#i am not going to drag this situation out further than this. so dont expect me to.

[gloomforrestrunes]

psa regarding my trans characters

today i received an ask about an "au" that would entail detransitioning laxo, aven, and river, and what the story would be like if the three of them "stayed as their original genders." the asker said they wondered if it would impact the story negatively or positively.

i am not going to reply to this ask publicly since i do not want the asker to be harassed, i believe this was a case of extreme ignorance and not out of genuine malice. that being said, receiving this ask was very upsetting as a trans person myself.

so let me make myself explicitly clear and genuine with my next statement: please treat trans characters normally.

completely erasing an extremely important part of these character's identities for a "what if" scenario is insensitive at best and insulting at worst. just entertaining the idea that the story would be better if they never transitioned is really really tone-deaf and hurtful.

laxo, aven, and river's transness is not a thing that you can just take away. it makes just as little sense as a "what if kane/maya/kenta was actually straight" au. you cant just erase that part of their identity. it is a very important core part of them and even though it doesn't define who they are as people nor what they do, any iteration of them in which they never transitioned isnt actually them.

river is a woman. there is no alternate universe version of river where she is not a woman.

laxo and aven are men. there is no alternate universe version of these two where they aren't men.

just, as a rule of thumb. if you have a question about a character's transness think to yourself "would it be appropriate of me to walk up to a real life trans person and ask them this/something akin to this?" before doing so. if the answer is "no" then, dont! please.

i love being open about these three's transness. i will happily talk about their personal journeys and things like that once i have the time, but once we get into extremely invasive/insensitive questions/hypotheticals like this it becomes a lot less fun for me.

this isn't meant to be snippy or aggressive. i'm just very passionate and protective of my characters, and this is an issue that is very personal to me.

[capcavan]

Hi sorry to bother you but could you elaborate more on how to properly write Riko in general. Like what it would take for him to actually cross that line and get his hands dirty, how he interacts with Tetsuji, and anything else you can think of. All your takes are so interesting!!

pls dont feel sorry if there is one thing that makes me happy is talking about preccious babygirl riko moriyama. Please don't take it as guide or rules in the end every writer and creator will characterize character in their own way and my take on it will higlight my ideas and my preferences trust your ideas and remember that your story might need something else, but feel free to take inspiration from this post if you se it fitting! general ruminations and headcannons about it all from me, if any of them will stand up to you feel free to ask further i will do my best to elaborate:

what would take for riko to cross the line, this is soemthign that would be intimatelly dependant on story you write and reltionships the character form, there is popular post in fandom that goes along the lines ,, there is not such thing as ooc behaviour of character if you find an organic way to explin why they end up actign this way '' the occ part would be expecting canon riko to rape or kill for exmaple this would mean you need to probe and push at his relationship with sexuality or need for power i don't want to focus on giving direct examples since that's something that organically would be plot point in a fanfiction but if raven neil would be rivaling with riko for power in nest in a way no other raven player would ever been able to - neil is direct competition to riko's cruelity and ability to manipulate people - riko might end up going over the line with him , important thing is for me, it would never be somethgin happening early in the rivality, it would be end all means . Riko would not resort to such move unless he saw no other way to proceed or get his way, Riko comiting those acts means he is happy to end up punished for them end in prizon let go of his dreams and future just to bring harm to the person that inconveniences him. I firmly belive that if Riko knew ichirou will shoot him for all the mess he caused durign aftg he would have never done that. So yeah In my view Riko choosing to kill somone is making peace with his own life being ruined. Personally I have anger issues and when they get triggered all i can think of is how much i want to harm others because when I am triggered it feels like the pain and dread i feel are not something anyone else can experience and the only way i could ever be understood and offered help in those moments is if i will bring everyone else down to my level - i think this is how riko's life is, the bottom line is he will not make others hurt more than he is hurting so the worse his situation gets the more he will drag others down Riko's relationship with tetsuji is dreadful thing, Tetsuji in a way is the only reason Riko got to live past his teenge years, tetsuji is his groomer abuser and idol, Tetsuji si riko's god. I think riko is incapable to act out towards him because of crippling fear and need of his approval, because this is how tetsuji raised him. Riko is dog who was beaten by his owner whole life but unlike dog he has enough human conscience to not bite back. Riko will listen and obey to him not because he respects him but because he was raised this way , he was beaten into it , even if riko wanted to disobey tetsuji his body would not listen, submittign to master is in Riko's nature and is hard coded in all cells of his body. but more headcanon route I think it's interestign to consider all the ways why riko might be disgusted by sex, in general his character reads very asexual to me but not in the commonly accepted tumblr way, he just does not seem to have sex drive one would expect of him, and simply uses sex as wepon and punishement .

[a-dragons-journal]

i dont "kin for fun" but through tiktok i found out about the whole kin for fun vs actual otherkin... situation ig? im having a really hard time taking it seriously... maybe im just burnt out and bitter from dealing with the worlds current events, and maybe its because on tiktok the only people i saw mad about it were white people, but you're the most reasonable person ive seen talking about it (a lot of other posts have this odd tone that 12 year olds on tiktok saying kin is the worlds greatest opression and it weirds me out) so ig my question is just... why exactly does this matter? why does it matter enough to post about and care about and not just ignore? /gen

Hey! I don’t blame you for being a bit weirded out by it, we’re a weird subculture and we’re well aware of it! xD I appreciate you taking the time to actually look into it past your first knee-jerk reaction, especially considering burnout and the state of things.

I’m not totally sure if you’re asking why otherkinity matters or why the “kin for fun” being wrong matters, so I’ll answer both - they’re pretty well tied together anyway.

The short version:

Otherkinity is an identity. It’s who we are, we can’t choose to pick it up or put it down, and it comes with struggles - though no, ‘kin are not systematically oppressed (though we are pretty badly bullied and, at this point, pushed out of our own words and spaces).

What people calling roleplay/relating to/projecting onto characters “kinning for fun” does is steal our words, make them meaningless, and in doing so, make it difficult or impossible for us to find each other. If someone says “I kin [x],” I no longer know whether they mean “I am [x] on an intrinsic level” or “haha I relate to this character a lot”. I no longer know whether they actually share my experiences or if they’re going to turn on me and call me “crazy” as soon as they realize I’m not exaggerating or joking or roleplaying. It’s done massive harm to the community as a whole because it’s become difficult to tell whether someone is actually ‘kin or if they’ve misunderstood the whole thing - and because antikin rhetoric, which I’m seeing more and more in KFF spaces, hurts far more when it’s coming from inside what you thought was a community space than when it’s coming from self-labeled “antikin.”

There are other words for roleplaying and relating to and projecting onto characters. Hell, there are words for strongly identifying with-but-not-as characters/things, though usually KFF people don’t even seem serious enough for those to fit in my experience. I’m really not sure why these people are so determined to steal and misuse our words, words that were specifically created to mean something else, when they already have their own and are just refusing to use them. (Or, hell, if you don’t feel like those fit, make your own. We did. It’s your turn to put in the work. (General you, not you-the-anon, of course.))

An analogy, if that still doesn’t quite land for you:

Consider, for a moment, the transgender community. I am aware this is a dangerous thing to say, but bear with me. Obvious CW for hypothetical transphobia up ahead is obvious.

Consider if you were part of the trans community (I don’t know if you are or not), having finally found a word to explain why you feel the way you do about yourself, why your experiences don’t seem to match up with those of everyone else around you. Having found a community, a home, full of other people like you, people you never would have met if not for words like “transgender” and “gender dysphoria/euphoria��� that were created specifically to describe your experiences.

Now consider if people suddenly stumbled across your community for the first time who were not trans themselves. They see community jokes and lighthearted posts out of context, because Tumblr and Twitter aren’t exactly conducive to making sure people find the Transgender 101 information posts first. They don’t bother to do further research, assuming they understand: ah, these people like to crossdress! They like to pretend they’re a different gender! This seems like a fun hobby, I want in!

They begin to post things like this. They post photos of them crossdressing and caption them “hi, I’m [name], and I trans men!” and things of the like. Suddenly the concept of “transing for fun” seems to be everywhere - and it’s not at all what being trans actually is, but these people either don’t know or don’t care. When actual trans people try to politely correct them, they’re accused of “gatekeeping” - and to be clear, this is not “nonbinary people aren’t real,” it’s “transgender means you identify as a gender other than the one you were assigned at birth, and you’re self-identifying as the gender you were assigned at birth 100% and telling us this is just a fun hobby for you, therefore you’re not trans, you’re crossdressing or doing drag or being GNC. That’s fine, but it’s not being trans - you have other words to describe that, use those.”

(Yes, I am aware these things have a history with the trans community - please just ignore that for the sake of the analogy and bear with me on the slightly simplified version of this. “Kinning for fun” does not have that same history with the otherkin community.)

