this photo jtlyk

Tags:

@random-fandom-girl-24

Tags for some wonderful feedback😘: @trashys-things @pink-imagines @marvelmymarvel @shikigami-the-paper-spirit @spaced-out-imagines @marvelmymarvelmain @writingfreakk

Trigger warning: Talk about death

Word Count: 2633

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

After making sure all of the blood was no longer on his uniform, Closing his eyes, Izuku steeled himself to walk into the All Might shrine that was his room. Sure, he still wanted to be a hero, and he admired All Might’s strength, but he couldn’t stand to be surrounded by posters and figurines of a man who couldn’t offer any sort of encouragement to a child who clearly needed it. Izuku pulled some cardboard boxes out from his closet and started filling them with everything All Might. Oboro didn’t make a sound during the time he cleaned out his room, which he was grateful for. Even though he could just feel Oboro wanting to ask questions.

“So what are you going to do about all this stuff?” Oboro asked as Izuku changed his All Might sheets with regular black ones “You seem like such a big fan...it just seems like a waste just to keep it all in boxes.”

Izuku shrugged his shoulders.”I’m not much of a fan anymore.” he lied to mostly himself rather than to Oboro, “I guess I’ll just donate the stuff later.” Once his walls were finally bare, Izuku stuffed the now full boxes to the back of his closet and flopped onto his bed. The room stayed silent for a moment until Izuku broke the ice, “I don’t want to intrude on your personal life…but can you tell me about yourself?” he asked

“Well for the fact that I witnessed and helped you with some pretty deep stuff, it sorta would be rude if I didn’t tell you something about my previous life,” Oboro said cheekily

“H-how long have you been...you know…” Izuku paused not really wanting to complete the question.

“...dead?” Izuku nodded “I was in my second year of high school when I died and I would be 29 by now so...close to 12 years I think?” Izuku sat there on his bed frozen

‘12 years is a long time to be a ghost or spirit to not have passed on, that is if people actually pass onto another place once they die’ Izuku thought to himself

“I was patrolling around Tasomiya Ward with one of my best friends when there was a villain attack...I was working on saving some kids when debris fell on top of me...when I woke up I was like how I am now, I couldn’t find my body anywhere so I just...travelled around…” Oboro seemed to quiet down at mentioning that he never found his body to move onto another life, so Izuku thought of ways to change the current mood of the room.

“So you were a hero in training or something?” he asked, face full of wonder, Oboro hummed in affirmation “What school did you go to?”

“I went to U.A”

“Wait really?!” Izuku exclaimed excitedly, “that's so cool!”

They continued talking and asking questions back and forth, before falling into a comfortable silence. A few minutes past before Izuku took a deep breath

“I...I’m sorry,” Izuku said quietly, slowly curling into himself

"Why would you be sorry kid?" Oboro’s voice was full of confusion. But Izuku only curled in on himself further.

"If it wasn't for me you wouldn't be stuck here." As if anyone wanted to be bound to some stupid Deku...like him. And here he thought it was a whole coincidence that Oboro was with him. But instead, he just took whatever type of freedom he had to begin with.

"Hey, no! Stop that. Izuku that's not true! I'm here because I want to be!" The warmth spread all over him and he couldn't help but lean into it. “I said I'd make a hero out of you and I still plan on it."

Izuku looked up only to see the ceiling of his room, lifting his arm up to the sky and let it just float there (like what every kid does while laying on there bed contemplating on what to do next). "I wish I could see you again."

Oboro hummed. Seeming to think something through. "I don’t think there’s much out there since I was only a second-year when I died, but there could be some photos of me with friends or an article"

Izuku seemed to take that as a challenge as he went to his computer. "What did you choose to be your hero name?"

"Loud Cloud."

After scouring the web for a couple of minutes nothing showed up except for an old article from the Nikkei Shimbun newspaper, reporting the death of hero-in-training Loud Cloud. Izuku quickly exited that site choosing to search for something different. “What’s your full name Oboro?”

“Oh that’s right I didn’t tell you my full name, it is Oboro Shirakumo” Oboro replied

“Oboroshirikumo...oboroshirikumooo….here!” Izuku exclaimed pointing at the monitor’s screen. “This photo was tagged saying ‘Curry eating competition at U.A’s School Festival. Winner Hizashi Yamada from class 2-A!’ it also says the names of the people in the photo are; Shota Aizawa, Hizashi Yamada, and Oboro Shirakumo.”

“Oh, I remember that!” Oboro cried out laughing “The curry was soo spicy I was freaking out because I couldn’t find anything to soothe my burning throat!”

“So that’s you in the back then?” Izuku asked pointing towards a teenager who seems to be freaking out.

Oboro chuckles “Yep, the other two were my best friends!”

“Yamada looks sorta familiar what’s his hero name?” Izukku asked, curious on why the 16-year-old looked so familiar to him

“Unless he changed it before becoming a pro, which he probably would not, his hero name is Present Mic.”

Izuku sputtered “W-wait you were close friends with THE Present Mic?!” Oboro hummed in agreement while Izuku had his miny freak out “

“Oh my god that is socool!Ilistentohisradioshoweveryday,andhe’ssuchanamazinghero,likeevenifheisdeafduetohisquirkhedoesn’tletitbotherhiman-” He stopped hearing the sound of laughter coming around his room and his lamp flickering

"Aw jeez, that’s amazing Hizashi got to get that radio show he wanted." There was a quick blast of warmth flooding around his back and chest resembling a hug. "Well anyway, you should probably head to bed. You have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow and a long way to go before you can have a chance at being accepted into UA!"

"What are you going to do while I sleep?" Izuku asked, eyes slowly drooping.

"I'm going to see how far I can go without being next to you, and have a look around and exploring a bit. No need to worry. I'll make sure to be careful and be here in the morning." He seemed to pick up on his anxieties. Izuku felt warmth as Oboro slowly pet his hair back. "Goodnight, Izuku."

The next morning Izuku woke up to warmth pulsing on his right cheek. "Hey kid it’s time to get up! You have training to do! Up and at ‘em!" Oboro’s voice was overly joyful and Izuku felt very unwilling to get out of bed.

"Mm...just a bit longeeeer." He groaned turning himself over facing away from where he guesses Oboro is standing (floating?).

"Fair warning Izuku my jokes are terrible, everyone at school would always runaway once I started and I haven’t been able to talk to actual people in so long! If spaghetti were to have it’s own action movie, what would it be called?.... Mission im-pasta-ble. What did the pot eat on it’s birthday?....pancakes. What do you call a camel in a drought?....A dry hu- "

Finally, Izuku jerked up, covering his ears. “Okay. Okay, I’m up! No need to finish that.” His face started to burn a light pink across his face, (knowing what the end of the joke was) as he started to kick the blankets off only to turn towards the window and see barely any light outside. "Wha- Oboro!! The sun isn’t even out yet!"

He turned glaring into thin air hoping to make contact with him.

"Yes, it is, Izu. It's just reeeally early in the morning. There is plenty of time for you to get ready and eat before we go out for a morning run!" He was being weirdly energetic about the whole ordeal, but Izuku knew he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Heading to the bathroom, Izuku ran a brush through his wild curly hair and brushed his teeth. Going back to his room, Obroro pipped up. "It's a bit cool outside so I suggest you wear some long sleeves."

The entire way to his closet Izuku muttered incoherent things. In the end, he opted to wear a plain black shorts and a long-sleeved shirt with written kanji saying 'tank-top' with his old dusty sneakers because his red sneakers were still on top of the roof.

Before heading out Izuku ate some toast and an orange. If he got hungry later on their run he could always eat more when they got back. As Izulu started to leave the apartment Izuku tripped over an unmarked box that was just left in front of the door.

"Ooo I wonder what it is!” Oboro seemed quite enthusiastic as Izuku went to open the box revealing his faded red shoes and yellow backpack.

"Wai-how-who found my stuff?" Izuku asked immediately putting the bag by the door and quickly changing between uncomfortable and comfortable shoes.

"I don’t know, when I got back from wandering around the package was just...there."

"Maybe someone found it and found out where I live from my contact info and address was written inside…?” Izuku wondered out loud.

“I guess so,” Oboro said looking to the bright sight of things.

‘But what if it was...All Might. Yeah, I’m glad that I don’t have to go back up there to collect my things but...I don’t want to have to depend on All Might to help me with my own problems.’

“Hey don’t think like that Izu! I know you’re not a huge fan of the guy, but you don’t have to beat yourself down like that. I know you’re better than that” Oboro spoke sternly trying to make a point, but that soon backfired as warmth spread through his body.

“Hold up- could you always hear my thoughts?” Izuku questioned as he started to jog away from the apartment.

“So far I can heat some things. Like your thoughts that way heavily on you emotionally. But it could possibly work to talk to me through your mind. So you don’t look like a freak talking to themselves.” Oboro quickly informs Izuku as to not worry him.

Sighed Izuku. That was true. Though he kept thinking about it as he jogged. As they passed Dagobah Municipal Beach, the sun had started to rise. Taking in a deep breath was the wrong reason as Izuku cringed from the awful smell of garbage. Despite the smell, Izuku took a break, taking a seat at the entrance.

"Oh gross. What is this place?" Oboro asked with a clear sound of disgust in his voice.

"Well," Izuku started."This is Dagobah Municipal Beach Park. It has accumulated trash coming from the sea for years, turning it from a beautiful beach spot into a trash heap for everyone's unwanted or broken belongings." It was really a shame. As a kid, Izuku recalled going to the beach. Lie under a beach umbrella, making sandcastles. But by the time he was tall enough into the water, it was already flooded with trash by then.

"That's terrible." Oboro seemed deeply upset about this actually. It made Izuku want to do something about it. But before Izuku could voice his thoughts Oboro spoke up.

“Hey Izu, could we make a quick visit to a convenience store?”

“Sure...what exactly do you want me to get?” Izuku asked, despite having an idea what Oboro was thinking.

“Well...you’re going to need to get some garbage bags and some gloves.”

Izuku then dashed towards the nearest convenience store with determination in his eyes. A frail-looking lady turned the key to open the doors as he walked by. Causing her to recoil in slight shock, Izuku realized that with his rapid approach he had frightened her. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'd just come to purchase some garbage bags and some gloves.

The older woman seemed to soften something about his face as she smiled and opened his door. "Sure thing, they’re both in the last aisle on your right."

Before she went inside, Izuku thanked her and smiled back. He quickly found what he was looking for and brought a box of trash bags and a pair of workers gloves onto the counter.

"What's the hurry, son? Why do you need trash bags this early in the morning? You aren't trying to cause trouble are you?" the old woman pointed to Izuku with an accusing finger, and he shook his head quickly.

"Oh no, ma'am! I thought that I could just try and clean the beach up! I passed it while I was on my morning run!" Izuku assured, voicing Oboro’s plan

At this, the elder woman gently smiles while scanning the items. “Wow, is that right?” she said astonished, “ You know how long that place has been a mess? What makes you believe you can do it all by yourself?"

Her words weren't really painful, she was just being realistic. He knew she was right. He certainly had no obligation to clean up the beach. He could have just ignored it and easily went about his day. But he knew if he wanted to be a hero then he would need to start off the roots of how heroes came to be. How they used to work. Heroes in the beginning didn’t do what they did for fame. No. They didn’t care for the recognition they would get. They did it because they just wanted to help.

“That’s the thing, ma’am. I thought that it wouldn’t hurt to try. It’s also a great way to work out, instead of having to buy workout equipment or get a gym membership!” Izuku brightly smiles towards the lady as he handed her the money to buy his items.

“Well, I wish you luck, kid. I’m guessing that you’ll need a place to put the trash you collect.” She stated, Izuku smiling sheepishly at her rubbing the back of his head she continued, “There are two dumpsters in the alley behind the store, they get taken every Monday.”

"Thank you, ma'am!" Izuku said genuinely as he headed for the door. He didn't think too much about how he would dispose of the garbage, so it was good to have one offered.

Oboro began to laugh as Izuku jogged back towards the beach. "Cheaper than having to buy workout equipment or get a gym membership! Man, how true that is nowadays!”

The first garbage bags were packed very quickly. broken bottles, cans of beer, old and rotting newspaper, all of it was poured into the trash bag. Plastic, paper, glass, etc. Izuku could take them to a recycling center! He was already pumped about this new project when Oboro spoke up.

“Hey, Izu, before you toss that into the bag” placing his hand on Izuku’s making him feel warmth blossom closest to the soda, can packaging he was holding in that hand. “make sure you cut each circle so if they end up in wildlife again then animals won’t get their heads stuck inside.”

Izuku's eyes lit up as he started to tear apart each loop before placing it in one of the bags used for recycling. Soon Izuku had used up a quarter of the box of trash bags gone and only had 6x5 feet rectangle cleared of the beach.

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writer-and-artist27 · 5 years

Text

Never For Granted

Written when I was feeling both tired and lonely. Studying gets like that. Even in a crowd of people in a library.

Song here. It’s originally from No Game No Life: Zero, called “What You Want To Do.” An alternative is here too. Fate/Zero’s second ending, being Soreha Takaku, Kaze no Uta.

Somewhat unedited and read only by a college classmate/lab partner in my Biotech class at the moment.

Another prequel to Callout, anyone?

…I need to sleep. My fifth anniversary with my boyfriend needs to be handled this weekend.

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

Obito didn’t know when he started seeing Tomo-chan in his dreams more than Rin. Maybe it was how she never truly threatened him when he messed up. Or how she always seemed to be there at the café whenever he felt particularly lonely in his apartment. Or it was how loudly she cheered at the Chunin Exams, screaming his name even when her face was red and her throat was hoarse.

But she was warm, soft, kind, and sweet.

When looking back, Obito thinks it started with the first time she visited his apartment.

It was a particularly tough mission, with all the charges he had to set up with Kei near the front. War was never particularly pretty, but that didn’t make him feel any less ill once he had to clean up the bodies. The expressions of shock left buried in the rocks were ones that he would probably remember for as long as he lived.

That is, until he came home.

He was carrying his house keys, ready to come back into an empty apartment when he smelled it first. It was the same sweetness from the café and his jaw was nearly towards the floor before he picked himself up.

“Can’t be…”

Obito still put a hand on the doorknob and blinked. It was unlocked.

Suspicious, he opened it anyways, and right there, in that one room apartment, he could make out a glimpse of a yellow apron.

Obito pried his goggles away from his eyes to have them rest against his hitai-ite, blinking. It couldn’t be. He rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve.

No way.

“Muu?”

With that cute noise, Tomo-chan was suddenly there, in his apartment, coming out of his kitchen with a soup ladle in hand while blinking. Then she smiled. Her usual kind and welcoming smile, as if she was back home in the café, ushering him in. “Obi! Welcome home!”

How. Hell. When. “T-T-TOMO-CHAN?!”

The girl flinched at the volume before blinking at him owlishly, clearly confused in the single moment it took for Obito to nearly trip over his own sandals when coming in through the door. He didn’t hesitate to kick his own door closed so that no one could look in, and by the time he did, Tomo-chan was inclining her head to try peering at his face, that pink blush of hers on her cheeks. “Um, Obi?”

“T-Tomo-chan, how—” he pointed a shaky finger at her and the spatula, feeling his face heat. “How— when did you—”

Tomo-chan blinked again before she made a small noise of realization. Something like an “Ah!” as she tugged at the hem of her apron with her free hand. “Um, I asked for Miyako-bachan’s help. To get here, I mean.”

“Eh?”

Tomo-chan blushed, the pink this time conveying clear embarrassment as she averted her gaze. She reached up with her free hand to brush back — to brush back the braid Obito recommended she wear, still adorned with that orange hair ribbon from her twelfth birthday. “You mentioned how you were living alone, right? So, um, I just thought that while you were out with the team, I’d come by and help clean your apartment. M-Miyako-bachan said you would be back in about two weeks, so,” Tomo-chan shifted back and forth on her slippers. “I asked if she could help me and she suddenly gave me a key?”