...And then the response to those attempted corrections, in some corners, turns into “wait, you ACTUALLY think you’re another gender? idk that sounds pretty unhealthy, maybe you should see a psychologist or something :\” and “you’re taking this too seriously.”

I imagine, in this hypothetical scenario, you’d also be pretty fuckin peeved.

(Obviously, in this hypothetical scenario, systematic transphobia would be an issue as well, which isn’t the case for otherkin - again, you’re gonna have to bear with me on the simplification for sake of analogy there.)

(EDIT: this is not an anti-MOGAI/exclusionist argument, this is “you’re literally telling me you don’t fit the definition,” explanation on that here)

The long version, which is probably still worth reading if you have the time and energy:

Otherkinity is... pretty core to who I am, who we as a group of individuals are. We live with being otherkin on a daily basis. Many of us spent a long time feeling different and disconnected and not understanding why until we found the otherkin community. Even people like me, who don’t share that experience and still had social connection - I’ve still had to live with weird differences that I had to learn to mask when necessary; instincts that don’t line up with human society well, feeling body parts that weren’t there and that no one else ever seemed to have, things that other kids grew out of because it was just make-believe for them and I... didn’t, because it was never make-believe for me to begin with. Oh, sure, I played make-believe too - I played warrior cats and house and all those things with the other kids, but there were things that weren’t play-pretend for me too. I didn’t have an explanation for it for a long time - it was just how I was, I was weird, and fortunately for me personally I was okay with that (many of those with species dysphoria or more trouble connecting with humans have more problems from that than I did).

And then I found the word “otherkin.” And suddenly everything fell into place, and I had an explanation for the things I’d been experiencing, and there were other people like me. Something I’d assumed didn’t exist. I found others who shared my unique experiences, who were talking about how to cope with the instinct to growl or snap jaws at people instead of expressing annoyance in a human way instead of just saying “that’s weird, don’t do that”, who were talking about dealing with phantom wings and tails, who understood me. I wasn’t weird, I wasn’t broken, I was exactly what one would expect from a dragon living in human skin. I found an explanation for myself. I found a home.

That is why otherkinity matters - it is who we are, it’s not something we can walk away from (certainly not most of us, anyway), and it’s something many of us need the support of the community to help deal with on a daily basis. Being a nonhuman in human society isn’t always easy, but it’s not something we can just magically stop being - it’s core to who we are, we (generally) didn’t choose to be this way, and we (generally) can’t choose to stop. Which is fine - the vast majority of us can cope with it just fine, with a little advice and help and space to be our authentic selves in. We found each other, we built this community from the ground up to make a space and words to make finding each other easier - or possible at all.

Thus we come to the second half of our story.

It was only a couple of years ago that the “kin for fun” trend started getting big. It had existed before that, of course, but it only started going mainstream two, maybe three years ago, from what I can tell. Suddenly people were treating “kin” like it meant relating to, projecting onto, roleplaying as, or just really really liking a character or thing - not being that thing, which is what it actually means. Not long after that, it became hard to tell whether someone saying “I kin this” meant they were that thing, that they were actually part of our community - or that they really really liked that thing and either didn’t know or couldn’t be bothered to learn that that wasn’t the case for us.

Not long after that, it became relatively commonplace to hear phrases like “otherkin are ruining kinning!!” and “you’re taking this too seriously” and “idk, if it’s that serious for you that sounds unhealthy. maybe you should get some help :\” (all directly quoted, or as exactly quoted as I can remember, from things KFF people have said to me or people I know).

It is a special kind of hell, I think, to be told “you’re taking this too seriously, that’s unhealthy” by people who are taking words created to describe your experiences, not theirs, and misusing them to mean something that you do for fun on a weekend instead of something that’s intrinsic to your being.

Perhaps more importantly, like I’ve said, it’s making it almost impossible to know whether someone who says “I kin [x]” is actually ‘kin or if they’re misusing our words to mean something else entirely. The entire point of words is to communicate ideas, and once you start misusing words to mean something totally different than what they actually mean, that communication falls apart and suddenly we might as well not have those words at all. Especially when the community is small enough and obscure enough that we’re starting to be outnumbered by the misinformation. We’re being run out of our own words, words we created to describe our experiences specifically - because we’re a small community that the wider internet can easily drown out by sheer numbers of people who either don’t know any better or don’t care to learn.

That’s the harm it does - the harm it is doing, right now. That’s why it’s important enough to post about. That’s why it matters - because we’re fighting desperately to hang onto our own words so that others like us can actually find us. Because we’re seeing young nonhumans go “this isn’t a kin, I actually am this” and screaming “No, I’m so sorry that this is what the misinformation has done to you, that’s exactly what otherkin means, you have a place here, please don’t let these non-’kin misusing our words drive you away from the very community you’re looking for and that you belong in.” Because we can’t even communicate effectively about our own experiences anymore except in semi-closed spaces like Discord servers and forums (and the number of Discord servers overrun with KFF people is absurd).

......This got very long. Hopefully it at least explained why it matters so much to me and others a bit better ^^; Thanks for hearing me out, and thank you again for looking into this beyond your initial knee-jerk reaction - I really do appreciate it.

(For further reading, if that text wall didn’t blow you out of the water completely, I recommend my “kin for fun” tag, which has more posts like this in both short and long form.)

[akistans]

✰yandere Enhypen.

Hyung line x reader.

Warnings: stalking, Yandere themes, reference to suicidal thoughts, possessiveness, obsession, arranged marriage(ig), death, kidnapping, Jake gives you a hickey, DARK THEMES AHEAD.

This does not represent Enhypen in any way or shape, this is purely fiction. I also don’t support abusive relationships, please seek help if you or a loved one are in that situation.

Requested!

✰ Lee Heeseung.

Play with your Heartstrings.

What started off as romantic quickly became overbearing. Not a single second wasn’t spent with Heeseung by your side, he was just so innocent in your eyes, you didn’t realize how possessive he really was. You didn’t see it as much of a problem until your friends and family started contacting you saying that you blocked their old numbers months ago.

And weirdest part of it all, you don’t recall, if even a reason why, blocking their numbers. You decided to confront him by saying you two needed a break. But Heeseung would always be two steps ahead of you.

“You want a break...? Why? Am i not a good boyfriend? I knew it, maybe i should just disappear, what good am i?” He guilt trips you, which you instantly fall for.

“You-you’ll stay? Really! You’re not like the others Yn! I love you so much!” He brings you into an almost painful hug, smirking to himself at how gullible you are. And little do you know, that would be the last time you’re heard from.

✰ Park Jay.

Infatuation love.

From the moment Jay laid eyes on you in pre school, your fate was already destined. He had to have you, he saved himself just for you. Countless rejections and meaningless names that went with them. He wanted you to be his first everything when came to a relationship.

And of course you were going to save yourself for him as well. The thought of another person having you would make him lose it. So he started rumors about you making sure no one ever looked your way. And if someone as dared to even make conversation with you, they’d be leaving the city in a body bag. When you two came of age, he went to your parents, requesting your hand in marriage.

Jay comes from a very wealthy and influential family, so something like this was practically similar to winning the lottery, your parents couldn’t pas this up. When you heard of the news, you were shocked to see even your own parents sold you out. So you decided to leave the city. Before you could even step a foot out, Jay and his men were already at your door.

“Ah-i see you already packed your bags, i see no need why. I can just buy you new things, it’s been my dream to go shopping with you! How bout we do that during our honeymoon?”

✰ Sim Jake.

Your one and only.

Jake hated your guts, but don’t worry, the feeling was mutual. He hated how you rejected his advances, and you hated that he even had the audacity. He was known as the school flirt, so of course you didn’t want anything to do with him, you were more focused on your studies anyway.

In all honesty, although you were annoying as hell, he liked this little “game” going on between you two. He liked how you provided a little more challenge, he wanted that feeling all to himself.

One day he saw one of his good friends flirting with you and you were just eating it up. His final breaking point was when you caressed his friends arm and stepped closer to him. Something snapped, Jake lost it, and came up to you two. He pinned you against the locker and roughly brought you in for a kiss. His friend got the message and left. You tried your best to pull him off but he wouldn’t let up.

“You think i liked seeing you get all gushy with him just now? Wow. You’re incredibly stupid. But dont worry though, i’ll make sure everyone knows your taken.” He managed to suck an eye catching purple spot onto your collarbone and walked into class with his arm around your waist.

“Maybe this will teach you a lesson.”

✰ Park Sunghoon.

Beneath the mask.

So cute. You were just so cute and easy for the taking. A serial killer appeared in your neighborhood about a year ago, No one knew a single thing about said killer, except that he specifically targeted your university. And might i add, your local police department is doing an “excellent job” in tracking him down.