Obito felt sweat drip down his neck as soon as Tomo-chan reached into her apron pocket to pull out that key as proof. It was a spare key that the landlady had given him in case of emergencies, and since getting to know Kei and her family, he had given it to Miyako-san after a bit of careful nagging. To think that it was here…

Tomo-chan giggled nervously in that “I don’t know what to do” way of hers before shrugging and concluding with, “So that’s how I’m here!”

“Tomo-chan…” She was still being her. Kind, sweet, cute—

WHAT.

Tomo-chan simply smiled again, her big blue eyes soft in Obito’s direction as she gestured with her ladle towards the kitchen. She had no clue what was going on in Obito’s head, but she was on a roll and at this point, Obito didn’t mind because this sudden allergy was weird.

“I have curry waiting if you’re hungry, Obi! It’s chicken with carrots and potatoes. Though, oh,” her eyebrows quirked upwards as she inclined her head again towards him, “do you want to take a bath first? I cleaned the tub already! All you need is the hot wa—”

Obito didn’t realize the dust was coming into his eyes before Tomo-chan was coming close, her smile dropping for sheer panic. “O-Obi?! Oh dear, oh dear, I-I didn’t mean to—”

Screw it. He tugged her in by the ladle-hand for a hug. Revenge was in order and carry-hugs were amazing for that. “T-Tomo-chan, you dork!” he cried, but he was laughing and she felt light in his arms. Just right. “You didn’t have to do this!”

“W-Waaaaah!” she squealed in his ear, her fingers barely finding leverage in his jacket as he swung her around. “I-I wanted toooooooooo! Obitooooooooo! Please—” there was a giggle, “please put me down! Obi!”

Obito couldn’t help but laugh anyways, squeezing her to him while swinging. This girl. She didn’t have to, but she still came by to try making his apartment feel something and for once, he couldn’t hide his tears as dust in his eyes.

He was crying, but it felt good this time.

“O-Obi!” There was a hiccup and just like that, reality was back. “Um, heyyyyyy…”

Whoops. Motion sickness. Right.

Obito immediately put her down, but he found himself unable to let go of the hug. Hell, there was a part of him that was suddenly screaming, “Don’t let her go!”

What was this?

Tomo-chan hiccupped near his ear again, confused as she caught her breath from all the carry-swinging. Her fingers then clenched his jacket sleeves, shaking a little. “O-Obi?” she repeated, quieter.

“Tomo-chan.” Even her nickname felt like a stone in his throat as he tried to say the words. Thank you. That was all he had to say. But the allergy was coming up again, making his heart pound and his entire being feel hot because she was nestled in his arms. She was too close. Tomo-chan was too close. “I-I love you.”

Obito had no clue why he said those words, but Tomo-chan was relaxing, steadily returning the hug and he could feel her smile against his neck. She was reciprocating. “I love you too, Obi,” she whispered, resting her nose against his shoulder as she tightened the hug. “Welcome home.”

His heart skipped a beat and Obito tried to perish the sudden thought of how it wasn’t enough.

It was still Tomo-chan loving him as any friend of his would. Why was a part of him not satisfied with that?

What was going on with him?

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

Once baths were taken, the curry pot cleaned, and dishes put away, Obito glanced around in his fridge for tea.

“O-Obi,” Tomo-chan was definitely raising her hand in the air from under the kotatsu, sheepish and cute, “you don’t have to get me anything—”

“You made me dinner and cleaned my apartment, Tomo-chan! I have to give something back!” Obito said hotly, rummaging through all the containers before finally finding a can. Yes. It could work, even if it was iced. And there were two! Woo! “At least take this!”

“Muuu… Okay…!” Tomo-chan sighed, peering at him through her bangs just as he closed the fridge. Those blue irises were bright, reflecting his image back at him as she stared. “What did you have in mind?”

“Tea!”

Tomo-chan blinked. “Tea?”

Obito raised his findings of the iced tea cans in the air, grinning. “Tea!”

“Ohhhh,” Tomo-chan said slowly, a small smile dawning on her face. “Miyako-bachan left those for us, actually. So that’ll work.”

“A reminder to thank Miyako-san too then,” Obito mused, quickly striding over to join Tomo-chan under the kotatsu while depositing their drinks onto the table. Taking a seat next to her didn’t take too long, but then she had to lean her head against his shoulder and it took all of his willpower to not freeze. “T-Tomo-chan?!”

“Fweeee…”

He wasn’t expecting to hear her yawn. Then again, could that noise be called a yawn? Her eyes were drooping closed, barely staying open to expose those blue irises of hers. Her jaw was slack, her mouth closed as she breathed through her nose.

Oh.

How long had Tomo-chan been working around his apartment? Cooking, cleaning, everything?

Obito blushed at the close contact, but waited.

As expected, a few seconds later, Tomo-chan’s eyes fluttered open in a semblance of wakefulness, and she rubbed at the corner of one of them with her hand. “Muuu, ‘m sorry,” she mumbled slowly, raising her head to sit upright again. “Tired.”

“It’s okay, but Tomo-chan, how long have you been here?” Obito immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders to bring her back, because her sudden swaying wasn’t giving him the best feelings. And besides, he could be a good pillow. Maybe. “Don’t tell me…you were here all day?”

Tomo-chan slowly met his gaze from her perch back on his shoulder and nodded sleepily. A small “Mm,” in the back of her throat confirmed it.

“Tomo-chan…” Obito took a breath before reaching over with his other arm to give a complete hug, shaking his head. Now he could see why Kei called Tomo-chan “goofball” — she definitely overdid it. This was the first time Obito had ever seen her exhausted to the point of barely talking. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I had tooooo,” she insisted in that same voice, her eyebrows furrowed against her head. “Heck, I wanted to, Obi…” The words came out slurred and barely audible if not for the closeness and Tomo-chan shook her head enough to make her hair tickle Obito’s cheek. “I didn’t want you to feel lonely when you came home…”

Obito froze.

“It’s not good to feel like you’re by yourself. Like everyone abandoned you.” Tomo-chan slowly exhaled, her sleepy voice coming out both indignant and solemn. “Ty made me know what that was like. I didn’t want you to feel like that, ever.” This time, her words were interrupted by a sigh. “As much as I hate bringing back his memory to make my point.”

That name alone threw a rock into Obito’s stomach and he took a breath himself to calm the rage starting to bubble up in his veins. “…He hurt you a lot, huh?”

Tomo-chan nodded, leaning into the hug more as her eyes slowly closed. “I hate it because I still think about him. About what I did wrong. A-And I know!” She raised a hand to hastily hug Obito back, and this time, Obito knew she was waking up and now clearly torn about whatever was eating at her. “I know he hurt me! I know… I know I was doomed the moment he started yelling at me. The moment he started hurting me and seeing me as some kind of moldable clay. But that doesn’t… that doesn’t…” she gulped in air, shaking her head. “That doesn’t change all the positive memories I had with him and how I loved him.”

Tomo-chan shivered and Obito waited, as painful as it was to listen to that last part.

“And now,” Tomo-chan gulped, “I’m scared that I’m not doing enough for everyone else instead. That I’m… I’m—”

Useless, was left in the air to linger.

“I don’t want to take you for granted, Obi,” was the sudden quiet confession into his jacket. “You and everyone else are really important to me and I don’t want to mess up.”

Oh.

There was silence and then Tomo-chan buried her face into the crook of his neck, her shoulders shaking. Obito tried not to stiffen. “I-I’m sorry, Obi, I didn’t mean to make the conversation go all...” she raised a hand to flail around in a helpless gesture, “all dark. I just wanted to help you.”

Oh.

“I-It’s okay, Tomo-chan,” Obito squeezed her tighter in the hug. Miyako-san did this whenever he or Kei or Hayate were upset. This should work. And besides. All the times he spent in this apartment alone, from the loneliness to the pain to the emptiness — it was all something Tomo-chan probably was familiar with too. Before Kei came into their lives. Before Kei was even there. “You didn’t know,” he said softly. “He was an ass and you did all you could.”

“B-But—”

“Hey.” Obito gently patted her back. “You made me really happy today, Tomo-chan. You did more than enough in my eyes.”

Tomo-chan shivered again, not looking up. “…You’re a dork, Obi,” she muttered, snuggling him in spite of the dry reply. There was no mistaking that little crack in her voice as she continued, though. “I don’t know what to do when you say that.”

Obito scoffed in response, loosening the hug to let her rub at her eyes. He pretended to not see the tears in the hopes of letting her relax. “Just accept it?”

Tomo-chan gave him a funny look.

Obito grinned. “It’s the truth, Tomo-chan!” The idea came to him as fast as he said it, and he found himself adding, “Why not talk to me more about this?”

“Eh?” Tomo-chan was baffled now, resembling Kakashi for a second with her wide eyes before she shook her head, blinking. “Repeat that?”

“Think about it, Tomo-chan.” Obito pulled her in by the shoulders again, starting another hug. “If Tai’s going to keep haunting you—”

“Um, Obi, it’s ‘Ty’—”

“Tai, Ty, whatever!” Obito threw a hand in the air, trying not to pout once Tomo-chan’s attention was on him again. “If he’s gonna keep sticking around, then I’ll force him out!”

Tomo-chan blinked. “Huh?”

“Every time you think about him, just come over here!” Obito put on his best grin, gently bumping her head with his while doing so. “I can try to talk him out of your head! He complains, I’ll compliment! If it works, it works!” It was a very weird circle, but it was a circle and it could do something.

Tomo-chan was staring at him for about a minute before she ducked her head and covered her mouth with her hand. She was giggling. “O-Obi,” she smiled through her fingers, “that’ll be a lot of work. You’d be spoiling me.”

“Spoil?” Obito leaned back, pretending to be offended. “Naaaaaah, that’s definitely impossible.”

“I dunno,” Tomo-chan mused, removing her hand to give him a soft smile. “I can forget things easily, Obi. Kinda comes with the mindset of never taking anything for granted. And I’m not the greatest person in the world. You’ll have a lot to say if you want to get it through my head.”

The cheerful atmosphere was gone in that instant as something snapped.

Obito couldn’t help but grab her cheeks in both of his hands and pull her in.

SMACK.

“O-Ow!”

Obito winced too, because headbutts were painful like that, but he had a point to make. “Tomo-chan! Quit that!”

“Wh-What?!” she squeaked. “Quit what!?”

“Badmouthing yourself!” Obito felt every single fiber of his being start to heat up with the kotatsu, but at this point, he couldn’t stop. Not when Tomo-chan just wasn’t believing. “You’re OKAY, Tomo-chan. You’re amazing. You’ve helped me with my apartment, you make sure Rin’s not lonely at the hospital, you keep Kei from being grumpy—”

Tomo-chan’s jaw dropped. “H-Hey—”

“And Kakashi barely scowls when you’re there!” Obito bonked her head again with his, gentler this time while fixing his gaze on her and her alone. “You’re our friend! We care about you! So stop hurting yourself when it hurts us too! Hell, just let us take care of you for once!”

Finally, finally something registered in those big blue eyes. Tomo-chan stared at him again, for a few seconds more before she closed her eyes and lowered her head. “…Oh,” she said quietly, wonder in her voice. “Am I that bad?”

“Yes,” Obito agreed vehemently, tempted to sigh. “I’m the one living alone and even I can see you’re horrible at self-care, Tomo-chan.”

To no one’s surprise, Tomo-chan started to blush. With a small “Uuuuuu” sound, she covered her pink cheeks with her hands, glancing away shyly. “I can’t win, can I?”

Obito grinned and slowly reached over to her waist. “Noooope!”

All it took was a simple wiggle of his fingers.

“WAAAAAH!” Tomo-chan immediately jumped, trying to scramble away, but Obito persisted in the tickling, and just as Kei had shown via example years ago, it was enough to solicit laughter. Warm, surprised, happy laughter. “O-Obi—! Hee hee hee — hey!”

For once, the warmth in his heart screaming for something more was quiet as Tomo-chan finally scooted away from the tickling, red coloring her cheeks.

Cute.

Obito teasingly wiggled his fingers in her direction again, and Tomo-chan pouted. “No,” she insisted, shaking her head. “Don’t you dare.”

Obito grinned and lowered his hands to rock back and forth on his legs. “Did you get it this time?”

Tomo-chan’s pout dropped for a more thoughtful expression, her mouth thinning into a line as she tilted her head. She then closed her eyes, crossing her arms over her blouse to consider.

“Tomo-chan?”

She opened her eyes to give him a fond look. “With you here, I highly doubt I’d ever forget,” she quipped. Then Tomo-chan smiled again. “Thankie, Obi.”

It was like an arrow to the heart.

Obito blinked, rubbed his eyes, and then nodded. Okay. The sparkles were gone.

“So, uh, Obi?” Tomo-chan raised a hand while slowly crawling back to hide her legs under the kotatsu. “You do have a futon, right?”

“Why?”

“I… kinda convinced Mama and Papa we were having a sleepover?”

Obito gaped at her and Tomo-chan fidgeted. “I-I brought my toothbrush if you’re worried about that? And sanitary stuff! I can take the living room!”

Oh lord.

Yep. Yep. Obito definitely had to schedule a time to run over to Kei. Because either Tomo-chan’s innocence or this freakin’ allergy would kill him.

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

A week passed and Obito found himself pounding on the Gekkō household door. This allergy was horrible and he just wanted an answer from someone other than Rin. “Kei, come on! I know you’re not busy!”

The grumpy face of his teammate was comforting enough. Maybe.

Obito couldn’t help but feel like he was doomed.

#obitomo #the sea and stars #writing #hoshino tomoko #uchiha obito #long post #oneshot #character study

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inevitable-anna · 5 years

Text

Escape The Night S4X01 Spoilers

I’m so sorry that this took so long! I accidentally deleted my draft, when I went to post it!

Hopefully, this should have a ‘keep reading’ thing so I don’t spoil the show for anyone.

[[MORE]]

I love the flashback of the first three seasons in the beginning! And uggghh Colleen's screams from the maiden still give me chills.

Yass that's my gal Liza "I'll come back for you" yes I love my explorer gal so much, I hope we see more of he- oh wait, she's dead. I do have some questions about her, so I may put them in another post if you are interested?

I don't trust the SAE. They still seem sketchy to me?

Everyone in the fandom had really cool and interesting theories about Bretman and why he was in this season. Then he finally shows up and it turns out Nikita (who looks great!) invited him and told him there'd be cute boys.

"what about me? I did cancel my livestream for this" Mat I love you.

The Collector looks awesome and she has a jewelled key! The medusa monster with her looks great too!

Anyone else slightly creeped out that the guests are wearing different outfits to the ones they died in? Did the Collector spend time picking out a new role and outfit for each guest? Did she make her lieutenants have a fashion show for her to see what outfits she liked? Did she have folders on potential roles and outfit ideas? I need answers here!

MY FAVOURITE GAL IS BACK!!! RO'S BACK! "She's dead, I'm dead, so I'm dead... so where am I?" I love her so much! Please let her escape this time!

I love Gabbie immediately asking questions, like 'the last thing I remember is having my heart ripped out and dying... so is everyone here dead? Let me check'.

"You literally pushed me into the box, Ro!" "We-well, everybody did"

"Umm... Alex, maybe "you know I killed both of you, right?" isn't the best thing to say at the moment?

I love Destorm and Gabbie immediately teaming up again, it's nice that they still have each other's backs!

I can't really see who says "did you kill me?" (Sounds a bit like Tana?) And who responded with "I thought you died with Vine?" But I love it so much.

"Hugs and kisses"? Really, Joey? "I do not like this" well! They probably didn't enjoy dying!

Anyone else slightly curious as to why Tana dressed like a cowgirl if her role is the 'Pin-Up Girl?' Am I being dumb?

JUSTINE! You have other things to worry about then 'residuals'! Do the smart thing, okay? get your residuals after/if you escape! Duh!

"You can't double die" are you sure about that, Destorm? I mean, this is 'Escape The Night' where the only consequence is death, even when you've already died!

"Nikita said there was going to be cute boys" "where?" Gabbie!