One thing was clear though, the victim’s bodies would be found weeks later. He left no evidence whatsoever. One day, you started to feel a dark presence around you, as if you were being watched. This carried on for a whole month, you lived far away from home so you couldn’t seek comfort from your family, your friends started to think you were crazy, and the police said they couldn’t help you. Yes, the police said that.

You overslept at the library one day and missed your bus, forcing you to walk home. And that was the fateful day, you were snatched off the street by a masked man. You tried your best to escape, but it was hopless, you begged in tears and asked him who was he. The boy lifted the hoodie and mask off him to reveal a handsome face.

“I’m your new boyfriend, lover, honey, whatever you want to call it, at least until i get bored and decide your no longer worth the trouble. But since you’re so cute, i may just bend the rules this once.” He help up his index finger with a mischievous smile, pinching your cheek as if you were some baby before dragging you away.

By next week Your missing posters would be around town.

Authors note: This honestly turned out darker than i expected;-; I really had some amazing concepts for the hyung lines and it was so hard to say everything for each of them at once so i may elaborate further on each member specifically in the future. I’ll probably do a maknae one in the near future.

But i hope you all enjoyed !

[nolongerwrites]

Hello! So i dont know if you write for him, but would you write a scenario for mori (chuuya if you dont write mori) where someone saw their s/o with another men hugging in town and tells him, but the boy is s/o cousin! Maybe nsfw, a little bit angst but please fluff in the ending? I'm sorry for my english! You ate awesome and u really like your writting, its beautiful!

Babe I write for everyone! And don’t apologize for your english your perfectly fine!

Funny story, a couple of years ago my older brothers ex girlfriend got mad at him for hanging around me. He ended up yelling at her saying we were brother/sister lmao she was so embarrassed 💕

“Maybe we should call the boss?” Tachihara questioned his comerades as they spyed on you from around the corner. You were the bosses wife of several years so naturally it would be questionable to see you with another man. The both of you were out and about in downtown Yokohama spending the afternoon together. The black lizard was supposed to be on a different mission until they spotted you some feet away.

“I mean, their not holding hands or anything so it should be okay right-? He continued. Both gin and tachihara exchanged looks before turning to hirotsu for answers. “Let’s just wait it out. She’s probably just out with a friend,” hirotsu said as he took a drag of his cigarette “I know the bosses wife, and she’s not one to go behind his back.” And so the rest of the afternoon, black lizard followed you and this stranger around.

At first they really did consider hirotsu’s point, then they saw you reach up and hug that man with the biggest smile on your face. They had never seen you act so comfortably around someone other than mori. All three of the members watched in shock as you released him and parted ways. “Can we call him now??” Tachihara said to hirotsu in a angry manner. He nodded before whipping out his phone.

They told mori about the little scene they had just whitenessed that afternoon all the way to the part to when they saw you two hug. “I see, thank you for letting me know. Capture the man and bring him here. I’ll deal with Y/N,” and with that he ended the call. You thought you could sneak around behind his back without him finding out? How foolish of you.

When you finally got home you didn’t expect to see your husband sitting on the sofa with his hands intertwined in front of his face. “Oh hello honey! I didn’t know you were coming home so early, I would have made dinner already-“

“Y/N would you mind coming with me?” He said as he got up and roughly grabbed you by your arm. You stumbled slightly as he yanked you through the front door and basically dragged you to the car. “Mori whats the matter?” You questioned before he quickly took off. His smile never leaving his face.

Many thoughts swam in your head as to what you could have done? Why was he so upset? When you finally made it to the port mafia headquarters, mori once again held a tight grip on your arm and led you to his office. You said nothing in fear of making him any more angry. His smile said it all. He pulled you through the double doors with a hand on your back.

You could barely see anything in front of you. When the doors finally shut, a single light in the middle of the room turned on. And there you saw black lizard standing behind a man blindfolded and strapped to a chair. He thrashed and wailed through the makeshift gag in his mouth. Your eyes widened as you covered your gasp with both hands. Mori cleared his throat before speaking, “thought you could mess around my back and get away with it didn’t you Y/N-“

“Mori!! That’s my cousin!!” You shrieked before running over to your relative and pulled at his bindings. Everyone stood in shock. “C-cousin????” They all yelled in unison. None of them moved to help you, they were too stunned. You whispered softly to the boy in front of you telling him it was going to be okay and that you were so so sorry. As you struggled to cut the rope, gin fumbled around with her blade before helping you cut him loose. You decided to keep him blindfolded so he didn’t see anything he wasn’t supposed to.

Tachihara and hirotsu watched in awe as you held him close to you and led him out the door. Mori only stared and watched you glare in his direction when you walked passed him again. He could see the disgust in your eyes and it made his heart hurt inside his chest. He really messed up this time.

You ended up driving your cousin back home all while apologizing profusely. You explained your situation and what kind of ties you had with the port mafia. That basically traumatized him further so you promised that he would be under your complete protection until this mess was cleaned up. You stayed with your cousin for a little while until you were absolutely sure he was going to be okay then you made your way home.

Mori was waiting for you when you opened the front door again. He ran his hand through his hair as he got up and made his way over to you nervously. Then he locked eyes with you and he remembered the anger and disgust that clouded them earlier today. “Y/N I’m sorry I just-“

“Mori are you serious? You really thought I would actually cheat on you?? Do you really trust me that little?” You blurted out to him before crossing your arms over your chest. Elise even came out from wherever she was before and stood by your side. She looked up at you and copied your posture before facing your husband angrily and sticking her tongue out at him.

He could basically feel the rage radiating from your body. And now Elise was obviously taking your side which made it worse. He dropped his head down and let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry y/n really I am.. I just got so scared that you would leave me. You don’t understand that you mean the world to me and to see you with another man, one I had never seen before at that, didn’t sit with me well.. Will you ever forgive me?”

A moment passed and you didn’t make a move or sound. You kept glaring at him with your arms crossed after a few minutes passed. He gave up. He slumped over the sofa and shoved his face into his hands. You really were mad at him. Then he felt your soft hands caress his cheek in an attempt to make him look up at you. You could see small tears in the corner of his eyes as you rubbed your thumb against his cheek.

“I forgive you as long as you promise to never do something like that again. And please, have a little bit more faith in me. I didn’t marry you for no reason after all,” you said. He nodded his head before pulling you into a tight hug. You giggled slightly and hugged him back. Elise wined and wiggled her way in between the both of you complaining about wanting love too.

“Oh and one more thing,” you said as Elise nuzzled your head underneath your chin. Mori tilted his head in confusion, motioning you to continue. You gazed darkly at him before a sick grin grew on your cheeks.

“I need Gin, tachihara, and hirotsu, to all formally and appropriately apologize to my relative, or I swear on the ground they walk on I will have their heads”

[shuatoyou]

unfortunate situations.

pairing; joshua x idol!reader

genre; angst? fluff? 

warnings; slight mentions of injuries i.e bruising

wc; 2400

if joshua had to pick out one of his biggest enemies in the industry… it would be you.

since the day you two began training together the boy always had an issue with you and it was the same vice versa.

“joshua, when are you and y/n going to get over your petty little fight from literally years ago?” seungcheol asked as you walked past the seventeen boys in the company building waving at them all, joshua glared directly at you making you stop and roll your eyes all the boys awkwardly waited for the tension to pass.

“never.” he spoke with venom in his tone, almost making seungcheol shiver.

you all watched him walk off to the elevator where he got on without making any further eye contact and everyone quickly turned back to you giving you sympathetic looks but you couldn't care less.

what had happened in the past to bring you guys to this point was actually pretty easy to explain, during your trainee days with seventeen and your own group you had accidentally let out a laugh while joshua performed for his progress check, the boy had gotten angry at you for teasing him however what he didn't know was you were not actually laughing at him, and at your group mate for telling you she forgot her lines.

joshua refused to listen no matter how many times the boys had told him the actual story, he wasn't ready to let go of his grudge nor his pride so due to this the two of you swore to be enemies for as long as time even if it meant the two groups would suffer along with their members.

you sulked your way back to the dorms, you hated how he always singled you out like that and gave you dirty looks.

“at least i have the mind to not do any of that when others are around.” you mutter to yourself as you open the door taking out your frustration on it when you slam the door.

“y/n is that you?” calls out your leader, mira.

“yep.” you call back out in response making your way to your room and flopping onto your bed face first.

“whats wrong?” she asks, picking up the bag you had dropped by the doorway, a motherly instinct from her because she was always cleaning up behind you.

“take a guess” 

“joshua?” 

“don't even say that demon's name.” you moan making her chuckle.

“well whatever it is, don't worry about it. now come, we ordered food. let's have a night for ourselves and some movies.

you get up at her words deciding to join them instead of sulking in your room all alone

“i'll be down in a sec” you notify her, taking a the moment to rub off your makeup and get into comfier clothes.

throughout the movie, you find yourself occasionally thinking of joshua and you sit there puzzled on why he was running through your mind like crazy, you groan holding your head in your hands causing everyone to divert their attention from the movie to you.

“is everything okay y/n?”

“why won't he just leave me alone.” you rant and everyone stares at you with wide eyes before bursting out into laughter.

“is this seriously what you're thinking about during a movie night?” they ask. you end up looking at them all with a pained look.

“well.” one of your members drag on teasingly.

“why are you even thinking about someone you hate so much?”

“its cause i hate him so much... duh?”

“i dont think thats how hate works, y/n” she chuckles, throwing a fry at you to annoy you even further, you were ready to throw one back but the ringing of the door bell spooked you all.

“i’ll get it” you stood up to walk to the door and check through the peephole to make sure it wasn't a dangerous stranger however the person you catch a glimpse of makes you roll your eyes.

“what do you want” you spit once the door is opened and joshua is standing in front of you, much closer than you would like.

“you could be a bit nicer” he says with the same sarcasm he always uses when speaking to you.

“i could but it's you so no i don't think i will.” you fake smile to annoy him and it works because he screws up his face with furrowed brows.

“okay whatever, can you tell your leader to come here? i have to tell her something.”

“what is it?”

“well i'm not going to tell you because frankly i don't want to talk to you any further.” he sighs, leaning on the door frame.

“mmm, well you’re not exactly fun either so just tell me and i’ll pass on the message, mr hong.” you mimic his actions and lean on the door frame also.

he pushes himself off the door frame as you do that, “just tell her to come to practice room four at ten am.” with that the boy turns around and walks away.

you watch him leave, confused on why he would want to meet your leader so early, your thinking comes to an end when a voice interrupts the questions running through your mind.

“who was it y/n?” mira asks as she approaches you in the hallway.

“joshua, he said meet him in practice room four at 10” you tell her nonchalantly before going to your room instead of the living room to continue your movie night with the excuse of being worn out from the day.

everyone nods and a series of goodnights are said as you close your door and tuck yourself away into your bed for the night while wishing your thoughts would shut up and stop thinking about the boy you were supposed to hate.

the next day began later than usual for you, barely managing to get yourself out of bed by noon you waddled over to your bathroom and got into comfy clothes you could live in for the day.

since there wasn't any official schedule today, you were originally planning on grabbing one of the performance team members (most likely soonyoung because you guys were the closest) and having a dance session. thankfully he agreed to meet you in an hour and you now had an hour to spare all alone in the company somewhere.

you booked out the practice room at the front desk and skipped over happily to it, opening the door you expected to be met with your own reflection in the mirrors but instead were met with joshua sat in the corner wincing as he held his ankle and you immediately assumed he was in pain.

your eyes widened for a second as you thought about whether you should help, not that you wouldn't but it was him and you were scared of his reaction. despite making up the cons in your head you still rushed over to him making him glance up but once he realised who you were his face somehow relaxed more but the pain was still evident in the way he scrunched up his face.

“what did you do?” you ask kneeling beside him trying to remove his hands from his ankle which was very red and bruised.

“i don't know, must've strained it” he hissed in pain and it only made you worry more.

“oh god, do i call someone?” you look around in panic wishing someone would coincidentally come in and show you the way in this situation.

“no shit y/n, call for one the boys. my phones in my bag over there.”

you nod and swiftly make your way over to the bag, browsing through it until you find joshua's phone and return back beside him.

“what's your password?”

“my birthday” he answers and you quickly type away the digits of the said day pressing the first contact you see which belongs to jun.

unfortunately jun tells you he and the other boys are currently not at the company which makes you wonder how comes since you were meant to meet soonyoung in the first place. nevertheless you sigh trying to explain how joshua was injured.

“try getting him up to our dorms, i'll call our manager over and make my own way.”

you looked at joshua with pity explaining the situation and he nodded immediately trying to stand up off the floor but you stopped him immediately.

“you can't just put all that pressure on your foot!” you emphasise causing joshua to look at you in confusion. you look for something before turning back to him. “here it's the closest thing i have to ice right now if it’s helpful” you offer your ice cold bottle of water you had prepared for one of your breaks, he hesitantly accepts it giving you a slight nod through the pain as a thank you.

“we’ll wait for a moment then i’ll help you back to your dorm.” you offer, relaxing for a bit as the exhaustion from all the previous panicking sets in.

“you know you don't need to do all this, i can just call my manager.”

“it's fine, i'd much rather be sure you’re okay” you blurt out without realising until joshua looks at you, his gaze softened but you refused to meet his eyes so you were unknown to this.

“i'm meant to hate you, stop making my job harder than it already is.” he jokes with an awkward laugh, but the words seem to directly go to your heart because it starts thumping and it takes you everything not to bring your hand up to your chest in case he realises.

“really? you make it seem pretty easy either way” you retort, thinking back to all the times he’d react badly at everything you did even if it was unprovoked.

“does it bother you?” he asked with a genuine tone, making you turn to him.

“sometimes, i feel like it bothers me less because i channel a ton of hate towards you now.” you admit with some shame.

he hums, not answering anymore, instead he gives back the water bottle and attempts to stand up one more time only this time succeeding since you didnt stop him.

“i think i'm okay to go now,” he smiles forcefully.

you were puzzled but refused to think much of it, you were sick of him occupying your thoughts more than he needed to.

joshua held onto you the entire way, after all you had offered to help before and this counted as helping. he looked down at you a few times feeling bad you were struggling to carry his weight. you paid no mind to his frequent looks especially as you struggle to divert your conscious from the fact he was closer to you than he had been in years.

it was a weird sight to see and thankfully only seungkwan and dokyeom watched from afar as their two friends walked back up to their dorms.

“i know i didn't just see y/n helping joshua.'' seungkwan gasps, hitting seokmin to make him look over at the two who only stare in shock.

you never expected to stay longer than maybe ten minutes helping joshua adjust and find comfort till everyone else came home.

maybe it was the fact you decided to prepare a quick fix of ramen for the two of you as you spoke about your worst encounters with the boy, dare you say the two of you bonded for the first time ever as joshua spread his legs onto the coffee table and you sat near him on the couch.

“honestly i think i was more afraid of ruining my pride that's why” joshua confesses while bursting into a laughing fit.

“you made my life hell for so long honestly even seungcheol was worried” you laugh along with him.

“okay but you weren't any better y/n.”

“you deserved it.” you subtly remind him after all he was the one who started this enemy thing between you two.

“mmm, i did. i'm sorry.” he goes quieter at the apology and for a moment you both lock eyes in silence.

“do you mean that?” you mutter, playing around with your ramen. you were nervous to hear his next few words and started regretting the fact you had sat right beside him on the couch with just a pillow separating you two.

“why not. i'm tired of acting like im so angry at you when in reality i just want to get to know you again and stop with this whole enemy act.'' joshua runs his hand through his hair just as you look up, a simple act that you never realised how effective it was.

“i’d like that too.” you smile, setting down your plate of food. for the first time in ages a genuine smile directed to the boy as you both resolve your issues.

“FINALLY!” seungkwan runs in shouting with seokmin yelling close behind him and you jump in fear and at the sigh of them.

“thank fuck i dont have to listen to another argument ever again.” seungkwan breathes out.

“where did you two even come out from?”

“oh my sweet joshua, it's 2020 we can teleport now.” seokmin states in a matter-of factly way and seungkwan agrees with the boy, nodding enthusiastically.

joshua laughs at them two while you’re still trying to recover from the moment with him and from the scare.

“okay… well i'm gonna go back to the company.” you stand up stretching, hoping to conclude the day with a dance practice session.

“where are you going?” joshua asks and the two other boys look at you just as curious.

“well, i wanted to practice which was what i intended to do in the first place” you think for a second before continuing...

“with soonyoung actually does anyone know where he is?” you wonder, mostly questioning the two members of booseoksoon.

“we know nothing dont look at us.” seungkwan puts his hands up surrendering.

“now that you mention it, I was meant to meet mira too...” joshua pipes in

“hmm weird.” you mumble.

“anyways im going to go now, feel better!” you beamed towards Joshua, as well as not forgetting to wave a ‘bye’ at the other two.

you walked over to the practice rooms feeling giddy at no particular thing but it was obvious you were happy about being on good terms with joshua.

“speak of the devil” you thought to yourself as you opened your phone to a text from the unknown number that you were sure had gotten yours from seungkwan.

‘can i treat you to dinner on a day where both my legs are perfectly functional?’

your cheeks go red at the sight of the message as you type an obvious answer back.

‘of course.’

[angstymdzsthoughts]

Jiang assasination attempt AU.