I'm loving Gabbie taking charge! "Okay, everyone stop fighting, I'm freezing. I look amazing but let's figure this out" anyone else get major "I'm hungry!" vibes from S2?

*guards appear* "I'm thinking maybe we are in heaven." Not the time Ro!

My man! Alex! He went off on that guard! He's come along way from "nobody was able to escape their deaths so I'm not going to try and fight mine" to attacking a guard! I mean, he lost the fight but he tried!

"The Enforcer don't run. I strut" yass, Destorm!

The Sorceress is back!! My favourite villain! "Last time we met, we killed each other, shall we do it again?" This is why the Sorceress is my favourite villain! She's so sassy!

Mortimer is back! Not sure if I trust him though?

"Mortimer is my man from when I was still alive, however somehow since I died, I have gotten married and had a baby" I laughed so hard at this because I didn't expect it at all!

Mortimer asking "Colleen, are you with Janet" is so sad! Though in the show, did he call her Janet or mum? Because isn't it slightly strange to refer to his mum as Janet? I don't know, I'm probably reading into this too much?

Tana doesn't remember what the Sorceress looks like? Gabbie's reply is brilliant! "She killed you, me and Destorm."

"She killed Alex, huh? I mean, you tell me, I was dead"

The Collector kept the Sorceress in her study?

The Sorceress teasing Joey with the onyx trinket is everything I needed in life!

Joey calling out the Sorceress for having a giant portrait of herself in her mansion after she calls the Collector a "pretentious b*tch" for having one is amazing!

"Isn't she a copycat?" Can the Sorceress stay with the group the whole season and make sassy comments, please?

"She wanna be you so bad" "Mm-hmm"

Okay, I have said this a few times already but I'll say it again, 'final death' SERIOUSLY?

"I like know I've done a lot of bad stuff and I might go to hell but I really didn't think it would be this early in life" and "I have been told quite a few times that there is a special place in hell for me, so, I don't think it will be too bad" are moods.

I find Destorm and Tim complaining about the others following the Sorceress really funny.

I laughed so hard at "I always learned never to trust strange, white women".

Tim attacking the air and saying "you gotta come around the corner like this" is really funny to me.

"Thanks for the help" Colleen, I can taste the sarcasm there.

I like that Alex understands that having a grudge against Joey is slowing them down, otherwise they would still be stuck in there for their 'final deaths' come morning.

20:59 isn't the painting that Tana takes down from the Sorceress' mansion in S2X04?

Destorm says he doesn't know who to trust so he's taking the lead, to me, that sounds like a logical thing to do?

"Now more shirtless men with knives are running at me, what is going on?" Well, you did agreed to come back for S4, Tana!

22:06 IT'S AN EGYPTIAN RUBIX CUBE!

I wasn't sure what to think when Bretman was announced for the S4 cast, but now he's here, I actually really like him! He's funny and I like that he sincerely thanks Justine for giving him the egg/eye thing. I look forward to seeing more of him in the show!

It's nice that Destorm is realising that Tana is more than a pretty face, now for the rest of the S2 group to realise that. It was one of the things that really annoyed me in S2 that they kept saying that Tana wasn't helping but when she offered to do something, the group wouldn't let her do it.

"Originally I was here on a rescue mission, but I feel like I just made things worse." Well, you haven't really rescued anyone yet? I mean, yes the guests are free from the exhibits but they're still trapped in the museum.

Joey, I agree with Tim! Make the guards dab or even better... make them twerk!

"Can they tell us where to find some food?" "I have breast milk" I choked.

I was not expecting the Sorceress to stab that guard! I mean, I guessed that the Sorceress would still be evil but I hope she sticks with the group for a little longer, purely because she's my favourite!

"This is something. A clue." The way Ro says clue is so cute and reminds me of 'Scooby Doo' for some reason?

"Most frightening exhibit yet" mark me down as terrified and intrigued!

Again, 'FINAL DEATHS' COME ON!

"It's fine, the SAE will get here before we even have to do any of that." Are you sure about that, Joey? Really sure? 100% sure? Absolutely, positively 100% sure?

Ro is so happy when Destorm tells the group about door. "Look at you being a team player" I would like to see them interact more, I feel like they would have an interesting dynamic.

"I think we just opened the Egyptian exhibit" really, Alex? I thought this was the Tudor exhibit! Because the Tudors love of Egyptian hieroglyphics is very well known!

Tana is pulling her weight and I love how the S2 group are like 'what? How?'.

The prosthetic makeup on the Pharaoh is amazing! He looks great!

"This beef jerky looking ass b*tch" Bretman is great!

At the end when the 'this season' bit plays, I slowed it down and watched it and spotted a Minotaur! Which will be awesome as I love Greek mythology!

Okay, so if you watch the 'this season' section, right at the end, you can see Benjamin/The Man With No Name so has the Collector collected previous lieutenants?

Again, I’m sorry that I didn’t get to post this yesterday because I was stupid and accidentally deleted my draft!

I hope you enjoy it and I would love to hear about anything you noticed during the episode or any questions! If you like this, I may be able to try and do one for ep2 as well.

Have a nice day!

#escape the night spoilers #escape the night all stars #escape the night 4 #escape the night

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nadziejastar · 5 years

Text

Xemnas: Tron is a digital entity, so why would he be any different? He obeys the rules of this world. Sora--what about you?

Sora: Me?

Xemnas: Your heart, memories, your data, and your dreams. The bits and bytes that have made up your life so far--can you say for sure they are not just copies of someone else's?

Sora: Yes! My memories and feelings belong to me.

Xemnas: You had better check.

Haha, yeah I’d love it if it was retconned to just be a false memory, though I agree it is unlikely. It honestly sounds more plausible too, ya know? It could have been a memory planted using the Datascape. Or it could even have been something poor Isa’s tormented mind concocted in order to block out his trauma.

It’s kind of funny that the song playing in the background of the Subject X scene is “Eternal Moments”. That was basically Lea and Isa’s theme in BBS. It played during the scene where they met Ven. Lea told Ven they were friends and to get it memorized. Lea said he wanted to live forever in people’s memories, and Isa said he’d never forget Lea. Lea met Ven one time, but he still remembered him 10 years later. But with Subject X they aren’t even sure if their memories of their “friend” are even real. Yeah, such a close friend...

Xemnas: Make certain the box's contents match what's on the label...since you have been chosen.

Sora: Chosen for what

Yong Xehanort: You think this is the realm of dreams, but there, you are mistaken. Data does not dream, cannot dream. This world is real. You haven't the slightest idea where you are--that you have already wandered off the path.

I still think Subject X was just a tweaked version of Isa’s backstory. After Saïx said he might have just imagined Subject X he didn’t sound that concerned about it or the fact that he probably wasted his life following Xehanort for nothing. He just said he “awakened to a new purpose”. Oh well, I’ll just focus on becoming stronger, lol. Whatever. We all know people don’t just randomly “awaken to a new purpose”. Xehanort assigns them their purpose.

Who knows. Maybe the “imaginary” person was supposed to be Lea originally. If Isa was Subject X, his memory would have been extremely fragmented. Maybe Xehanort was able to convince him that Lea never existed. He was just someone Isa imagined. Or his memory of Lea was just created in the Datascape or something. Roxas’s final straw was finding out that his best friends never existed---they were just data. Maybe that was the final straw to break Isa mentally. That’s when he “awakened to a new purpose”. In other words, Isa went to the Realm of Seep, then Saïx (Xehanort’s heart and mind) took over.

Had she been moved? Had we simply imagined her? Lea and I knew there was only one way to be certain. And so we stand before the castle gates today, not as trespassing children but in order to become Ansem the Wise’s newest apprentices.

I dunno. But I just cannot get over the fact that even in canon, Saïx/Isa thought that he imagined this girl. And it was not mentioned once, but TWICE! He thought he might have been imagining her even when they were kids, LOL! Honestly, I almost thought this girl was purposely written to seem retconned and shoehorned in at that point. It was one of the worst exposition dumps I’ve ever seen. EVER. Hey remember that girl we were reaaaally close friends with, but never mentioned until JUST now? The one we joined the bad guys for? Are you sure she really existed, bro?

I was so baffled that the game was telling me in one breath that this girl was sooo important to Isa that he sacrificed everything for her. Yet in the next breath…he wasn’t sure if she even existed. I mean, what the hell!? How are those two things compatible? That makes him seem very…mentally unwell. He was voluntarily doing icky jobs for Xemnas—so many that even Mr. Dirty Work Assassin Axel couldn’t keep up (yikes). He became Xemnas’s right-hand man! He sold his soul! All for someone who…might have been a figment of his imagination. It still makes it sound like he was mind-controlled. Nobody in their right mind would act that way.

When Roxas was having his “7 Days” experience, he saw a lot of things that nobody else could. He saw Naminé, for instance. He fell off the clock tower, but then later thought he must have imagined it. Roxas’s “hallucinations” were never treated as something casual like with Isa/Saïx and Subject X. His friends became very worried about him. It was a pretty big plot point.

There actually might have been a connection to Naminé. Subject X is mentioned while Ansem is brought to the Haunted Mansion and looked at the window that Roxas saw Naminé in. I’m sure Roxas had doubts whether Naminé was real or if he just imagined her. If Isa was being experimented on, drugged and/or tortured, he’d be in a similar mental state to Roxas.

I dunno. I just don’t think it makes very much sense that BOTH Lea and Isa repeatedly spoke to some imprisoned girl, they both decided to free her, risked their lives becoming apprentices for her, gave up their morals for her, then they BOTH thought they imagined her later. If Isa thought he imagined her, speaking to Lea (who also spoke to her) should dispel those doubts. But when Saïx said that he thought he might have imagined her, Lea didn’t exactly refute him.

When I first played KH3, I just could not fathom how something that stupid became canon. I think it must have had some basis in the original story. Because there was no reason to include a detail like that. None whatsoever. Unless it was to explain why no one ever bothered to mention her before, lol. That’s honestly what I thought at first. But I think it had to be more than just that.

Let’s ignore the fact that Isa gave up his life for this girl. Even if it was dark, it’s still very abnormal to have an interaction with someone and then later question if it was real. You’d usually have to be on drugs to have an experience like that. Like LSD or DMT or something. And LSD is a hallucinogen that was frequently used in real life mind control experiments.

Or you’d have to be very mentally and emotionally stressed out to the point where you lose touch with reality. That’s what happened to Roxas when he was looking for Xion. Plus, he was already affected by Sora, so he was dreaming and seeing visions a lot. It makes a lot more sense for Roxas to imagine seeing Xion because he already was close to her. Lea and Isa had no reason to imagine a total stranger. That’s just bizarre.

Roxas sat down next to him like usual, and opened his mouth. “Today… I went to the beach on a mission.” He took a bite of his ice cream. “I think I saw a girl who looked a lot like Xion…”

Axel stared at Roxas. Roxas’ eyes were a little glazed.

“But, maybe it was my imagination… I don’t really know. To be honest, I'm not even sure today's mission really happened.” Roxas bit his ice cream again. “I feel like I just woke up from a dream or something.”

It looks like Xion’s disappearance has had a deep effect on Roxas.

Roxas kept speaking, without looking at Axel. “This is gonna sound crazy, but you know how we promised each other we’d all go to the beach?“

“Yeah.”

I couldn’t help but notice Axel’s reaction on Day 276. Roxas said he thought he might have imagined seeing Xion because he wanted to see her so badly. In the novel, it made it seem even more like Axel could personally relate to how Roxas felt. It seemed like Axel knew what it was like to lose touch with reality just because you wanted to see someone really badly.

“Well, I think I only saw her there because I wanted her to be there.”

Roxas looked unwaveringly toward the sinking sun.

I should—resign myself, shouldn’t I… Definitely.

Axel stood up leisurely, and stretched wide. Then he said, “…Shall we go look for her?”

“Huh?”

After Roxas said that, Axel looked away with a deeply troubled look on his face. It definitely looked like he was remembering going through something similar to what Roxas was going through. He was thinking that it was probably a bad idea to suggest looking for Xion. But I think he knew exactly what Roxas was feeling, so he suggested it anyway.

Roxas finally looked at Axel. Axel smiled at him.

“Tomorrow, after our missions, let’s look for Xion before we come here.”

“Mm… yes, let’s do that!” Roxas nodded, and stood up like Axel. Then he smiled.

I wonder when the day will come that the three of is will go to the beach… Axel thought suddenly, seeing that smile, and to deny the next thought that floated up, he stared at the sun.

He knew that they were never gonna get to go to the beach. But he hid that from Roxas. Destiny Islands was where Roxas and Xion remembered the sound of the waves. It was special to them. And the equivalent for Lea seemed to be the image of a sunset and eating ice cream.

“We’ve gotta make it to the beach next year,” Olette murmured, watching the sunset.

Hayner leaned forward. “Yeah. Better get jobs the second vacation starts.”

Next year… Right. Next year there would be another summer vacation. This one was almost over, but they’d have next year to try again. Letting his mind wander, Roxas found that the perfectly obvious fact cheered him up.

Roxas saw the ghost train that nobody else did on Sunset Hill. Roxas was able to see it because he missed the trip to the beach, and DiZ knew he really wanted to see it. And Roxas said he imagined that he saw Xion because he wanted to see her. They promised to go to the beach together. I wonder if there was a connection to Axel knowing they’d never get to go to the beach that day, and saying he really wanted to see someone on Sunset Hill, where the ghost train appeared. In the novel this scene where Naminé goes with Axel actually took place on...the beach.

Axel still hadn’t reported that Xion was with Riku, even to Saïx. As to why, he was asking himself the same question.

That’s why I could suggest to Roxas that we look for her, though. That’s resolution, and resignation, and then what? Friendship? Axel’s mouth twisted, remembering that word.

I’m still unsure somehow. I’m worrying over what is the best thing to do. Will I find the answer someday?

There had to be some backstory to how Lea could use dark corridors, even as a a human. I definitely think Axel had been in Roxas’s shoes before, searching desperately for a friend, which is why he went to search for Xion with him. I definitely don’t think he was that obsessed with finding a random girl he wasn’t sure existed. It had to be somebody else. After the test subjects were released, maybe Lea was so depressed that Isa was missing, he had weird dreams or hallucinations. He wanted to see Isa so badly it led him to open a dark corridor to Twilight Town.

Donald: Uncle Scrooge!?

Sora: Er, who?

Goofy: He’s Donald’s uncle—a business typhoon! Before the Heartless showed up, he traveled the worlds on a Gummi Ship with the King. He was helpin’ to set up a traffic system.

Donald: A transit system!

I think Isa was Subject X and was probably taken to Twilight Town after Ansem discovered the experiments. Perhaps King Mickey was the one who suggested that Isa would be safe in Twilight Town. The King probably was aware of its existence. After all, he and Scrooge must have went there, since sea-salt ice cream is sold there. It must have been a part of his business transit system. So, it’s very possible we would have gotten backstory of how sea-salt ice cream existed in Twilight Town, like it does in Radiant Garden. And the ice cream may have been another reason Twilight Town was special to Axel.

Riku: Let’s go.

Axel: Go where? It’s not like we have homes to return to. We don’t exist, remember?

Naminé: Yes, it’s true. We may not have homes. But there is someplace I want to go… And someone I want to see…

Axel: Same here.

In the manga, Axel was even trying to teach Naminé how to use the corridors of darkness while they were talking on Sunset Hill, right before they had the conversation about wanting to see someone. And dark corridors can only be opened by people with very strong sentiments, like hatred or…wanting to see someone very badly, like the Beast. It doesn’t prove anything, but I did find interesting because it was a little bit random.

Kairi: Who are you?

Axel: Axel. I happen to be an acquaintance of Sora’s. Why don’t we go see him?

Kairi: …Sora?

Axel: We’ve got something in common, Kairi. You and I both miss someone we care about. Hey, I feel like we’re friends already.

In KH3D, Lea also used the dark corridors while looking for Isa. Mickey told him that was reckless.

Axel: Somehow I just knew you’d be here. I tell ya, Kairi, you’ve got a lot of guts, jumping right into the darkness like that.

In KH2, Axel said that he knew Kairi would be in Twilight Town and that she had a lot of guts jumping into the darkness like that. She and Axel had a lot in common because they both wanted to see someone that they missed very badly. Maybe they also had a lot in common since they both just jumped right into the darkness to see the person they missed.

So basically, I think Axel was desperately searching for someone in his past and that led him into being an organization member. But it definitely wasn’t Mystery Girl X. And I think Isa was desperately wanting to see someone that he thought he might have imagined. But it wasn’t Mystery Girl X.

#kh saix #kh isa #kh

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sassycassie-s-writing · 6 years

Text

Team Up

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): DC, BatFam - Jason Todd/Red Hood

Rating: PG-11/T- (for some intense sequences)

Original Idea: That one “Bland DC Headcanon” about Jason respecting/listening to women more than men and so on. I saw it on Pinterest. If someone finds it send me the link and I’ll add it (I’ll also add it if I can find it).

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) This is actually an early one of mine that got lost and never posted. Whoops. @batboys-and-other-messes @welovegroot

^^^^^

I picked up my superhero phone. “This is Starbeam.”

“Starbeam. Can I ask a favor of you?” a familiar voice asked.

“Batman! What a privilege to have you call,” I said. “What’s up? It really depends on the favor. Like, if I am incapable or unqualified—”

“You know my son, Red Hood, right?” Batman interrupted.

I pursed my lips for a moment. “We’ve met.”

“Don’t like him?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t interact long enough for me to make a sound judgment. Didn’t get the best first impression, though. What about him?”

“He’s heading out of Gotham on a mission I’ve asked him to go on. And, the thing is, he works better with female team members. He respects and listens to women far more than men, without fail. So if I ever have to send him out for a specific reason, I try to get a woman to go with him. It generally ends in a lower body count.”

“Are you asking me to go with him?”

“Are you available and willing?”

“Heck yeah, B-man! Out of all your sons I always thought he was the hottest.”

“I didn’t need to know that. Ever. Will you please accompany him?”

“Yup. I’ll pack now. Where are we headed?”

“Coast City.”

“Ooooh. Better take my bikini then.”

“You don’t own a bikini.”

“I’m not even going to question how you know that,” I decided. I really didn’t own a bikini. I hated them. They showed off my scars and I didn’t like people staring.

“You told me. At the last meetup, remember?”

“Oh yeah. Right. Okay. Am I meeting him there or is he going to come pick me up?”

“He’ll pick you up. Good luck.”

“Thanks man. See ya later.”

“Bye.” He hung up.

“Every single one of your children is more personable than you are—including that sword-happy Robin,” I muttered under my breath as I threw my phone down on the couch and went to my bedroom to throw some clothes into a small suitcase. And cram my suit into my backpack.

^^^^^

“Starbeam,” Red Hood greeted when I opened my safehouse door.

“Hood,” I replied, hauling my duffel bag strap onto my shoulder, my backpack already hanging off the other one. “Heard we’re going to Coast City. What’s goin’ on over there?”

“Apparently we’ll be told when we arrive. Green Arrow is waiting for us.”

“What’s he doin’ outta Star City?”

“I don’t know, lady. Batman tells me he needs me to go do something, I go do it.”

“You never struck me as the obedient type,” I remarked, locking the door to the safehouse behind me.

“I'm not. But if he needs me, that means no one else is willing or capable of doing the job.”

“What do you mean?”

“The rest of my family aren’t killers.”

“Not even the sword-happy Robin?”

Hood smirked and led me downstairs to a truck. “Not anymore. He keeps his body count to an absolute minimum these days to honor Batman’s desires.”

“And you decided ‘screw it’?” I joked.

“Something like that,” he replied as he started the truck and started the drive to Coast City. “But I’ve grown beyond Batman. I can compromise my image in a way Batman could never afford. I’ve killed before so I can kill again. People already see my helmet and know blood is going to be spilt, and it’ll probably be lethal.”

Red Hood paused. I opened my mouth to say something, but then thought better of it and shut my trap.

“Although, if he’s sending you with me, he wants to keep the body count down.” He glanced over at me. “Think you got what it takes to keep me in line, doll-face?”

“Yup,” I answered honestly.

He snickered. “I suppose we’ll see.”

“Suppose we will.”

^^^^^

I grabbed Red Hood’s gun and forced it down. “Hood! Stop it,” I snapped, before dropping my voice. “We need him alive. He’ll talk.”

“I’m done with talking, princess,” he snarled. “This guy is an idiot.”

“An idiot with valuable information!” I retorted.

“Don’t test me Starbeam, unless you want to eat a bullet too.” He tried to shove past me.

“Red Hood!” I grabbed the back of his jacket and yanked him backward. “We need him to talk. Give me five minutes.”

Hood glared down at me. I could almost see his eyes through the white mesh that hid them in his helmet. “Fine. Five minutes. But then he bites.”

“This is why you have no friends, Hood,” I remarked.

“I have friends!” he protested. I ignored him.

I turned to the guy and started to gently try and prod information out of him.

But when he didn’t appear to want to give me anything, I got violent too, planting my boot on his bullet wound. “TELL ME!” I snarled. I heard Hood grunt behind me—it sounded like he was impressed with me, but I didn’t take the time to ask.

Finally, the guy spilled. He ended up talking for fifteen minutes while I recorded everything.

I tied him up and knocked him out. I called the cops to come get the criminals and Red Hood and I bugged out.

Coast City’s warm, humid west coast air blew through my messy hair as we sat on a rooftop where no one would see us, taking a break. The job was over. We found out everything we needed to know.

“Thank you, Starbeam,” Red Hood said quietly.

“For what?” I asked, looking around. Did I bring food and forgot? No…

“For stopping me from killing that guy,” he answered. “If you hadn’t, the mission would have failed. I just…” He trailed off, not knowing what to say to me.

“Saw red?” I suggested.

“Yeah. Yeah I guess I just saw red and lost control again,” he said. He pressed a button on the side of his helmet and popped it off to reveal the red domino mask underneath.

“Maybe we should spray paint your helmet blue,” I said. “Blue is said to have calming effects on the human mind, whereas red promotes aggression.”

He nudged me with his shoulder, grinning. “Shut up,” he ordered playfully.

I turned and looked at him. “Make me,” I retorted.

Red Hood tilted his head suggestively. “I will,” he said.

I cocked an eyebrow.

My phone started ringing.

“Hey Batman. What’s up?” I asked, answering it with a dramatic sigh. Why did he have to ruin the moment? Just got kiss-blocked by Red Hood’s dad. Yikes.

“How’d the mission go?” Batman said.

“Went fine. I uploaded the audio file to you. Did you get it?”

“Yes I did. How’s Red Hood?”

I glanced over at the man in question, deciding how to word my answer. “In good health. The body count on this one was relatively minimal. I think the only guy who died was the one that got pushed off the stairs on the seventh floor.”

“So he listened to you?”

“Relatively speaking yeah. There was some pushing involved.”

“Thank you Starbeam. I appreciate your willingness to… keep him in line.”

“Oh, it’s my pleasure. After driving across the country with him I’ve gotten over the relatively negative first impression,” I said. Red Hood shot me a look full of amusement and playfulness. And maybe even something flirtatious.

“I’ll call you two later to make sure everything is secure, alright?”

“Absolutely,” I said distractedly. Batman grunted and hung up. I shoved my phone in a pouch on my belt. “Now, Hood… where were we?”

Hood smiled. “Not sure. How about you tell me?”

“You were going to make me shut up,” I said.

“Mm,” he agreed. “Right. Well then, maybe we should both make each other shut up.” He leaned forward and sealed his lips against mine. My hands found his hair.

The sunset bathed us in warm orange light. I leaned into the kiss and tightened my grip on his hair.

“Hey guys! How’d it go?” Green Arrow asked, popping up out of nowhere. “Ohhh… I’ll come back later!”

#Team Up #Jason Todd #Jason Todd Imagine #Jason Todd FanFiction #Red Hood #Red Hood Imagine #Red Hood FanFiction #DC #DC Imagine #DC FanFiction #BatFam #BatFam Imagine #BatFam FanFiction

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cheri-translates · 4 years

Text

[CN] Gavin’s Delightful Search Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date (觅趣之约) which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

This wholesome date graced the CN Server in early January 2020. It comes with an event, which I’ve included as a prologue 🌸

[ PROLOGUE ]

The proposal Kiki just sent me is displayed on the screen. After reading it carefully, I shift my gaze away from it.

The evening has already set in. I stare out of the window, towards the ink-blue sky, and my mood suddenly dulls.

The glow of sunset sweeps across the calendar at the side--

MC: It’s tomorrow...

I mumble softly, unsuppressed disappointment in my voice.

As I’m just about to get up, my phone suddenly rings. The name flashing on the screen happens to be the person I’m worried about.

I hurriedly press the ‘answer’ button.

Gavin: MC, are you still busy?

I take a deep breath, trying my hardest to channel a big smile so that my voice would sound full of vitality as usual.

MC: I’m more or less done with today’s work. What about you?

Gavin: There’s still one more suspect to interrogate.

After saying this, a pause lingers in the air.

There’s a faint crackle of electricity. Just when I’m about to speak, Gavin broaches the subject first.

Gavin: Tomorrow...

Originally, Gavin and I had agreed to go on a trip tomorrow. This was a trip I had been looking forward to for a very long time, but...

Yesterday, Gavin told me that because of a sudden mission, he has to remain in Loveland City, and can’t leave.

Our planned trip had to be cancelled.

Gavin: Tomorrow, which street do you plan to start from? I’ll accompany you.

MC: Huh? Wait... h-how did you know?

A soft laugh comes from the other end of the line. Gavin doesn’t respond directly to my question.

Slightly shocked, I look at the proposal which is still displayed on my screen.

This is a new program the company is planning to do - it’s a program involving searching for oddities.

I have to scour through the streets of Loveland City to look for various strange news and amusing incidents, then let the audience pick the “King of Weirdness”.

MC: What about your mission? Wouldn’t it be affected?

Gavin: It wouldn’t. It’s fine as long as I’m on standby in Loveland City. If a situation suddenly crops up, they will contact me. So, I will accompany you tomorrow.

I can’t prevent a grin from appearing on my face, and I can hear my erratic heartbeat.

Deliberately concealing my happiness, I bite my lip and ask him softly:

MC: ...only tomorrow?

In the next second, I hear Gavin’s faint and familiar laugh. His tone seems to become more gentle.

Gavin: I’ll accompany you over these few days. I’m really sorry about breaking my promise regarding the trip. Fortunately, I have an opportunity to make up for it. It should be very interesting to explore the streets of Loveland City with you.

No longer suppressing the happiness in my heart, I nod excitedly.

MC: Mm... see you tomorrow then!

Gavin: All right. I’ll pick you up at 9am.

After hanging up, I walk over to the window. When I lift my head towards the pitch-black sky, I only see the twinkling stars.

Tomorrow will definitely be a bright and sunny day.

[ DATE ]

The date begins with MC’s final day of exploring Loveland City as part of preparing for the new program

While MC and Gavin walk around, they chance on a beautiful fountain

MC: Why have I never noticed that there’s such a beautiful fountain here! Come to think of it... even though we were bustling around for the sake of collecting materials, we discovered many different things. Not only did we discover a different Loveland City, but also...

I pause and turn around, watching Gavin as he walks up the stairs towards me.

On this winter afternoon, fine and clear sunlight falls on his hair and shoulders, making him look as though he’s emanating a faint amber glow.

I purse my lips and speaks softly.

MC: I also discovered a different you.

Gavin stands beside me, looking as though he’s thinking about something.

Gavin: If you have nothing on tomorrow, we can continue doing this.

My eyes widen.

MC: Continue with this “walking around”?

Gavin: Mm, continuing this different date.

Gavin looks at me, a warm smile in his clear eyes.

Gavin: I was also looking forward to the trip for a very long time. Having to go back on our agreement... and that I didn’t have a choice, I’m still very apologetic. I’ll spend more time with you next time.

My eyes crinkle into the shape of crescent moons, and I nod forcefully as I respond.

MC: Why don’t we walk around the vicinity of Sunshine Alley tomorrow then?

Gavin: All right.

While I speak, I take a step forward. Failing to notice the stairs beneath my feet, I step onto an empty space.

MC: Ahh--!

The pain I anticipated doesn’t arrive. A strong and powerful arm encircles me.

Warmth emanates from Gavin’s palm, seeping into my skin, and also seeping into my heart.

MC: That was close. I almost fell on my face.

Gavin: That wouldn’t happen. With me around, you won’t fall.

The tenderness of his gaze also embeds within it certainty and confidence.

Gavin: There’s no need to worry. No matter what happens, I will always catch you.

Our eyes meet under the marble stone stairs. When he says this, both his tone and his gaze hold the same resoluteness.

Blushing slightly, I scratch my head, trying to make myself look stronger.

MC: Actually... the probability of things happening like they did just now is very, very low! I’m usually not this reckless...

Perhaps realising that my words aren’t that persuasive, my voice subconsciously trails off.

Gavin stands to the side and looks at me, his smile carrying with it a teasing glint.

Gavin: Mm, got it. But you’ll be even safer with me around.

His words dissipate under the sunlight, and he offers his hand to me.

Gavin: Let’s go.

The afternoon sunlight seems to bring with it a certain tipsy spell, causing my cheeks to heat up slightly. Our hands are tightly entwined as we walk towards an unknown destination.

They head towards some lively sounds, and discover a park which has a running track. It’s packed with crowds who are dressed in sports apparel

MC asks a random person whether an activity is behind held, and the person informs them that a relay race would be commencing soon

Hearing his words, I turn towards Gavin, deliberately wearing an expression of deep contemplation.

MC: I remember that in high school, Senior seemed to be an excellent athlete!

Gavin: High school...

Gavin is stunned for a moment, then he reaches out to rub his neck.

Gavin: Yes, there was such a thing. I also remembered that you fainted during a sports meet...

MC: Stop--!

Without waiting for Gavin to finish, I hurriedly stand on my tiptoes and reach out to cover his mouth. Through my gaze, I signal that he isn’t allowed to expose my “dark past”.

Gavin looks at me, his eyes crinkling. He nods gently.

Just as we prepare to leave, a participant suddenly calls out to us.

He looks to be in his forties, and has a frantic expression on his face.

Citizen C: Sorry to bother you, but I heard that you’re an excellent athlete?

Gavin: ...is anything the matter?

The uncle is carrying two sets of sports apparel, wiping sweat off his forehead.

Ah Tu: I’m Ah Tu. The other two members in our team suddenly couldn’t make it... If I can’t find replacements, Ah Yuan and I will be disqualified. But this competition is a promise I made to my daughter, so...

Another man standing at the side nods along with the uncle’s explanation, and he follows with a question.

Ah Yuan: So we wanted to ask if you could help us, and participate in the relay race with us?

The two uncles look at us expectantly. This sudden invitation feels as heavy as a gigantic mountain.

As a good-for-nothing when it comes to sports, even if I really wanted to help, I subconsciously prepare to reject them.

MC: No, I can't do it...

I toss Gavin a pleading glance, seeking for assistance as he stands beside me wordlessly.

Gavin: Please give us a moment.

MC: Huh?

Before I can react, Gavin pulls me to a corner.

Seeing that nobody is around, I open my mouth and swing my arms, my words coming out in a slight garble.

MC: Gavin, you know that I... I’ve always been terrible at sports. I can’t do it for sure...

Gavin holds onto both of my hands. A concerned and reassuring smile flashes across his eyes.

Gavin: MC, what are you worried about?

He targets the crux of the issue directly.

I lift my head slightly, my heart palpitating slightly as I meet his eyes. Sunlight streams through the leaves on the holly, creating specks of shadows on the ground which sway with the breeze.