“It’s okay , I can be replaced if I die. But if Uncle Jiang or Jiang Cheng…” his hands were trembling. Eyes full of hostility and taunts from the guests but none faze him at the slightest. But oh, the fury from madam Yu’s eyes due to his actions. His eyes darted to Jiang Cheng , the said boy was angry. He took a breath and drink the wine.

xx

It was a rare occasion for an envoy of Meishan Yu to visit the Yunmeng Jiang ,but among them were distant cousins of Yu ZiYuan. They were on their way back from a funeral few towns away and decided to drop by for a few days. The night of their arrival ,a grand dinner was hosted as a courtesy to the guests.

Wei Ying came up beside Jiang Cheng, “Something is off ,I don’t trust them.”

Jiang Cheng turned to him with a crocked eyebrow , “Don’t talk nonsense. You said the same thing this morning.”

Wei Ying bit his lip hard and huffed “First of all, the envoy brought a dog with them! Two dogs! so I was right but-“ Jiang Cheng abruptly shushed him as they entered the dining hall.

Wei WuXian may have short term memory but as a head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang ,he trained himself to have sharp instincts. He knew better than to ignore his guts ,so when the guests arrived for the dinner and presented a bottle of wine to Uncle Jiang ,his instincts screamed wrong !

“This wine is rare and very fine delicacy. We presented this for both of you and your son to ensure prosperity for YunMeng Jiang Sect under both of your rule” said the head of the envoy that smells of strong perfume ,Wei Ying decided to call him perfume for now. “Thank you for your consideration. We appreciate this.” “This wine is best drink as a toast , Master Jiang. I can ensure the after taste will warm your heart and stomach. You will have a good sleep tonight”.

To reject an invitation to drink is a rude gesture so Jiang FengMian nodded to the servants to fetch the wine and serve in a wine glass.

“Wait!” Wei Ying couldn’t himself, the words were tumbling from his mouth before he could stop them.

The entire hall all turned at the same time ,but Wei Ying was too preoccupied crossing the hall and snatching the bottle away from Perfume.

“What is this? Is YunMeng Jiang is that low to let the head disciple to interrupt the toast to the Head Sect? And I heard you were only a son of a servant. What are you implying by snatching the present away and humiliating us?” Perfume bellowed angrily.

“Wei Ying!! What are you doing ?!” roared Madam Yu.

“This disciple thinks that it’s not safe to hastily drink a wine from an unknown source. It may be poisoned.”

Another representative stood up , “This is absolutely outrageous! You accuse us of poisoning the wine ? What could we possibly get by doing that to our distant family ?! Yu Ziyuan ,are you letting this boy accusing us and straining our blood relationship?”

“I am not accusing! I’m just making sure-“

“Shut your trap ,Wei Ying. I’m sorry for his display, Yu Yan. I will have him escorted back to his room and punished accordingly.” glared Yu ZiYuan. Jiang FengMian take a seat back and sigh heavily. He nodded at the guards to take Wei Ying back to his room.

Wei Ying was angry now. The servants tried to take the bottle from him and he evaded them, bumping into Jiang Yanli who had made her way over as well. “A-Xian” , she put a hand on his back. He locked eyes with Jiang Cheng in crowd and saw the utter humiliation in his face.

“Then ,it’s fine if I took a sip to ensure that there’s nothing right?”

“Wei Ying ! Out of the hall, now !”

“That’s okay ZiYuan. Let that boy do what he wants. I expect formal apology and punishment if he was wrong, though.” giggles and taunts heard from the guests.

xx

That’s how Wei Ying ended up in the situation. Shaking hands holding the empty cup. Throat hot from the wine. Tasty but bitter.

The hall was silent.

And nothing. Stupid. He just put himself to doom. But his instinct was saying otherwise. Not yet.

“Are you satisfied now? Give the bottle to the servants and get out. Expect heavy punishment from me tomorrow morning.” dismissed Yu Ziyuan.

Before the servant could grab the bottle ,he took large sips of the wine directly from the bottle. Then he dropped the bottle to the floor followed by sound of the bottle smashed to pieces and gasps of horror from the audience.

Wei Ying dropped to his knees ,“This one apologises ! My finger slipped. I’m really sorry for wasting such fine wine. Please, our sect also have good wine. I will issue a formal apology tomorrow morning.”

He should not have expecting that it will go smoothly.

He should have expected that Madam Yu will step out her seat and slapped the hell out of him.

He should have expected that the guards will physically dragged him to his room , cheek stinging, Shijie and Jiang Cheng staying in the hall.

He should have expected to be locked in his own room.

Oh well , you reap what you sowed. And he started writing the formal apology.

xx

After the chaos in the hall and watching A-Xian dragged away by the guards, Yanli was restless. Mother was furious and surely will punish her brother heavily. The dinner resumed with a toast for both father and A-Cheng with another wine provided by the sect. After 3 agonising hours of the awkward dinner, all guests were dismissed.

Her parents retired early to discuss (fighting?) about the incident regarding A-Xian. As the servants cleaning up the hall , Yanli took a tray of left over food to bring to A-Xian with a grumbling Jiang Cheng.

“What the hell is his problem? A-jie, he embarrassed A-Niang’s distant family. This is so humiliating.”

“I don’t know, let’s hear his explanation first ok? He must be hungry.”

“Before he explain , I’m going to break his legs first!’

Upon reaching Wei Ying’s room ,they knocked the door and waited. Silent . Is he asleep? Until they heard a crash from his room ,Jiang Cheng kicked the door open.

“Wei WuXian!!!”

The teenager was convulsing on the floor ,blood trickled from his nose , mouth and ears. Eyes bloodshot and pupils dilated. Jiang Cheng kneeled beside him to inspect him ; “He’s under qi deviation! Call for help , hurry A-jie!” and Jiang Yanli runs for help.

Wei Ying suddenly shouts in agony, writhing in pain. Jiang Cheng held both of his jerking arms to ensure he did not hurt himself further.

What happened? Is it really poison? The wine? Was he right after all? But why ???

Don’t die Wei Ying , please dont’ die. I’m sorry dont die dont die dont die I should have believe in you don’t die dont die

Cold clammy hands were taken away from his grip ,it was taken away by the sect’s healer. He didn’t realise that the elder man has arrived. His father and two healers carried Wei Ying to his bed ,and before he could join them , a person dragged him outside. He fought back and the tunnel vision is narrowing and darker.

He didn’t realised that he was hyperventilating until he was embraced by his mother. His sister on his other side - crying.

“A-Niang, what should we do? What if he died? What do we do?” he wailed like a new born baby. Can his brother survive this? What if he was crippled due to the qi deviation? The wine initially was for him and his father, he was glad they didn’t fall to the trap but he never wanted his brother to pay for the expense. That foolish brother is too selfless. If Wei Ying didn’t survive - no no no NO ! Mother comforted him but deep inside he could not held back the resentment he felt towards her family. How dare they !

“Madam !The guest room is empty ! They’re gone !” a guard reported.

“A-Cheng , stay with your sister. Leave Wei Ying with the healers. I won’t let them get away with this. ”

Jiang Cheng was about to debate until a shrill scream interrupted them from Wei Ying’s room.

Yanli sobbed , “Oh A-Xian” and clasped her hand, praying .

He watched his mother departed with a group of disciples to pursue the criminals.

He sat down , praying with his sister.

-b

did he survive ? thats up to your imagination ;)

[earthendandinbetween]

I’m so rusty at writing and also it’s 3 am so I dont know what kind of quality to expect here.

I wanted to write a lot of dialogue sooo I picked out the moment when Gong decided to talk to Kuwagattan before the ambush in pp2 in Calle’s timeline. Taken kind of in a middle part of the situation.  I uhhhhhhh hope you like this very rusty ass writing.

“...Thank you, for agreeing to have a peaceful conversation,” Although his words were sincere, every word and movement felt….stilted. Performative.

General Gong shook his head slightly, watching carefully as the much larger dekapon took a step forwards. This, this didn’t feel right. They weren’t supposed to be on opposite sides like this, not at all. This--- The zigoton sighed inwardly. He felt responsible, of course he did. If he hadn’t died then none of this ever would’ve happened.

He came here for closure. That’s all. There’s no changing the past.

“Cut the formalities,” The voice of the akumapon general was jarring. It held so much familiarity to it and yet, there was such malice behind the tone. A venom to it that made him more of a stranger than before, “I’m not here to play nice. I’m merely humoring you before I tear those patapons apart.”

Of course. He couldn’t expect a politeness back. That was still a familiar facet to the other general, something he held even in the past. With the gleam off the green decals of his hammer, Gong gripped his own scythe a little tighter. He’d need to be quick. You cannot expect peace for very long, especially around an enemy.

“I understand,” More-so than he was going to state of course, “General erm...Kuwagattan. I merely wanted to ask a question.”

‘For my own sake’ was an addition he best felt left out of the equation.

It was almost difficult to judge Kuwagattan’s emotions, but there were very clear details he failed to hide away. A quirk of the brow as his expression changed to a more amused one. A glance to the side. He was thinking. But what about was much, much harder to gauge.