MC: I... I'm worried that I’d run too slowly. I’m worried that I’d not pass the baton to you successfully. I’m worried that I’ll be a burden... to you, and to those two uncles who are looking forward to the race. After all, I made a big fool of myself at the sports meet before, and this competition is so important to that uncle...

Lowering my head, my voice becomes softer and softer as my confidence falters.

Actually, ever since I fainted during the high school sports meet, I’ve developed an unpleasant association regarding sports meets, and always feel like I’ll never be able to complete them successfully.

In the next second, however, I feel a warm breath on my face.

I bury my head into Gavin’s chest, and I can hear his powerful heartbeat at my ear. The warmth at my back rhythmically calms my restless emotions.

I hear his voice from above my head, but it feels as though it’s coming from his chest.

Gavin: I said it earlier. No matter what happens, I will catch you. These words are applicable even now.

I lift my head from his arms, opening my mouth and wanting to say something. However, the words are lodged in my throat.

Gavin: As for “being a burden”... With me here, you don’t have to worry about it at all. As for the baton, as long as you hand it to me, I’ll definitely catch it. This way, are you still worried?

On this winter day, the warm sun hangs in the sky. On ground, our embracing shadows are short.

Encircled in his arms and hearing his incomparably resolute and confident words, my worries and fears unwind in an instant.

A breeze courses past, blowing some stray hairs onto Gavin’s cheek.

Gavin reaches out to brush my hair aside gently.

As though he sees the hesitance and struggle in my eyes, Gavin doesn’t rush me, and instead smiles patiently.

Gavin: It’s all right, don’t force yourself. I’ll tell them.

He’s just about to take a step while speaking, but I pull him to a halt.

MC: Eh, wait--! I... I’ll give it a try! We’ll give it a try! Together!

I emphasise three times consecutively, as though pumping myself up. Then, I tilt my head to the side and grin at him.

MC: We have an agreement - you must definitely catch me!

Gavin’s eyebrows arch slightly, and he releases a light laugh.

Gavin: No problem. If I can’t do it, I’ll promise you anything you want.

MC: All right! It’s a promise!

Since the decision has already been made, I carry a decisive and unhesitant attitude, even walking in front of Gavin.

[Note] I translated “decisive and unhesitant” from the original idiom used, 壮士断腕 (“zhuang shi duan wan”), which refers to how a warrior cuts off his wrist when he is bitten by a viper to prevent the poison from spreading throughout his body. It’s meant to describe someone who acts decisively without hesitation.

The familiar and intense gaze behind me gives me an unending stream of strength and confidence.

When Gavin sees the girl’s head turn back to flash him a faint smile, with the wind causing her hair to swish gently, there is an overlapping of that expression and the warmth from his memory. Subconsciously, the corners of his lips lift upwards.

After changing into their attire, MC stands in position on the track

He stands 100m in front of me. I shoot him a “all the best” hand gesture, and he wordlessly mouths “don’t worry”.

At this moment, a blank is fired! The relay race has begun!

My heart starts beating rapidly, and I’m nervous beyond compare. I stare intently at the uncles and watch as they utilise all their strength to sprint forward.

Seeing the second uncle about to reach me, I hurriedly stretch out my right hand, my body acting on its own and shifting slightly.

When I grab the baton, all my earlier worries and distracting thoughts are tossed to the back of my mind.

I look towards Gavin, who is waiting at the final leg. Without a care in the world, I run towards him.

The intense sprint makes me gasp for air. Air rushes into my lungs, and my throat feels dry and rough.

I grip the baton tightly in my hands, my gaze focused entirely on Gavin--

It happens to be around 2pm, when the sunlight is at its best. The brilliant sunlight pours over his entire body. His brown hair and amber eyes are bordered by a layer of gentleness and a gilded edge.

He is already prepared to take off. His head is turned to the side, his eyes on me, his right hand outstretched behind him.

In that moment, a wave of immense strength and courage fills every fibre of my being. My pace quickens subconsciously.

Closer, even closer--

Only two steps away from Gavin!

MC: Gavin, catch!

The fleeting touch in the air, the warmth of his fingertips, and the emptiness in my hands relieve me of a heavy load...

It’s as though a gust of wind breezes past my hand. Our hands touch for less than a second, but Gavin quickly and accurately takes the baton from my hand.

For an inexplicable reason, a wave of heat suddenly surfaces in my heart, causing my entire body to feel cosy and warm.

MC: Gavin, you can do it! Gavin, all the best!

Watching as Gavin lunges forward, I shout and cheer.

The two uncles have also walked over, and are shouting alongside me.

Uncles and MC: All the best! Gavin, you can do it!

My line of sight remains on Gavin’s figure. I take a shortcut, brisk walking towards the goal.

Afar off, I see Gavin being the first to reach the finish line! Amidst the cheers, vibrant, colourful streamers are sprayed into the air, scattering in all directions.

Immense joy blossoms in my heart, and I can’t help but jump up in happiness.

MC: Gavin, you’re amazing!

I cheer as I run towards him. He’s standing near the finish line, and I catch my breath.

Seeing me, a slight smile appears on Gavin’s lips. There are tiny speckles of joy in his eyes.

MC: We won first place!

Without realising it, I hold onto his arm, swinging it happily.

Having been “maltreated” by sports meets for so long and so mercilessly, experiencing success for the first time makes me repeat myself.

MC: Gavin, I actually didn’t hold anyone back. We won first place!

Gavin: This first place was the result of our combined effort.

Gavin watches me quietly, his gaze tender. A cool breeze brushes past, lifting the corner of his shirt, and also wafting his refreshing scent in the air.

Not far off, the leaves of the holly rustle softly, the branches swaying with the wind.

Hearing Gavin’s voice amongst these sounds, my heart starts to clamour with emotions.

I open my mouth and am just about to say something when the two uncles rush over, covered in sweat, their faces flushed with excitement.

Ah Yuan: Young man, you can run really quickly!

Ah Tu: Thank you so, so much. First place... I didn’t even dare to dream about it! Initially, we were just thinking along the lines of “it’s the effort that counts” and fulfilling a promise to my daughter. I never expected to give her the trophy for first place!

Seeing that they’re coming over, I loosen my grip. The moment my hand falls, Gavin’s encases it with his.

Gavin: This is the result of everyone working together. No need to thank me.

The two uncles remain overwhelmed with joy, patting Gavin’s shoulders in gratitude.

Ah Tu: There’s free water at the grandstand. We’re heading over there now. Remember to take it too!

Watching the two uncles walk away slowly, I lift my eyes to Gavin.

His eyes are lowered, his gaze on me.

Facing the light, his face is bright. His fringe, drenched with sweat, sways with the breeze.

Gavin: Why did you let go?

He suddenly holds up our entwined hands, his brows arched slightly.

I’m stunned for a moment, then tilt my head to the side and respond, eyes crinkled.

MC: To give you an opportunity to hold onto me!

Gavin is left dumbfounded for a while, as though surprised by my response. After that, he lets out a soft laugh.

The surrounding temperature seems to climb upwards, and the air is reminiscent of a budding hyacinth on a winter day, sweet and fragrant.

MC: How about this - you can take a seat at the grandstand, and I’ll bring you a bottle of water.

Gavin: No need, let’s go together.

Holding a bottle of water, Gavin holds my hand as we walk over to the grandstand and sit on the steps.

MC: It’s just a bottle of water. Actually, I could handle it on my own. Also, I’m no longer tired.

Gavin: [coughs]... I was worried that there would be repeat of what happened in high school.

Gavin: I feel more relieved if we’re together.

Sensing the meaning in his words, I let out a relieved laugh.

MC: It might sound strange to say this, but I once thought that I’d never be able to overcome this. But once I actually gave it a try, I realised that this obstruction is fine once I stepped across it. Gavin, thank you... for “stepping across” it with me.

I turn around to look at him, streams of emotions meandering across my heart, reminiscent of the clearest, purest thawed ice of early spring.

The railings of the grandstand reflect the sunlight, scattering mottled light on the ground.

In the mottled light, I see Gavin twisting off the cap of a bottle before handing it to me.

Gavin: I can’t really drink now. You can drink first.

His breath is still slightly unsteady, and his hair is clearly drenched with sweat, tufts of hair drooping against his temples.

I take the bottle, but place it at the side.

Wintry wind wisps past. I hold up the towel near my hand, and try to wipe away the sweat on his forehead.

MC: What if you catch a cold from the wind... Or you could put your coat on?

Just as I make contact with his forehead, a warmth encases the back of my hand, mingled with the dampness of sweat.

The warmth, along with a hot flush, seep into my skin. My ears redden involuntarily.

Gavin: I’m all right. [coughs]... I’ll do it myself.

[Cheri’s thoughts] The disjunct between the sprite and what he’s wearing in the CG is so jarring but I’m not complaining. JUST LOOK AT THAT GLORY:

Gavin takes the towel from my hand, and quickly wipes his forehead. After that, he wipes off the remaining traces of sweat on his face.

The wind blows up his fringe. Light is reflected in his eyes, making the amber colours even more bright and limpid.

He turns his head to the side, lifting his eyes to look at me, his gaze warm.

As the warmth grows deeper, I see the certainty, firmness, and trust that have remained all this time, from before the race till now.

Recalling his words from just now, my heart is infinitely convinced that when he said he would catch me no matter what happens, he definitely will.

As long as I’m with Gavin, I can set my mind at ease and leave everything to him.

MC: Gavin, I will always remember what you said!

Despite my lack of clarity, Gavin quickly understands. His determined, well-defined side profile turns gentle in an instant.

Gavin: All right. You must remember them all, including this.

He reaches out to pat my head. In this moment, I see a radiance even more scorching than the sun, and a warmth even more moving than a breeze in spring.

After resting for a long time, Gavin and I change back into our clothes, and tactfully decline the two uncles’ offer to split the prizes. We walk towards the exit of the park slowly.

The closer we get to the exit, the stronger the wind becomes.

However, perhaps due to the running we did just now, my body feels warm, and even our intertwined hands are warm - they even seem warmer than before.

After taking in a deep breath, I release a sigh.

MC: Running and moving about from time to time feels great! Right now, I feel warm all over.

Gavin: It’s good that you like it. If there’s a chance next time, want to participate together again?

I smile slyly, deliberately elongating my words.

MC: I’d consider it! Come to think of it, why were you hoping that I’d participate in the relay race?

Curiosity is etched on my eyes as I lift my head. Gavin looks at me, then averts his gaze.

Slowly, several images surface before his eyes... the high school sports meet back then, the tartan track, and the slender figure who fainted because she didn’t have breakfast.

A gentle laugh escapes from Gavin’s lips. Perhaps, apart from allowing her to have more faith in herself, it was also to make up for his regrets in high school.

Not being able to participate in competitions with her, and not being able to tell her personally that he was the one who had immediately brought her to the infirmary back then.

MC: Gavin?

Gavin: ...no particular reason. I just wanted you to exercise a little more. You’ve been busy with work lately, so you need to take care of your body.

Is that all? I’m still slightly unconvinced. Gavin has averted his eyes, staring at the gates of the park, which are only a few steps away.

Without the shelter of trees and buildings, intense sunlight pours on this patch of land.

Under the glow of sunshine, Gavin’s face seems to have a gilded edge. He once again turns his head towards me, his gaze filled with everything I’m familiar with.

In an instant, my heart feels full.

MC: The weather is great today, and the people we met were amiable and interesting. I’m going to properly cherish today’s fortuitous encounters!

Gavin: As long as I’m with you, everything we do is worth cherishing.

The sun hangs above our heads, and the cooling breeze is behind us. On this winter day, the most beautiful view is this very moment, right before my eyes.

🎐 MOMENTS: First 🎐

Gavin’s Post: After exercising, the heart feels content.

MC: It actually feels pretty good to run occasionally!

Gavin: We can do it more often next time.

Gavin’s Post: After exercising, the heart feels content.

MC: Losers at sports have expressed that it’s very difficult to experience such a feeling...

Gavin: I’ll bring you out for a run tomorrow to give it a try.

Gavin’s Post: After exercising, the heart feels content.

MC: Actually, I’m pretty interested in sports other than running!

Gavin: All right, we’ll try something you like another day.

🎐 MOMENTS: Second 🎐

Gavin’s Post: To replenish stamina, is it better to choose a sports drink or plain water?

MC: It’s not a bad thing to occasionally have sports drinks~!

Gavin: All right, I’ll try it next time.

Gavin’s Post: To replenish stamina, is it better to choose a sports drink or plain water?

MC: I know! Plain water is the healthiest!

Gavin: Mm, that’s what I think too.

Gavin’s Post: To replenish stamina, is it better to choose a sports drink or plain water?

MC: If it were me, I’d pick milk tea~

Gavin: ...didn’t you say you’d quit it yesterday?

🎐 TEXTS 🎐

[ First Scenario ]

Gavin: Do you have anything on during the weekend?

MC: Sounds like Mr Gavin wants to make an appointment with me?

Gavin: Mm.

Gavin: I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. Are you free?

MC: Could it be another physical training session... can I say no!

Gavin: Don’t worry, it’s very relaxing this time.

Gavin: Walking along the beach and enjoying the breeze.

MC: Sounds good!

Gavin: Mm.

Gavin: It’s a stroll, just like the time we went around collecting materials. You should like it.

Gavin: It’s settled then. See you tomorrow.

[ Second Scenario ]

Gavin: Do you have anything on during the weekend?

MC: I haven’t decided...

Gavin: In that case, I have a suggestion.

Gavin: I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. How’s that?

MC: Mm... I’m quite busy this week, so I want to spend my weekend doing “lazy people activities”!

Gavin: All right.

Gavin: We’ll go for a walk on the beach. How does that sound?

MC: Mm... why did you plan this trip to the beach?

Gavin: To fulfil my promise of “spending more time with you”.

Gavin: Of course, it’s also because I want to spend the weekend together.

[ Third Scenario ]

Gavin: Do you have anything on during the weekend?

MC: Nope, I'm prepared to spend two days lying down at home with my phone!

Gavin:

Gavin: I’ll pick you up tomorrow.

MC: Sure! I heard that a new shooting gallery opened. Want to take a look?

Gavin: ...

Gavin: Or do you want to go for a walk along the beach?

Gavin: You’ve been working overtime recently, so it’s best not to engage in any intense exercise.

MC: Oo, as compared to the beach, I’d prefer going to the Wetland Park.

Gavin: All right, let’s go to the Wetland Park then.

Gavin: As long as I’m with you, anywhere is fine.

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc gavin #ahhhh T^T #MY HEART

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feadae · 5 years

Text

So I got a Secret Encounter(TM) at my last D&D session

And as I record my D&D sessions and take notes obsessively, I had everything I needed to write my Secret Encounter in prose form with the dialogue the DM & I actually said, as well as his descriptions, with Bonus My Character’s Inner Monologue. And lowkey I’m kinda proud of it? I’ve been meaning to get back into writing for a long time now, and this bit reads kind of flat and technical to me, but I’m getting back into it, and I had fun!

Context and the actual writing under the cut

Context: My character is a Tiefling Bard named Melaena Eukleides, who grew up in a small town full of humans and halflings. She has a 3-year-old son named Remembrance, born out of wedlock with a Drow called Una Mentira who wooed her, took her to bed, and left, and when Remy was born her parents agreed to take care of him once he was weaned but forbade her from seeing him again. She discovered several months later (during our campaign) that Una Mentira isn’t Una Mentira; he’s a mob boss in Waterdeep (Jarlaxle Baenre, for anyone who’s played Waterdeep: Dragon Heist). After we finished WDH, we moved into homebrew territory where we are now, and he’s kidnapped their kid, so the party is on a rescue mission. We passed through Mel’s hometown on the way to find a ship to follow Jarlaxle, so Mel decided to drop by her parents’ house and ask if they knew anything about where he had gone or at least why he had taken their kid. When I told the DM that Mel was going to do that, he asked the rest of the party to leave the room, and my heart rate skyrocketed. Without further ado, this is what ensued.

Mel watches her allies’ retreating backs, then takes a deep breath and runs to the house where she grew up. She runs inside and...the house is abandoned. There’s no one there; in fact, most of the furniture is gone.

“Mother? Father?” No answer. Mel goes to her parents’ room and looks around. Everything’s gone. It doesn’t look like there was a struggle, nor does it seem so in the front room. She finds a note on the ground in the front room. It’s addressed to Mel.

Melaena-- He gave us all we ever needed in life--gold... We had to give him to him. I know that you may never forgive us for what we’ve done, and we can’t blame you for that. But when we came to this land, we wanted something better for ourselves, something better for you. Don’t try to find us. You’re no longer our daughter.

It’s signed by both of Mel’s parents.

Mel stands in shock, staring at the note shaking like a leaf in her trembling hand and willing herself not to cry. Her parents essentially disowned her when Remy was born; this isn’t a huge change. But it is. It didn’t even cross her mind that they would leave voluntarily and leave behind only a note saying she’s not their daughter anymore. She’s had many an intrusive thought, worrying that she’d find them dead in the front room, killed by Una--Jarlaxle--in order to kidnap Remembrance. Or that they’d be there alive, saying they did everything they could to defend their grandson, but Una was too powerful. It even occurred to Mel that they might have given Remembrance up willingly, but she dismissed that thought almost immediately. Finding out that they gave him up for gold and didn’t even have the decency to stick around and explain themselves in person is just...too much.

Mel is jolted out of her stupor by a knock at the door. She folds the note up, jamming it in her pocket, and draws her rapier as she opens the door. It opens on a human man with curly red hair poking out from under a wide-brimmed hat.

“Uh, excuse me, um...Do you own this house?”

Mel peers at him, racking her brains as she sheathes her rapier, but doesn’t recognize him. She hesitates.

“I--I live here. What happened?”

“Oh, well, I was just interested why you walked in; it’s been for sale for some time. The original owners, they recently left. If I remember correctly, they were heading...north, I guess?”

Mel processes this and decides to deal with it later, though she knows she doesn’t want to try too hard to find the people who abandoned her and her son. Still, out of habitual politeness, she says, “Thank you.”

The man looks around Mel at the empty house she stands in. “Mind if I come in?”

There’s a second where Mel wants to tell him, No, get away from my house and leave me alone, but there’s really no reason to; everything she remembers is gone, as is everything she loves. Is it really hers? She spreads her arms wide as if to say, Fuck it, come on in. The man says, “Thank you,” and makes his way in.

Mel stands at the threshold, trying to decide whether to rip the thorn out and leave now or stick around and investigate more--maybe ask this man if he saw Una and his men leaving with Remembrance--but before she can make a decision, the door closes on its own. Instinctually, Mel whips around to face the man, drawing both her blades as she does so, half-expecting the familiar Drow visage of Una Mentira to stand where he stood. But it’s not Una. It’s Gilgamesh, the Arch-Fey who posed as Xoblob the Waterdevian shopkeep and killed Asha for fun in exchange for the eyestalk of his taxidermized Beholder. That seems like lifetimes ago now, rather than months. What is he doing in Sintas? What is he doing in Mel’s childhood home?

He turns to Mel and says, “I can’t lie; I’ve been watching you in your travels for some time, and...you don’t need those.” He nods at Mel’s weapons, both still drawn and ready. “I don’t mean any harm.” Mel keeps her eyes trained on him and slowly, silently straightens from the defensive stance she’d taken, putting her swords back in their sheaths. He seems to take the silence as an indication to keep speaking. “So, this is your house,” he says, giving the front room a polite yet cursory glance. Mel nods. It feels strange enough that she’s here without anything that made it home when she was a girl, and stranger still that she’s here talking to an Arch-Fey, of all things. It doesn’t feel right.

“Looks spacious. Fun,” Gilgamesh continues, voice light. This time, Mel manages a small “Mm-hm.” Images flash in her mind of the countless hours she spent as a girl reading, writing, playing make-believe with herself, practicing violin, in this house which now stands empty and lifeless, looking as barren and pathetic as she feels. As if reading her mind, Gilgamesh comments, “A little bit--empty.”

Mel’s heart is heavy as she replies, barely managing a whisper, “Seems so.”

The Arch-Fey peers at her, not unkindly. “I don’t mean to poke fun at you or jest,” he says, sounding almost sad. “That’s not my plan here.”

“What is it?” Mel croaks, only half-caring about the answer.

Gilgamesh looks even more closely at her, not moving from where he stands. “I see pain in your eyes. This is loss--loss that...” He trails off into thought, and as Mel looks at him, there’s a moment where the high, otherworldly status he naturally exudes seems to diminish into something closer to a mortal one. He continues, “I know that. It’s not easy. And it doesn’t get easier.” Mel nods. She’s not a stranger to loss, however new it feels now and however much she wishes she were; she knows this already. But Gilgamesh isn’t done speaking.

“But I can make it easier.” Gilgamesh holds out his hand, and standing on his palm is a small, humanoid sprite which comes to life and looks at Mel with understanding in its eyes. Gilgamesh says, “Be mine, and I can make this pain go away. I see the pain you feel. I offer you something that...unfortunately, I hate to say, your songs and tricks cannot help you with.”

Mel had walked a bit closer despite herself to get a better look at the little sprite, but at the words “Be mine,” she reflexively stumbles back and folds her arms to conceal the fact that her hands are shaking. Una had called her his. Sometimes his something--his darling, his little pirate, his songbird--but always his. The idea of belonging once again to a man about whom she knows nothing save that he is much more powerful than she turns Mel’s blood to ice. She wants desperately to feel something other than this painful loss that feels like the heaviest nothing inside her heart, but the more she thinks about the bargain, the less it sounds like a good idea.

“When you say ‘be yours...’” Mel begins suspiciously, letting it trail off. “What do you mean?”

Gilgamesh seems to know once again what she’s thinking, because he replies, “Not like that.” He searches for the right words, then starts again. “Be my...protégé. My eyes and ears through this...desolate land. You’d lose some of your abilities, of course. You’d...change a bit. But it might be for the best,” he finishes as he fixes on Mel’s eyes a gaze that carries a note of something darker than the consolation he’s offered thus far. The sprite flutters out of Gilgamesh’s hand and zips closer to Mel, hovering in front of her face like a hummingbird. It looks at her with those eyes of understanding, and a small smile comes across its face, a smile that seems to say, Come with me and everything will be all right. As Mel looks back into this small creature’s face, unsure whether she wants to change who she is and work for this strange man--this entity--Gilgamesh’s voice cuts through her contemplation.

“Your choice.” After a moment, he adds with a tremor in his voice, “And I’m so tired of being alone.” Mel shifts her eyes from the sprite to its master. He still stands in that almost mortal stature, and she sees the weight of hundreds, probably thousands, of years of loneliness in his face and on his shoulders. A small voice in the back of her head tells her, He said it that way on purpose; he’s manipulating you, but still. Her instinct is to go to him, to assure him he won’t be alone--and had he made this offer at any time but this, she might have done it. But her parents’ note, telling her that they sold her son to Una Mentira and that after all their years of loving her and all her years of loving them she is no longer their daughter, seems to be burning a hole in her pocket much like the hole it’s burnt in her heart. And all she can think of is herself, and how she needs to protect herself from the trap of trusting anyone, because what has it gotten her? Her first heartbreak, her first (and now second) betrayal, countless sticks and stones and curses hurled at her from the day she learned to walk, a son born out of wedlock to a world that has already given him more danger and fear in his three short years than most people see in a lifetime, rejection from the only two people she’d thought she could trust, and expulsion from the only place she has ever felt safe. Not to mention the scores of times it’s almost gotten her killed. She should have learnt this lesson four years ago when Una Mentira vanished with only one trace, but ultimately it doesn’t matter. She’s learnt it now.

After what feels like aeons, Mel gathers the courage to speak, though not to look directly at Gilgamesh. Her eyes dart away from his face as she says, “I’m sorry. But...I’ve belonged to someone before.” She steels herself and looks directly into his eyes again. “And I’d rather deal with the pain.”

The Arch-Fey’s eyes harden and his expression goes stony. The sprite, still hovering in front of Mel, glares at her then flies back into Gilgamesh’s palm. He closes his hand into a fist, and the resulting crunch makes Mel wince. He opens his hand again, and there’s nothing there.

“I would say you made the wrong decision, but...” His mouth tightens into a thin line as he shakes his head and shrugs almost imperceptibly. “It’s your decision.” He snaps his fingers and disappears with a soft, swift whoosh.

He’s not gone for three seconds before Mel hears his voice in her head. “I was trying to hide this from you.”

Mel blinks, and when she opens her eyes, the house--her childhood home--is gone. She’s standing in a torn-down, demolished pile of rubble on an abandoned lot. No more house is there. She blinks harder, faster, and rifles through her pocket, pulling out the note. It’s as solid in her hand as it was before; it wasn’t an illusion. Everything else...not so. As Mel looks around, there are no thoughts in her head; only the heaviest emptiness she’s ever felt. In her head and in her heart, there is nothing but pressing pain and searing loss. Her legs go weak, and when they fail and she falls to her knees, she makes no attempt to stay standing. The tears come hot and fast before she can think to stop them, and she couldn’t stop them even if she wanted to.

And for the first time, the thing she wished all her childhood is true: no one in Sintas pays attention to her. She is invisible, kneeling in a pile of rubble, sobbing among the fractured remains of all she’s known.

#my writing #look i can write #dungeons and dragons #d&d #d&d writing #original writing

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riskeith · 4 years

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hii!

oh right! i forgot that you can see the ask while responding hehe. i wish that was the case for moi as well because i have all our convos screenshotted because of this.

(actually not really? like my appearance is super girly and i like ~girly~ things but i also love the dudebro culture.. it do be like that. wbu?) WHY DID THE TSUKISHIMA IS NOT A TR*MP SUPPORTER SEND ME.... now who the hell would even say that and be serious... some people man i’m telling you.

diluc 🤝 razor 🤝 fischl animals over their heads.

oo.. you sparked my attention.. will def check it out. i was too busy playing last night to read anything but Today I Will.

OH YEAH I’VE SEEN THOSE cyberpunk is such a messy game sndhdkdhfjsk. HOLY SHIT THAT TRAILER MADE ME SO EXCITED! sjshdkdjfjdk god this game is so amazing yet fucking huge... how the hell will it fit any phone if it keeps getting bigger and bigger..?

nooo don’t worry i’m having fun tbh. and i’m super motivated too so that might be the case. also i switched the dub to japanese just before venti’s story mission and i’m loving it so much. thankfully there isn’t too much battle yet to distract me but god i love all their voices so far. venti... hinata finally started to actual fly. i like diluc’s voice too! love his actually, super fitting for his character. 🥺

WOULD KEITH LOOK LIKE THIS IRL... he probably would 😭 greasy boy lived in the desert his hair is probably so bad 😭 what kind of mullet would you want though? like s1 keith or s7 keith? or do you have a specific kpop artist’s hair you wanna replicate? OOO.... rock star? 😳💢 what’s your clothing style if you had to describe it? also what are your thoughts about tattoos and piercings? since we’re on the topic of punk rock hdjdsksj.

idk why i find your beef with slow songs so funny aksjdhdjdhdjsk like i can just imagine you groaning bc a song doesn’t pick up the pace lol (omo...... where would we go? 😳)

treasure hoarders are fun to fight bc they just cuss you the fuck out sjdkdkshd. i like when they yell at you yet they’re so weak like fuck off dude. THE HILICHURLS ARE KIND OF CUTE YOU’RE RIGHT especially the ones that dance or sleep and you interrupt them... 🥺 personally i like fighting the slimes i think they’re adorable. they just bounce and their music isn’t too loud or annoying. you know what i fucking hate? goddamn ruin guards i can’t stand them and their aggressive music dhdjdkshs. their drop rates are shit but hilichurls are also the most common enemy, right?

after dinner? aww. same! it’s such a nice way to wind down; a cup of tea and some candle lights.. i love all of those flavors Except matcha, it just doesn’t work for me kdhddk i feel like green tea tastes like grass.. sometimes i drink it bc it’s healthy but i’m Not happy. otherwise i’m like you i drink practically everything. mostly black tea though because that’s what most common in my culture i suppose. djdkdj i used to be so good at drinking water but since i’ve been at home a lot it’s been getting worse... i do have a water bottle by my side always bc as much as i drink other things clean water is important too! are you good at drinking water?

do you know about the euphoria make up style though? it’s super colorful and lots of glitter and abstract shapes it’s so amazing and it would fit xiao so well. like imagine him in bold aqua and purple make up with lots of shimmer... 🥴

hehe, can’t wait to hear from you! <3 (and yeah! no i figure i’ll just keep it so you’ll at least know my name.. we’ve been talking since oct it’s only fair.. right?)

heya!!

ghdgkjdfg i do be taking up your photo gallery tho <33

(:o! i reckon i’m pretty much of a tomboy, tho i’m definitely stereotypically girly too.. but sometimes i have a hard time relating to other girls so hsfjdhfksd) FHSKFSD yeah ikr like.... sometimes it really aint that deep there are no other sides to it LOL

i hope you enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!! i sure did i reread it as well a few days ago ahaha

IKRRR I REWATCH THE TRAILER AGAIN EVERY NOW AND THEN JUST BC LIKE,,,, THE HYPE. that’s actually a good point tho lmao like??????? buys a phone/device JUST for genshin fhsdkjfhskdfs

nice!!! hope you enjoy the japanese dub hehehe. and omg that’s so cute 😭😭😭 he’s tobe flying now... and yasss diluc’s VA is really popular too his voice is 👌 sehr gut

FHDFKJSDHK EWWW. yikes i don’t remember his hair but i think s1?? it was shorter then right... “tidier” lol i feel like at s7 it was kinda outta control fhskfjds. and yeah!! https://twitter.com/worldsbestmulet/status/1186534890415644673 < he was my insp for a bit bc we’re both chinese so i think realistically i could look somewhat close if i tried fhskjfhds but also https://i.pinimg.com/originals/de/7b/fc/de7bfc8c52603abd7c69dc558c9c8bfe.jpg is what i showed my hairdresser when i wanted an undercut hfksdjfds. my clothing style is legit just: whatever’s comfortable. it’s pretty much all sports branded clothes fhskfjsd and i live in my hoodie + trackies lollllll. but last year w uni i wanted to step up my fashion game (rip) and i wanna buy more street style clothes!! they’re just... quite expensive lmaooo. what’s yours like?

and i like them!! when i was 14 i wanted to get a tongue piercing FKHDSHFKSDHFKSD but i never did lol. but i did get a double helix piercing in dec finally!!!!!!! i think i’m done now tbh (aside from that i only have my lobes pierced) but yeah it’s not a big desire of mine. i had a dream once tho where i was decked out in piercings and thought it was very Cool. as for tattoos, i’ve always wanted to get one! and last year i was lowkey toying around with the idea of getting a sleeve but realistically i cannot bc well. med. (if anyone reading this has a good stable well paying job for me that’ll allow me to quit uni... hmu FHSFHDSFKJSD) you??