“A question?” The akumapon almost chuckled, a hint of annoyance still very clear, “You discover an ambush for your ally, cross enemy lines...All for a question? That’s...very you.”

He was taken aback by the statement. This was clearly bait to get under his skin, something he shouldn’t pay any mind to….And yet. The curiosity ate at him.

To Gong this wasn’t merely an enemy. He wouldn’t normally bother with such, unless he felt a truce or alternative could truly be made. This was unusual behavior of himself, thus it made the statement much more odd.

“What do you mean?” The general silently cursed himself for falling for it in the end. But, this was most likely the last time he would ever see the other. He wanted at least a few answers, even if brief or only half of the truth. Just to put this all to rest.

Kuwagattan’s eye further creased in amusement and he resisted the urge to glare, to react at all. Now wasn’t the time for petty fits or clashes. He’d learned well to remain patient.

“Heh. A Queen’s lapdog who instead of hunting down an enemy and cutting them down on-sight decides to commit to some useless honor code, who looks for some other solution in his plans before going to attack,” The akumapon’s pupil shrunk into a much smaller slit, voice half on the verge of laughter and half on rage, “Someone who learns of an ambush and instead of fighting back decides to pull--- whatever this is. Someone weak. Pathetic. Need I go on?”

“...It is not weak to seek a separate route,” Gong tried to loosen the vice-like grip on his scythe as he continued, “It is not pathetic to try to communicate with one who was once an ally.”

A resounding, yet dull thud echo’d in the crater momentarily. The zigoton stiffened, watching carefully as the other general had lowered his hammer, opting to lean against it. His expression had changed drastically. The anger and borderline hatred wasn’t concealed anymore. It was very clear that these statements were not welcome ones.

Gong wished he could blame him.

“So that’s what this is really about,” The utter venom that dripped from the low chuckle was enough to sting, enough to raise the guilt further, “You want to talk me out of what I’m doing. Bring me back and place me right back to where I was before.”

Gong took several steps back, eyeing the akumapon as he begun to circle, grumbling and increasing the grip on his weapon with every step and word as it dragged across the dirt.

“You want me to return to being Kharma’s pawn? That’s funny...Last I checked, I don’t answer to her anymore. So you can leave and tell your precious Queen that you failed. Again and again.”

There was something odd about the behavior. The hatred was very clear in his voice, but Gong could still pick up on something hidden underneath the tough facade. Hurt.

“This has nothing to do with her,” He kept his voice steady, calm, “I came here of my own will.”

“And why is that? You know we’re enemies. What are you gaining here? To try and make me feel bad for joining an army more powerful than yours? To make me regret embracing this form?”

“No.” The zigoton sighed heavily, “I’m not here to convince you to join me. I came here for a selfish reason, that much I can admit. I only wished---...To apologize. For all of this.”

The heavy footsteps that had been circling him paused. A look of confusion, hurt, and that ever venomous rage that seemed to dull at the words had taken over Kuwagattan’s features. This clearly, was something he had never been told before. At least, not like this. An apology was enough to stun him.

“...What?” his voice was much, much softer than the incredibly gruff voice he had taken before. One simple questioning word followed by an unnatural pause in the conversation.

“General Kuwagattan,” the zigoton steeled himself slightly, this whole ordeal had gotten so far out of his control, “I have made peace with Kharma. With General Spiderton. With the others who were still alive and had their souls unfairly taken. I feel--- although I know no matter what I did it would not have changed the pact--- I do feel responsible for not being able to stop it.”

Unnatural quiet. He expected a response, an interruption. Perhaps even an attack, but nothing came.

“...I am truly sorry, Beetleton.”

A moment of recognition in the other’s eye, an almost understanding look--- and then that moment of calm was gone, replaced with a furrowed brow, a shove of the hammer, a glare.

“Do not ever refer to me by that name,” Kuwagattan practically hissed, “That form of me is long gone, with all its weakness and mediocrity. That is not my name. You think that any of this matters? That I’m going to leave those pathetic cowards be? That-”

“Are you happy here?”

Another uncomfortable silence in the dark night of the crater hit. He felt like he was being dared to speak again by the utter taken aback look the other had given. Gong hadn’t meant to cut the other general off, but the question he had truly come to ask had been eating away the entire time. He needed to know.

“That’s it. That’s the question I had.”

“Wh...Why do---” the akumapon shook his head roughly, his voice lacking the bite it had much earlier in the conversation, “What kind of a stupid question is that?”

“...You are still a zigoton,” Gong replied, softer than intended, “Though we may be on different sides now, I still want to be sure that this--- This is truly what you want.”

“You’re a fool, Gong,” Came back the bitter response, though the venom seemed to be draining further with each word, sinking further into confusion, hurt, uncertainty, “This strength is all I have ever wanted, all I ever had. I owe it to Dark Hoshipon to show it off and gain revenge against those stupid circles.”

Strength. Always back to strength. The constant need to prove himself to somebody else. Being turned into a pawn yet again with no care to what happens afterwards. Gong forcefully held his tongue. Cursing his new leader could only result in a worse scuffle here. Gods forbid it turned into a full fight.

“I understand. You wished for strength, you gained such, and now you serve a new leader,” It only took a moment to think of his next words, “That. That does not answer my question, Kuwagattan.”

“What are you looking for, then? I gave you what you wanted. I’m glad to serve Dark Hoshipon in exchange for the power I’ve been given.”

“Tell me then. Is this what you believe in?”

There were clear cracks in the akumapon’s facade now, more and more of his true thoughts coming through as the conversation continued. This….wasn’t expected. However, Gong was willing to take advantage of the situation. Perhaps, prevent the general from dying once more. The quiet, almost shocked demeanor of Kuwagattan gave the zigoton another opportunity to speak.

“You do not wish to be a pawn again. Therefore it’s only fair to ask you. Do you want to fight for this? To destroy everything alongside that star? Is it what you truly believe in?”

“I-” The rage died off in the akumapon’s throat, replaced with a low, almost whimper-like sound of frustration and pain. He was breaking, “...What does it matter, anyways?”

“It matters because there’s a choice,” Gong kept his tone firm, “You do not have to be a pawn to another leader who wishes to achieve a goal with no worry for the consequences. You, Kuwagattan, can leave. You can find something you really believe in. Something worth that time.”

The hammer fell to the dirt, replaced with balled fists and a gaze that refused to meet his own.

“...If you’re so wise about all this,” the akumapon’s voice was more like a hoarse croak now, holding back appearing weaker, even for a moment, “Then, what is there to believe in?”

The question had taken him a moment to process. A vulnerable, honest sentence. Something sincere that wasn’t hidden behind pretending that he was better than such a fear.

“I cannot tell you what to believe in, or what to fight for,” the zigoton general dipped his head down, “That’s not for me to decide. If you choose to leave this charade behind, to abandon your leader, you can find out for yourself. There is a lot to fight for in this world, a lot to care about. That much I can promise you.”

Gong watched as Kuwagattan’s gaze led upwards to the night sky, something almost contemplative about it all. Something much, much more vulnerable. Very strange.

“A lot to fight for, huh?” There was a complete lack of rage, a complete 180 from the personality he had been clinging to before. This was so much more different. Calm, collected, “I’ve seen a lot of fights, but I don’t think I’ve ever believed in the cause. Not truly. This is all I have.”

“...It doesn’t have to be,” he held back the urge to offer the other a hand, “You can go at anytime, and find something better out there.”

“And if there’s nothing out there?”

“Then,” The zigoton leader cleared his throat, “Then you find me. You are still a zigoton general, a good warrior. I would be glad to help.”

“...I had considered running away before,” The much gentler tone was still deeply unusual. Had his words really worn away the akumapon this much? “It just never seemed to make sense.”

“It’s up to you. If you want to stay, or leave. It’s not weak to decide this isn’t worth fighting for.”

The eye contact was a wordless form of recognition. The fear of weakness. The confusion of it all.

“...I’m still going to face them,” Kuwagattan finally spoke up after a moment, “I feel like--- It will decide for me, that fight.”

Of course. The goal of the night was never to stop the attempted ambush. He couldn’t expect it all to be called off, to suddenly be allies, or friends. He just wanted this simple closure. To know his apology was heard, even if not accepted.

“I understand,” Gong gave a respectful bow, “Warriors are born to fight.”

“...You’re going to warn them.”

The statement took a moment to realize the context. The ambush. His discovery of it.

“Ah. Yes, of course. The patapons are an ally of the zigotons. It would be wrong not to warn them of the attack you had planned.”

“...I will prepare accordingly.”

“I am sure you will,” It was clear the conversation had gone as far as it could, with the end approaching  quite quickly, “I shall be on my way.”