FHSKDFHDS yeahhh it’s so awkward when people are recommending me songs and it’s slow bc im just like “mm yeah it’s nice.” and if it does actually pick up the pace then i’m like “i liked the fast parts” FHSDKFSD. (wherever you want to go baby 😉 wait omg..... read running on air that just have me.. roa vibes HFKJDSHFKSHFKSD)

yes!! i love those hilichurls sm... AHAHAHH i used to hate ruin guards too but now they’re actually one of my faves dhfdskj. you know what’s so annoying tho. dendro slimes when i don’t have any pyro users on me. or when i can’t find them and the music has just started up out of noweher hfdskjf. yeahhh i think they are but :(( you can’t tell me “dropped by lvl 60+ hilichurls” and not have them drop it for me..

ahaha that’s fair!! i adamantly did not try anything matcha until like 2018/19 and then wow. a whole new world opened up to me and now i only get matcha whenever i go places fhdskj. ooft... yeah i’m really good at drinkng water it’s the only thing i drink lol... and i’m always just drinking and refilling my cup and giving myself an excuse to leave my room fhskjds.

yeah i think i have an idea! mostly just zendaya in the song thumbnails fhskdfjs but i am picturing a lot of glitter!! that image wow...... his colour palette is so 🤩🤩

(omg since oct... has it been that long already 😳 but okay if that’s what you’re happy with!! i promise i won’t accidentally out you here ahaha. also! when you reach co-op send me your UID in a separate ask!! i’ll delete it after i add you im just paranoid about you sharing your uid anywhere public hfskdjfhsd)

babe.. this thread https://twitter.com/seungjinphobia/status/1349001013978533890?s=21 no thoughts head empty.

omg 😭😭😭😭😭😭 i cannot... their dynamic is literally xiao: someone’s gonna die >:( venti: of fun! :D JHFSKFHDSKJFSK i can’t take it someone stop them!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhdkjfhaofisdhliajdfhdsjkfhgsliudfhasdkjhdasjgadsj

hope your day has been wonderful so farrrrr OH ALSO I FINALLY MADE MY GENSHIN TWITTER FOR CHONGYUN... will share over co-op maybe.. i haven’t really set it up yet hfskdjds

#marriage anon #wowclunaanswers #long post

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anika-ann · 5 years

Text

Hands Too Cold, but Heart of Gold - Pt.5

The Aftermath

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader, Matt Murdock x reader (no SR x MM x r)

Word count: 2800

Summary: Avenger!reader AU, love triangle. Some things get messy and some are cleared out; that tends to happen when you talk things through...and you’re not entirely honest. Or are you?

Warnings: swearing, mentions of violence, injury, medical procedures and seizure, hospitals, tooth-rotting fluff

Story Mastelist

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The first thing you were sure of was that life sucked. It was truly the very first thought that popped up in your mind.

Before thoughts, there had been only your brain rebooting, already overwhelmed with receiving signals of dull pain from different parts of your body, which had resulted in one messy signal alerting you your whole body ached; hence the original thought.

“Jesus shit,” somehow escaped your lips without you being in control, but the moment you got a hold of them, you were tempted to say it again.

A noise near your head startled you – rustling and an unpleasant squeak, soon followed by a male voice.

“You’re awake. Hey,” he whispered, sounding delighted. Probably. You were still a bit to groggy to recognize that the emotion.

You slowly opened your eyes, figuring out how to turn your head to the source of the voice – as you evaluated before –, a man. You squinted at the figure wearing black sneakers and a light blue shirt with no tie. You finally examined his face and— and realized you had no idea who he was. His brown irises felt a little familiar – a memory (a dream?) of snowy winter hit you, warm brown eyes ensuring you, Gerda, that you would be okay. Other than that, your memory was blank – you had no clue who the brunet was.

“I’m… sorry. Do I— do I know you?” you asked shyly, slightly embarrassed. Did you have amnesia? Was he your fiancée or something? Was this a stupid rom-com?

The stranger smiled inconspicuously and went to help you as you tried to straighten in your bed – and whoa, okay, OUCH, not so great idea.

“You shouldn’t move too much. You have a fair share of stitches,” he announced, seemingly worried about you. His eyes watched you almost absently, focusing somewhere around your chin. Okay, this was getting weird. He didn’t answer the question. “And my name is Matt.”

Your heart stopped until it kicked in again and started sprinting. You couldn’t recall knowing any Matt unless knowing who Matt Damon was counted. Shit.

His brows furrowed. “But you wouldn’t know that. You know me as Daredevil.”

You lips parted, your brain finally catching up with the events.

Mission. Kidnapping. Daredevil. Steve.

“Steve,” you breathed, horrible realization striking you. “Is Steve okay? Where is he? Why am I in a hospital— no forget that one, tell me about Steve.”

The man carefully touched your arm that had found its way from under the covers as you had tried to sit up again. He smiled mildly.

“He’s okay, Gerda. He’s down the hall. He woke up yesterday and apart from being worn to a bone, he seems fine.”

You took a deep breath, your ribs hurting like hell at the action, but the feeling of relief was so overwhelming you didn’t care.

“Oh thank god-“

“Thank you. You saved him,” he corrected you gently and you were very much not ready for the rush of anger into your veins, suddenly remembering very clearly it wasn’t the truth.

Daredevil must have picked up on that, because his smile faltered.

“Really? Good for me, ‘cause I remember someone stopping me,” you hissed like a cat, climbing up into a sitting position, biting your cheek at the pain that shot up from the base of your fucking spine to its tip. Christ. You distantly remembered wanting to stop the person who had pulled you away, but he seemed just fine now, so you didn’t care.

“I didn’t really have another option. Your own body was shutting down. The device under your ribs short-circuited, unable to bare the intensity of your powers. You almost killed yourself.”

You froze at the revelation.

Oh. Oh. Fuck. That was… not what you expected to hear from the guy. The fact he couldn’t even look into your eyes when telling you that was kinda irritating though. He continued.

“I know you’re mad and I’m sorry. But I had to believe he would make it with what you had done so far. I… know it wasn’t my choice to make. Maybe it wasn’t Captain Rogers’ either, but I was sure he wouldn’t wish for you endanger your life for his sake. We both decided to save you – not that anyone else tried to stop me.”

You felt the pools of energy settling in your muscles, your rapidly beating heart quickly waking your body up properly – the fact that with the more he said the more your adrenalin was spiking probably helped. You understood. You understood pretty well.

You stared into his eyes murderously and suddenly realized why he couldn’t reciprocate the gesture. He was blind. You spent about two seconds being overwhelmed by that big revelation before coming to conclusion that it was the last thing that bothered you right now.

“You’re right,” you whispered, clearing your throat so your voice wouldn’t sound so pathetically weak. “You’re goddamn right it wasn’t your choice.” And it sure as hell wasn’t your place to assume what Steve would want.

You clenched your teeth as you swung your legs over the edge of your bed.

“You really shouldn’t get-“

“Yeah, I don’t care,” you shot back, ignoring the pleading and regretful eyes almost watching you. Blind. Duh. Talk about surprises.

“Look-“

“No, you look, Matt. You joining the mission? It was nice. Thanks for the assist. But you were a complete stranger and you had no fucking right to make a decision like that. I don’t care if we were paired or something, I’m sure you understand prioritization. Steve? He’s Captain freaking America. He’s at the top of the priority list. And not that it’s any of your business, but he’s also at the top of my list. And it was not your call to stop me just because your super-senses sniffed I was passing out or whatever,” you paused, catching you breath.

You pushed yourself up with a whimper, hoping your feet would hold you. His arms went to support you, possibly recognizing he had no chance – or right – to stop you. At least he was catching up fast. Not that it mollified you.

You slapped his hands away as soon as you felt at least a little steady on your feet. He quickly retreated, a shadow of hurt in his eyes.

“I’m gonna see him now and when I’m back here, I would really appreciate if you were gone.” Yeah, okay, now he definitely seemed wounded. You tried to shush the voice of sympathy whispering in your head. “It was good to meet you, Devil. But once was enough.”

You gritted your teeth and shuffled to the door, taking as shallow breaths as you could. Everything, fucking everything hurt.

Daredevil was silent, until he wasn’t.

“You love him,” he whispered, his voice heavy with something that made your heart skip a beat.

You turned back to the man who had given up trying to stop you and just stood in the middle of your room, watching you. Once again, you didn’t see how that was any of his business, but you had no reason to lie.

“You bet your ass I do. I told you – he’s family.”

And with those words, you reached for the handle and stumbled out of your hospital room. You looked around, searching for clues. Daredevil had said Steve was down the hall – which way down the hall? You were pretty much in the middle.

“Shit,” you cursed under your breath, half-tempted to turn around and ask him for clarification.

Instead, you closed the door cowardly and started walking where the hall seemed less busy. Steve would be there, right?

A woman that was definitely giving away a nurse vibe noticed you and sized you up in horror. Yeah, okay, you got it, you looked terrible, you had a fucking hospital gown and thank god, some underwear and you were supporting yourself onto a wall. Yeah, you were sure you looked peachy.

“Madam, I don’t-“

“Why don’t you tell me where I can find Captain Rogers?” you offered, attempting your best smile, probably failing epically. “I would really like to see him now.”

“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” she shrieked and you rolled your eyes.

“Yeah, tell me something I don’t know. But given how far I’ve got, it would be mean to drag me back without my reward, wouldn’t it?”

The nurse eyed you, her glare saying ‘I am so fired for this’, but she actually approached you, supporting some of your weight and led you to a door guarded by two soldiers. Of course. You should have figured – and noticed them in the first place; you were in a truly crappy shape if you missed them.

She knocked and you gestured at her that you could make the rest of your way alone. The soldiers shot you a strange look, but you were used to that.

You entered the room, your gaze immediately landing on the lying figure. He was squinting at you sleepily, the part of his bed under his torso and head slightly raised.

You smiled widely. He was awake. He was alive.

“Snowflake?” he mumbled and you reached for the nearest chair to support yourself as your knees suddenly felt even weaker.

“Hey, Steve,” you whispered back, your voice too raspy and heavy with emotion.

“What are you-“ He blinked his eyes wide open, straightening on the bed with surprising speed. He seemed perfectly awake now. “Holy hell, Snowflake, what are you doing here?! You should be in bed!”

“Didn’t sit with me well.”

His bright eyes watched you in horror as you shuffled to his bed, falling heavily on the chair next to it with a hiss.

“Also, you cursed, Cap.”

“You-“

You took his hand without permission, resting your forehead against his shoulder, hearing and feeling his sharp intake of breath. His free arm embraced you resignedly, pulling you closer, so you assumed you were doing okay with being affectionate. You barely registered you started crying, too busy with supressing the pain caused by moving around – Steve’s presence helped with that.

“What do I do with you? You’re terrible at following orders lately,” he whispered, his lips in your hair. You snuggled to him completely, as much as your positions allowed you.

“You can ground me. I will happily sit at home for a while.”

His arm caressed your back at the word ‘home’ – wary of touching your spine as if he knew it hurt – and a pool of warmth blossomed around your heart.

“How do you feel, Snowflake?”

“How do you?” you murmured back, soaking his gown wet with your tears.

God, you loved his strong arm around you. His chest rising periodically. His heart beating strongly against your cheek.

“I got my blood cleaned. You spend hours in surgery having your body cut open in several places. I think my question needs to be answered first.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You fried the device. You were lucky Tony had one to replace it,” Steve whispered, his voice shaking inconspicuously. “Two days after the first surgery, Tony added a fail-safe. The doctors implanted a new part into your spine – the next time you’ll reach your limit, it will just shut your powers down.”

Your breath caught in your throat and you retreated quickly. “Are you kidding me? What the hell?!”

What the fuck– how did they dare to do something like that? Something restricting your powers?! Now? Now, when you finally did some good with them? They could have blocked them completely then!

“It’s for your own safety, Snowflake,” he explained gently, seeing you were utterly pissed. His blue eyes were soft, glimmering with sadness. “You almost died. You need to realize that-”

“I don’t care!”

You covered your mouth the second after the words left your lips. Steve’s gaze hardened.

“Well, I do. While I didn’t get a say in that one, the others did and made the right choice. Believe it or not, we all care. I’m— Snowflake, I’m so grateful for what you did. I am. But…” he exhaled shakily, looking away before locking his eyes with yours, not allowing you to escape the intensity of his gaze. “…but when I woke up and you were just finishing your second surgery and I heard about everything what happened… and I imagined what could have happened… Snowflake, you know how much I care about you. I don’t want to lose you. You can’t… you can’t even imagine what it felt like-“

“Oh, you mean my friend being an inch from dying? How could I even imagine what it feels like, almost losing my best friend, huh?” you bit back, your voice more venomous than you intended. But god, you were getting sick of people doing your choices for you and assuming.

“It wouldn’t be the first time I lost someone who was as close to me as my family,” he replied with the same tone and guilt stabbed your insides instantly.

Oh. Oh. Now you were being a bitch. To be fair, he wasn’t being a saint either.

“I’m sorry. That was mean. But I had a point.”

Steve’s baby-blues softened and he reached for your hand again. “I’m sorry too. I’m really glad you’re okay enough to let your stubbornness overdrive your body and drag it here.”

Your lips spread into a smile involuntarily. There was nothing and no one who would have stopped me from getting here. “I’m glad you’re okay too.”

Silence fell for several moments and you didn’t feel like breaking it. You just wanted to snuggle to his side and never leave his warm embrace.

“You know… when you told me I was pushing it and you basically threatened me with freezing my ass off for another seventy years, I thought you were exaggerating,” he noted playfully, the famous spark of mischief lighting up his eyes.

You inhaled sharply, completely at loss of words. Did he just-

Then he squeezed your hand. “Dumb joke, sorry. Thank you, Snowflake. You saved my life.”

“I-“

“And I’m really proud of you for what you managed to do. You controlled yourself perfectly.”

You felt a blush colouring your cheeks in red, lowering your gaze. Steve shifted in his bed, moving to side, patting the newly created space next to him.

“Come here.”

You didn’t hesitate. You two did cuddling; usually, there were more clothes between your bodies, but it wasn’t unusual for you to fall asleep in his embrace during team movie nights. Plus, you couldn’t refuse an offer like that.

You climbed in the bed, his arm around your shoulders to keep you close and you nuzzled your cheek in his chest, throwing your arm around his waist. He kissed your temple tenderly.

“Rest, Snowflake… I love you,” he whispered and you snuggled closer at the words, the warmest feeling settling in your chest.

You… didn’t think he meant romantically. He said you were like family. And you were okay with that as if the near-death experience – both yours and his – finally gave you complete peace. You didn’t think the crush would go away, but… this felt right. This was enough.

“I… never thought I’d have a brother. And here we are,” you murmured, his muscles tensing, before he relaxed completely, burying his face into your hair, his body almost merging with yours. “I love you too, Steve.“

Neither of you said more. His chest was rising and falling slowly under your cheek, his breath warm on your scalp, his free had wrapped around your wrist, his fingertips on your pulse point. His own heart sounded as a lullaby in your ear and at some point, you drifted off to sleep.

Due to that, you nearly missed the team stumbling into Steve’s room. Natasha quickly put her index finger over her lips to shush everyone and pulled out her phone to snap a picture of the cuddling pair.

“Oh-ho, this is precious. This is a perfect blackmail material. Good job, Tasha,” Clint praised her and she winked at him.

“I don’t know, this looks too cute for a blackmail material,” Bruce questioned and Natasha giggled, not trying to disagree. It was the giggle that disturbed your dreamless sleep, your eyelids too heavy and your position too comfortable to make even the smallest movement though.

“These two sweet children. Can we just put them in ice like this?” Tony whispered and you managed to raise a finger at him, causing the team to laugh silently. “Snap a pic of that too. We’ll report her to Cap. This is even worse than swearing, I mean, she’s literally showing-“

Gradually, his voice was trailing off and then you could hear the door close shut.

Steve hummed sleepily and you just ran your fingers over his side soothingly, melting into his sleeping form once more.

────── ·❆· ──────

Part 6

────── ·❆· ──────

Tags: @mermaidxatxheart, @murdermornings, @elisaa-shelby @ask-hellbent-tweek

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mintcrash · 7 years

Text

ok so I haven’t written anything in many mnay years, but procrastination and too Many Comics can do strange things.

Just some drabble which forms some coherent one-shot I guess.

Damian never liked Tim,but after this, he will never forgive him.

Basically Tim has to monior Damian in some ‘mandatory dress training’. Damian is cute and angry, Tim is a good brother, and Dick is less so.

~1800 words, literally don’t know what I’m doing, mindless fluff and poofy dresses.

—

Damian doesn’t know what to do. Damian Al Ghul: Robin, son of Batman, heir to the League of Assassins is absolutely stunned. He’s faced assassins, demons, beasts of unfathomable proportions. He has come so far in his few short years that immortals would be seething with jealousy. He came back from the dead, and he doesn’t know what to do. Trained by the world’s greatest, and here he stands, Tim Drake having frozen him in his tracks.

“You want…I’m sorry Drake, but what?”

“You heard me.”

“Drake, of all thi- this is ridiculous-“

“Yeah, well it’s a compulsory part of the training, and now you’ll fit into it, so get over here and put this on right now or I’m calling Dick.”

“-Tt-,” he scowled as he eyed Tim, glancing between his brother’s innocent, amused expression and the object of questionable origins in his arms, “You would enjoy this, you-“

Tim’s hands went up defensively, a film of glitter gracing his forearms. “Nuh-uh you stop looking at me like that right now demon child. This was definitely not my idea and I just want to get back to my case so if you wouldn’t mind-”

Damian snatched the pile of hoops and fabric from him. Honestly. What kind of family is this. “Well then, whose idea was it?” He struggled to turn the pale pink mess over in his arms, barely catching glimpses of the layers of tulle sticking out from what was presumably the bottom.

“Nobodys! I swear, this is actually a part of training,” Tim grimaced, ignoring the laugh building in response to Damian’s disgusted face, “Bruce makes all of us do it, but seeing as he’s overseas, Dick’s busy, and Jason’s who-knows-where, I’m in charge of…this.”

Damian wasn’t convinced. He could see Tim’s mouth twitching in that insufferable face he made whenever he had something to do with something unpleasant. He’s lying. It had to be some kind of sick Tim Drake joke. After all this time, he should be forced to wear, well, this. Despicable.

“For what possible reason – “

“Hey - don’t get me started runt.” Tim sauntered past the table, grabbing his coffee before planting himself in the nearest armchair with great satisfaction, falling into what looked like the least comfortable position any human being could manage. “I had to learn how to walk in it. Dick had to learn how to dance in it. And – holy cow- Jason knows how to seduce anyone in it, so I’m sure that you, with your mighty mind can master all of that and more. Hey, I have to say though, it is easier than sitting in a pencil skirt, but doesn’t make your butt look nearly as good.”

Damian stared as Tim serenely sipped his coffee. He’d been through heels, and the cursed pencil skirts, but this? He stared at the pile in his arms with distain.

“Why does it have to be pink.”

“Hm? What was that?”

“I hate you Drake.”

----

Two hours, a torn underskirt, a snapped hoop, a broken zip and four fake bras later, Damian Wayne finally came into the lounge so that Tim could assess him.

“Finally, took you - woah”

Damian’s cheeks flushed. He was used to being critiqued and hunted by his insufferable brother, not flattered.

“Well? Stop staring you trout, do I pass?”

His mouth just hung open. What used to be his little demon brother actually looked, well, really good. His hair had been ruffled from wrestling with the dress, which somehow made him look even better. The dress managed to frame his lithe, false-breasted body exceptionally. Alfred was probably the only reason it was still in one piece, and the old, pristine fabric of the training gown caught the fading light perfectly. A river of fuchsia sequins rippled like a tail down the centre, framed by black velvet stripes. A black collar complemented dark sleeves, flowing from a high-waisted pale pink centrepiece, ending in a thick black ribbon. From this stemmed a pink hoop gown, the rich satin glistening in the fading light from the half-open curtains.

Dang, his brother looked better than he ever did in that thing.

Snapped out of his musings by a sharp -tt-, Tim hastily responded, “It, uh- the colour…really, brings out your eyes, I guess.”

“Really Drake? Am I that good that I don’t require any real critique?” Damian swished, hands falling in a naturally petite manner to his hips.

Tim had to hold back a snort. “Well, if you really want to know, you’re as ugly as ever, and need a wig. Your hair is shocking. And your shoulders – I can tell you’re a little self- “

“I am n – “

“Don’t interrupt me, princess. As I was saying, you’re self-conscious. You’ve got to hold your shoulders back, puff out your chest a little - no not like – agh wait, lemme, more like this, see?” Tim stood as close as he felt was a safe distance to the dinosaur in a dress, but pulled himself into a ballerina stance. “It’s like someone’s drawn a string up your spine, yeah that’s a little better, but don’t be so tense, relax your shoulders a little. Yes. Much better.”

Tim continued to give instruction and Damian let himself relax a little. The dress wasn’t all uncomfortable. Besides, there was no denying Drake thought he looked good. At least a little.

After learning to walk, especially up and down stairs holding the length of puffy fabric, Tim called for Alfred to bring in the shoes. Combining them with the dress proved to be…difficult, but he only stepped on the hem twice, and that was because he was trying to stand up and the dress just got everywhere once you sat down.

Dancing was a lot harder.

“You know-“

“Yes, of course I know the waltz, you dimwit. And I am not dancing with you, no matter how much ‘practice’ anybody insists I need.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.” Tim sat back into his observing station, nursing his third coffee of the day, taking note of his brother’s movements.

“You’re doing the girl’s part, remember.”

“Shut up”

“…Keep your back straight, you’re losing-“

“Mm”

“…Relax those shoulders princess.”

“-tt-“

----

Asides from the occasional misstep in the heels, which left a few new holes in the first layer of the skirt, and his tense shoulders, Tim thought Damian was more of a natural in the dress than any of them had been, except maybe Dick.

“Are we done now?”

Turning his head from a fresh brew, he sighted the pile of fabric sprawled on the furthest armchair. The second pair of heels had been kicked off and a light sheen of glitter rested with them on the floor nearby.

“Sadly, no.”

“What?!” The pile twisted as Damian almost fell on the floor, “You said one more dance-“

“Until I’m done, you still have something else to do.”

Damian’s face could probably boil water, but Tim wasn’t finished. “After this, you can remove the beautiful dress and reclaim your natural demon state. Besides, a normal gala usually goes for at least another twenty minutes. Put on that one pair of heels which you actually liked, and I’ll give my final assessment.”

Damian tutted, pulling on his shoes and staring daggers at his brother before finally straightening up and twirling one more time.

“Fine. Just…hurry up.”

Then Dick walked in.

He froze. Damian stiffened. Tim grinned.

“You…little…”

“DAMI!”

Dick spread his arms wide, soggy hair from his after-work shower flicking drips behind him as he bounded up to his little brother. Damian braced himself for whatever was coming.

“Damian it…you…it’s perfect! You look amazing!” He turned to Tim, “How’d you-“

“With a lot of patience.”

Both smiled like maniacs as Damian suffered their compliments.

“Oh Darlene, your dress is stunning tonight.”

“Oh Diana I love your shoes!”

“Dmitri, that colour really brings out your flawless skin.”

“And your eyes!”

“Did he get the posture right?”

“Most of the time”

“Dami, relax your shoulders-“

“So. I’ve. Been. Told.”

“Oh you have to give me a walk. Come on, just one? I promise I will never talk of this –“

“Shut up. I will, only because I want this torment to end sooner.”

So, Damian did. He glided flawlessly up the room, twirled liked only the finest of socialites, then turned to see – Grayson’s Phone. Abandoning any hints of walking, Damian pulled up the dress, revealing a half-on shoe. With a quick and expert flick of his ankle, it flew off and landed violently on the camera. Tim snorted, sharing a quick smile with the youngest. Dick just looked hurt.

“Aww, come on Dami! It’s compulsory for everyone to have documented photos of all important training events. Besides, Bruce needs photographic evidence of this occasion.”

“Shut up, Grayson. I swear if you show those to anyone I will slice your hand off.”

“Well, I think that about covers everything now.” Tim interrupted before Damian actually attacked anyone. He stood, and with the straightest face and most serious voice he could muster, said, “You have my permission, as your supervisor for this training session, to get out of the dress, until such time comes that it is needed for mission purposes. Also, I’ll have to write all this down, but you really need to work on relaxing your shoulders.”

Damian’s sour expression turned to Tim, “Drake, if you mention this to anyone, I will have a good reason to cut off your coffee supply for a week.” He turned with great flair, radiating an attitude fitting for his outfit, and stormed into the next room.

“Oh, and Damian?” Dick called before he slammed the door behind him, “Just remember, with the whole relaxing your shoulders thing, think of it like swordplay – you only tense before you strike. And if you do ever have to wear one of those, at least you’ll be prepared. Plus, Bruce had to have this training too, so-“

“Wait, what?!? Father had to- “

“Ohohoho yes he did.” Dick’s phone was back up as he searched for the ‘compulsory photographic documentation’.

Damian stalked over as fast as he could, hoisting the dress. Tim rolled off the couch too. He was not going to miss this.

“He thought he should try it out when he made me do it. Justified it as ‘needing practice’ and ‘learning from a woman’s perspective’, but I don’t think anybody his size needs to put themselves through something they obviously can’t pull off. Now where’s…ahah!”

The room fell silent. The air was concrete as Dick held in the fiery laugh building in his chest.

“Is that-“

“Yes.”

“Gets me every time.”

“In pink-“

“Oooohhh yeah.”

“You know it.”

Damian was disgraced. Tim was choking back his laughter. Dick was…well, Grayson was beaming in the background of the photo, wearing the same dress Damian had on now. It…complemented his Father’s.

“Oh he really cannot pull that off.” Tim commented.

“I KNOW, right?! He kept telling me it was for experience but honestly I think he was just enjoying himself.”

Damian snuffed, “-tt-, he needs to relax his shoulders.”

Tim and Dick shared stunned glances before Dick mumbled, “Guess it runs in the family.”

#batfam #short fic #damian wayne #tim drake #dick grayson #on shot #drabble #text #long post #help I don't know #procrastination #honestly I had too much fun #I just read son of batman v1 so damian's on my mind #the evolution of writing is amazing #who needs grammar

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cddump · 7 years

Text

Blue Shift (Sitting 10. 1,408 words.

The forest air became more and more frigid as the trio traveled north. “Out of all the possibilities, this was one I didn't see coming,” Bryer muttered to himself as he watched Lili lead the way ahead. Zach held on to a clear glass bottle filled with blue liquid and sipped at it nervously with a straw. “To be honest I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't realize you two would just start fighting to the death like that.” “It's not like I wanted that to happen. ...What are you drinking anyway?” “Mm?” Zach stopped mid-sip to look at the bottle. “Oh, this? It's just a potion. One that regenerates lost mana for me faster than I would naturally. Stopping you two took a lot out of me, especially that first big blast I used on the ground. I've never done anything like that and wasn't even sure if it would work.” “It was well done, by the way. I gotta tell Alice about it.” “Oh! T-thanks.” Zach took another sip. It wasn't often he got compliments and he rather liked it. “Ah sorry, did you want some?” Zach held the bottle towards Bryer. “I'm...good, thanks.” “Are you sure? I add blueberries to the brew to make it taste better.” “Why do you drink it out of a straw?” “I really like blueberries. I want to savor the taste.” Zach looked at a flower as they passed by it. Though the majority of the forest was always in a state of rain, this area was not. Instead Zach noted the flower's leaves had white proof of the upcoming ice caps in the form of white frost. “We're getting closer, aren't we?” The two had caught up with Lili at this point, who was pushing aside foliage for the group. “Yes we are,” she answered. “I scouted the Keep before but I knew I couldn't go in alone.” “So what was your plan?” Bryer asked. “I was hoping the villagers would take pity on me and have one of their strongest mages accompany me. The gem can only be used by a mage so they were my best bet. If they said no, then I would have been stuck. I still would have gone in by myself but the I didn't have a plan beyond that.” Lili looked back at Bryer and Zach and saw the potion Zach was sipping on. “You want to share some of that?”

Ten minutes of walking was all it took for the temperature to take a large dip. The fact that the forest had felt so warm and welcoming to Zach contrasted sharply with the frosty atmosphere of the ice caps. It seemed impossible that the warm magical rain that fell in the forest originates from the nearby keep. “H-h-how is it so cold here but so warm back in the village?” Zach's teeth chattered as he pulled his robe closer to himself for warmth. He was freezing but neither Bryer nor Lili made any indication that the cold was bothering them. Either they were made of thicker skin than he was or they were so well-trained that they could hide it. “It has to do with the forest absorbing the magical energy coming from the Keep,” Lili answered. “It's an odd cycle this forest finds itself in now. It can only grow because of the Keep's evil energy. It's absorbed and somehow transfigured into life sustaining rain and shrubbery. People think the forest is keeping the Keep locked away but if Crimson Keep were to ever completely fall, the forest and the village would fall as well.” “I always thought Crimson Keep was a fairy tale to be honest,” Zach said. He reached into his bag and produced another potion. This one was to warm one's body and to resist the cold. Though he at first thought the cold didn't bother the siblings, when he explained its affects and offered them some of it, they quickly accepted. Despite their outer warmth, their spirits were a bit more dampened. Entering a liar of evil such as Crimson Keep was a tall order and Zach would have openly admitted to being afraid if anyone asked. “How are you feeling, Zach?” Bryer asked. “Nervous?” “What? Who me? Pssh, no. Of course not.” “Really? Because I am.” Zach rubbed his fingers together uneasily. “I'm... a little scared, I guess.” “I don't blame you. It's your first time out in the field and you're headed to Crimson Keep. That's a lot to ask from you.” Zach didn't answer. He was afraid. Very afraid. Afraid of whatever it was they might face inside that fortress. But another part of him was excited. There was no doubt in his mind he would make it out alive. He could imagine how people would react when they learned he had survived Crimson Keep. He could be brought in to the Sword Guild and find work as one of the magical guides there. Or take more missions with Bryer and Alice. The possibilities swirled in his mind as his feet crushed fresh snow. “We're here,” Lili pulled aside a final oversized and snow covered fern. Ahead of the group was a stretch of icy flooring that quickly ended in a tall, imposing wall made entirely of ice. It dawned on Zach that the top of it probably stretched for miles, all the way around the northern part of the world. “There's the keep,” Bryer pointed at a section along the wall where a stone skull stuck out of it. “Looks like a nice place,” Zach joked, causing Lili to interject. “Don't let your guard down.” He looked up at her, remembering what had transpired back at the clearing by the river. Zach had seen Bryer stab his sister. He had seen her die right in front of him before being jerked back moments before the event happened. What was more, he was able to stop it. Zach bit his lip. Maybe it was a side effect of the way he had used his magic, or what he had experienced prior was a vision of some kind. Maybe he was actually more fit to be a seer and just hadn't realized it yet. But then there was the female voice he had heard before the world Shifted around him. It had said it Zach was 'good at playing with her toys.' What did that mean? Surely Bryer and Lili weren't the 'toys' mentioned. The magic he had used, then? But who would find magic as their toy? And what kind of game did she think Zach was playing?” “You alright, Zach?” Bryer asked, snapping him away from his thoughts. “Not having second thoughts, are you?” “What? No no, I'm fine. I was just thinking.” “Really about what?” “I bet it's a girl,” Lili said with a sly smile. Her smile quickly faltered as she came to a realization. “Wait. You were looking at me the entire time. What kind of thoughts were you having, exactly?!” “Huh?! No! It's nothing like that! I swear!” “At least I can see you still have your odd sense of humor, Lili,” Bryer said. “That alone proves you're you. At least for now, anyway.” Lili only grinned in response. Zach rubbed his thumb against his cheek in thought before speaking: “Now that I think about it, there was a girl, actually. Back in Blueshire. Right before I entered the Sword Guild, a nice knight lady helped me find my way. I ran into her again today and she...offered to have coffee with me when I got back.” Zach felt his face flush against the cold atmosphere. Why had he brought this up now? It seemed so silly. “Really?” Bryer asked. “In that case we better get you back to her in one piece, huh? But enough reminiscing, right now we have a keep to take.” Zach nodded as he looked at the skull entrance. Crimson Keep was just a short walk away. Inside was the blue gem needed to help Lili save herself, but it would no doubt be filled with various monsters and traps. There was a reason people avoided the keep, but if they were to succeed in this mission then they would have to leap right into the lion's den.

#right write #my writing #writing #fantasy #I'm bringing this back from NaNo #I already wrote the next 3k words #Feels good man #Though the future of the plot worries me a bit #gotta plan more out #blue shift

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