A grunt of acknowledgment signaled the general that it was over, his presence was no longer needed. He could only hope, with the strange, strange mind Kuwagattan had always been known for in the past,  that perhaps his words had truly made an impact. A senseless death of one that he still saw as an equal...It would be unfortunate. The quiet chirping of insects were both welcome and strange after everything that had occurred as he stepped around the rocky terrain of the Babaran Crater. Had he done the right thing? Said the right words?

“General Gong?”

The gruff voice almost caught the zigoton off guard, causing him to jolt before turning slightly to look behind himself. The other held an almost ‘smile’ with his eye, a strange, almost understanding one. Quietly, Gong motioned for him to continue his words, a mixture of uncertainty and hope gripping him.

“...Perhaps we will meet again soon.”

And with the statement, Kuwagattan had disappeared off into the darkness opposite of himself, leaving the general to consider what he had meant alone.

It’s funny, how differently things play out compared to one’s thoughts. Meet again soon...

“I certainly hope so.”

[the-eve-of-lies]

Changbin as A Boyfriend For Hire

•A lot of guys turned you down as soon as you confessed and now you are getting worried.

•Weren't you pretty or interesting enough? Were you too awkward? Such insecurities plagued your mind.

• You're getting older but you dont even have a long-term boyfriend let alone a date.

•Such a hopeless romantic queen you are.

•Devastated, you resorted to bar-hopping and in one one partocular bar, you met the most peculiar guy ever.

•Of course, you're not one to judge. You've never had a boyfriend so perhaps you're the peculiar one here?

•Upon entering the bar and chilling for several minutes, you saw a guy drinking alone so you decided to approach him.

•Wow, geyting desperate are we?

• You asked him out so fast. Normally, if you were sober, you'd hesitate and just back off but alcohol made you bold and all shyness and sane thoughts got drowned by your drink earlier.

•So, here we go!

•You were used to being turned down immediately that when you asked him out and he replied with a mumbled, "Yeah, sure," you were dumbfounded.

•"I'm sorry?"

•"You said you wanted to ask me out and I agreed."

•You chugged water from the sink after that and returned to him with a wet top but you didn't mind because the guy actually said yes to you?!

•Further talking proved that he did accept your proposal but had a condition: you were to download the 'boyfriend for hire' application to hire him.

•Ah, so it wasn't about genuine feelings for you. It was all about the money, huh?

•You felt weird for hiring a boyfriend since you wanted a real one but this is better than nothing, you supposed. You can't complain. He is a hottie.

•You filled out all sorts of boxes and information regarding the boyfriend you were supposed to hire and he helped you through it—you wouldn't call it helping but he did mumble the right choices for you to choose.

•And as expected, the email that popped out contained the info of the man beside you.

•His name's Seo Changbin. Is he really qualified as a boyfriend when he didn't even introduce himself in the first place? But then again, you just pounced on him like that.

•'The poor man must be uncomfortable,' you thought, 'I would be, too.'

•The date was only for a few hours so you've got to consume the hours as best as you could.

•But he wasn't helping and you were forced to drag him around the city, pointing at beautiful decorations and whatnot but not even getting an awed response from him.

•It felt like a one-sided date to be honest and it irked you...

•He acted all boring, not giving a damn but when you said that you really were serious and ended up crying, he felt guilty.

•Realizing that he was probably your first date and first boyfriend, he understood why you cried. And he even acted nonchalant at that!

•That was the facade he had to put up as a boyfriend for hire according to the managers. Women love cold and hard-to-get man.

•But you were different.

•He started to do aegyo and childish stuffs to cheer you up and thus; making you happy again.

•He brought you to the places you wanted to go, offered his opinions, became talkative which made the date a huge success—not a waste of time and money and especially, effort.

•You really had fun and it was time to part ways.

•You told him that you pay with your card later when you arrived home because you didn't get to pay earlier due to the situation being rushed.

• Unexpectedly he gets you a cab and made you go home but you were baffled when he entered the cab with you.

•"Do you...live in the same neighborhood as mine?" you asked him.

•He shook his head no.

•You were confused since the date ended so why would he ride a cab with you?

•Did you do something wrong? Was he making sure you really would pay as soon as you returned home?

•He then countered with, "Why? Am I not allowed to take you home? I'm your boyfriend, aren't I?"

•Bro what

•He asked for your phone a minute after you stopped functioning.

•You handed it to him while forcing your jaw to shut.

•He declined the payment, typing out a 'not-satisfactory' when the app asked why and uninstalled it.

•Which gave you your answer.

•He was doing this for real.

•Seo Changbin is now, officially, without a doubt, your first, real boyfriend.

•And you kissed because why the hell not?

-Admin Ri 🌹

[scummy-writes]

I'm very sorry, my dear. I just went over the rules and I find them to be more than fair. With that said, I would like to request the same badassMC, but just with Theo, Arthur and Isaac, please. You needn't rush to complete it, I can wait for as long as necessary. The reason I ask, is because I get the feeling that the IkeVamp boys are used to women who will take whatever lying down, so I wanted to give them a wake up call. Thank you and I wish you a good day or evening. BettyJ

Aaa its okay, dont worry!! Thank you for being kind!

---

Theo:

When he brought you along to this meeting, he didn’t expect the Académie to stalk the two of you for so long.

Thankfully, you didn’t panic when he discreetly mentioned it to you, trying to keep the man behind the two of you unaware. But, the situation shifted pretty quickly. After a few turns through random alleys didn’t lose the man, Theo had to tug you into a sprint when he noticed the man pulling something from his jacket.

Honestly, Theo was at a loss at first, dragging you through the town while ideas of how to make it back home in one piece flew through his thoughts. It took him a bit for him to register you dragging him for a moment, ducking near where some carriage horses rested.

“Theo, you have to trust me on this one, okay?”

It didn’t seem to matter what curses flew out of his mouth. You ignored him, grasping the slit on your dress and tugging, ripping it further up your leg before-

Before getting deftly getting the horse free from the carriage stable and climbing on.

Everything from that point was a blur, and Wildly uncomfortable, but none of that registered until the two of you made it a safe distance away. And...He wasn’t sure what to say. Especially after having to cling to you for so long as you directed the horse.

“Gods, I know you said the Académie wanted to put a bullet in you, but I thought you were joking!” You joined him getting off, seemingly using the horse as support as you chatted. “I’m glad we managed to get away…”

On a horse…

There wasn’t much he could say, and in fact he was still a bit shocked from the situation. Who knew you would save him like that… He knew Arthur was worried about your strength, and Theo argued against that constantly, but he hadn’t expected that-

“Theo, do you think Le Comte is going to get upset over me ripping the dress- Hey!”

He lightly knocked your head with a huff. “That’s what you’re worried about?”

You crossed your arms with a pout, and all Theo could think of was How in the world had you managed that?

As the two of you figured out a way home, he finally managed to mumble out a thanks.

“You were...impressive, Hondje.”

He had a hard time looking at you without feeling flustered, but the smirk he caught told him that you were well aware of that.

Arthot:

Honestly, when he first saw you sitting in the bar, cards in your hand with a focused expression, he was shocked.

Firstly, you were in a bar? Alone? Assumedly you came into town with someone, but at the moment you were alone, and the sun was already setting.

He prepped himself to intervene, but when he stepped closer-

"Hah! I win!"

Groans around you accompanied your exclamation, and Arthur paused.

You won? He could see you being good at cards, but last he knew, the two men you were going against were a crafty bunch.

Walking up, he tries to casually greet you, and he notices the way you try to cut the conversation short.

"Oh! Arthur, I didn't know you'd be here to get me so soon!"

Its easy to play along, and soon enough the two of you are walking out with what you had wagered.

When the two of you are a ways off from the bar, you end up stopping and letting out a huge sigh of relief.

"Mc?"

"Good God, Arthur, I have no idea how I got out of that!"

He considers a quip about luck, but then he sees you tug a card from your sleeve, then two- oh.

"You cheated?"

"Oh, don't get all holier-than-thou on me, you know the prices they try to charge me? Just because I'm a woman? But Gods, that nearly killed my nerves! It's been ages since I've done that…"

He can't help but laugh. The way you're fussing about and huffing, all while clutching the coffee bean bags to your chest, and soon enough you're laughing along with him

After an initial smack to the arm, that is

Once he sees you off to the carriage, he starts walking back into town, realizing how he was mistaken on your strength.

That, and how you'd probably make for a fun opponent in the games he plays.

Isaac:

It’s not that he never considered you to be weak, or...fragile, but he never realized that there was a limit to your patience.

It wasn’t the best way to put it, but when he went to pop into the parlor, ready to go against Arthur in another battle to vanquish that damned nickname, he was at a loss for words.

“Oi, let go!”

“Stop calling me that then!!!”

Isaac blinked, then found himself covering his mouth, trying to hide the laughter bubbling up from him.

It had seemed like you and Theo had went ahead and beat him here. Presumably, Theo was playing against Arthur for a warm-up while you watched but…

Something had caused you to stand aside Theo’s seat, fussing about as you tugged on his ear.

Isaac didn’t have to guess what had led you to this point, given that Theo’s nicknames for you had caused a few nights of venting between the two of you.

Arthur spotted Isaac in the doorway before the others, and he quickly waved. “Don’t stop the bird, I haven’t seen Theo like this in ages-”

“Arthur, you klootzak-”

Nevertheless, it seemed like Arthur’s quip caught your attention, and as soon as you saw Isaac at the door, you gasped and let go of Theo immediately.

“Finally!”

Despite the blush on your cheeks, you gave a quick scowl at Theo to further in your earlier point, before dropping it when Isaac came closer.

“Are we still...playing?”

…

Once the two of you were alone in his room, you watched as Isaac worked at his desk. Normally, he was the fidgety one, but he didn’t miss how you seemed out of sorts. Aside from the incident with Theo the rest of the day had gone fine, so Isaac went with the best assumption.

He stopped working, moving to join you on the loveseat.

“You know, about earlier...That was impressive. How you dealt with Theo, that is.”

You blinked, surprise evident before you cleared your throat.

“Impressive? You weren’t put off by that?”

Isaac couldn’t help the chuckle that came out.

“Gods no, it was nice seeing someone else besides Vincent telling Theo to sod off with those nicknames of his.”

A laugh slipped out from you, and Isaac was thankful to see your shoulders finally drop.

“You know, in school I’d do that stuff a lot and got a reputation for it. But I was worried if I did anything like that here you’d be a little...Hesitant with our relationship…”

“Absolutely not. You standing your ground doesn’t change how I feel about you. Honestly, if anything…”

His blush caught up faster than his words, but judging how your cheeks followed suit, you caught where he was going.

---

This was, the best I could do, I am Sorry orz it was hard figuring out how to make mc badass, because everyone has different views on what makes someone badass. Very obvious note but I have No idea how or where carriage horses rest so lets just, heavily suspend some belief and ignore inaccuracies okay hahahaa...a….aaa….

Masterlist | Ikevamp Server

[raquel-and-sergio]

Different than last time

Requested by @perriewinklenerdie

My short mostly fluffy version of one of the band’s first breakfasts in the monastery together😄

A bright ray illuminated the room as Sergio pushed the windows opened. He turned around and smiled as Raquel curled up and shut her eyes tighter. Lying down back next to her, he gently patted her head.

“Hey there sleepyhead, time to wake up.” She pulled their blanket above her head and snuggled against his chest, blatantly ignoring him. The contact of her warm body sent shivers down his spine.

“Come on now we can’t be late on our first day” he breathed, passing his fingers through her caramel hair. He felt some resistance as he was about the move his hand away, and begun working on straightening out the knot as well as he could.

Raquel exhaled in comfort before muttering:

“You’re the teacher can’t you arrange something?” He chuckled and passed his arm around her waist, giving up on the hair. It was definitely much easier to play with after she had brushed it.

“Especially because I am the teacher” he mumbled and kissed her forehead “we cannot be late.”

“In my defense” she teased, her head beginning to peek from under the covers “it is kinda your fault that I’m so tired this morning.

“Maybe” he laughed, “but you didn’t really seem to mind if I recall correctly.”

“Indeed I did not”. Slipping her fingers through this dark curls she tugged gently and turned his head towards her to kiss him. He reciprocated the kiss, sliding his hand under the covers to enlace her waist. She lowered her guard and let him take control, enjoy the perfect confort she felt.

She was exactly where she wanted to be and never ever wanted to move again.

Sergio took advantage of the situation to kick the blanket off her.

“Up now, come on!”

“Oh come on you’re just the worst!” She pushed him away when he leaned in for another kiss. Her fingers curled up against the mattress as she pushed herself off the bed. Her vision still blurry, she moved her feet around till she found her socks and slipped them on without opening her eyes.

“There you go that wasn’t so hard was it?”

“You’re insufferable” he laughed at the face she made.

“I’ll meet you downstairs all right? We’re having breakfast in the hall”

“All right let me just get dressed and I’ll join you”

“Miss you already!”

“You’re literally at the doorstep” he chuckled headed downstairs, a dumbfounded smile on his lips.

His steps resonated in the mostly silent hallways, save for the religious chants that could be heard in the background if one payed an attentive ear. As he approached the hall, he felt the urge to start fidgeting with his glasses. A feeling of uneasiness had begun creeping through the back of his mind, growing heavier with every step. He worried about the band’s response to Raquel. How are they going to accept her? They had already met her briefly, in Palawan and then on their way to Italy, but spending weeks locked up in the same monastery was an other thing entirely.

Raquel didn’t seem to worry about it too much, and when he asked her why she answered that he was worrying enough for two people. He smiled at the memory and pushed the door to the hall.

“Professor! Looking cheerful today!” Nairobi’s voice greeted him at the entrance. He replied to her with an awkward smile and looked around the room. Most of the band seemed to be there, already seated and ravenously attacking their breakfast. He couldn’t spot Tokyo though, neither could he see Marseille. Glancing at his watch, he noticed it was barely eight twenty five.

“Well what can I say, I’m surprised most of you are here so early. Especially you Denver, if I recall correctly we had to drag you out of bed so that you wouldn’t miss the heist.” He commented in an almost cheerful manner. His heart thumped happily when he saw everyone assembled for the first time in the monastery. It had taken some time to get everyone here without stirring too unwanted much attention to the place, and consequently the band had yet to get well acquainted with each other.

“Eh Professor, Cincinnati is having none of that. He has me up and running since six thirty!”

Monica giggled next to him as they exchange a knowing look. Slipping his hand behind her back, pulled her a bit tighter toward himself.

As Sergio joined them around the table, a familiar atmosphere overtook them all. Sitting like this, eating, planning was the origin of so many good memories, the core of so many glorious meetings. The Professor looked around the table and smiled, with a look of almost pride on his face.

The monastery’s old doors were quite creaky, and so as Raquel pushed them open to enter the room, she felt all looks turn on her. She smiles, ignores them and walks towards where Sergio is sitting.

“Good morning”, she says, as she let herself on the chair he kept for her. Sharing a complice smile, the pair took a deep breath and, under the table, enlaced their fingers.

A vague grumbling of good mornings come out of everyone’s lips,before returning to their respective conversations. Raquel exhaled again, glad that the first moment of awkwardness was quickly overcome.

“How on earth is everybody already here!” Boomed Tokyo’s voice as she entered the room, closely followed by Marseille. “Did the Professor change the hours or something?”

“I’m as surprised as you are.” He answered, his lips tugging into a smile “When I came down this morning, they were all already seated”.

“Well, some things are definitely different than the previous heist” Her colleagues thoughtfully nodded in agreement at Tokyo’s playful jest. She settled down on the table, on a chair facing Palermo’s and begun filling her plate.

Conversation spurred between the old friends, and introductions were quickly gotten over with. The sound of cutlery clicking against the plates resonating amongst the conversations gave the meal a more lively atmosphere.

“Going from police inspector to housewife must have been quite the change” loudly said Palermo as he saw Raquel pouring some water in Sergio’s cup “but hopefully that means The Professor will loosen up a bit” A provocative smile on his lips, the man leaned back and expectantly awaited the other’s reaction.

He didn’t have to wait long as all the women around the table loudly groaned.

“What you disagree?” He said to Nairobi who’s eye roll could be seen from across the table.

“I don’t know you very well, I don’t know the woman very well, but if you’re planning on being an asshole we’re not going to have a lot of fun you and I.” Her tone was playful, yet a threatening flicker shone through her eye.

“Ah, a feminist then.” Was Palermo’s only reply. That served well to rile up the rest of the table, who all begun to give their opinion on the matter. Loud voices begun filling the air and creative curse words soon followed. The Professor could have sworn seing Palermo wink at him before engaging his first, and definitely not last, heated speech about his opinion on women.

Sergio shifted awkwardly in his chair, not knowing wether or not to intervene. On one hand he was glad to see the team starting to communicate, but on the other he didn’t need them at each other’s guts just yet. Before he could plan his actions any further, Denver’s loud laughter reached his ears as he said:

“Aren’t you gonna defend your girl professor?” Sergio turned around to see Raquel’s amused face. She didn’t seem too phased by the whole ordeal, and yet a primal part of him suddenly felt the need to defend his girl. He smiled at her tentatively, and she smiled back, almost saying go for it, I wanna see how this goes.

“I dont know Denver by the looks of it,” interrupts Nairobi before either of them can speak “she doesn’t look like she’d need him to defend her.”

Sergio laughed and fiddled with his glasses “Let’s be honest now” he said, and paused for a few moments, “you’re absolutely right.” Laughter erupted around the table as Sergio and Raquel shared another look.

“Aw look at that Daddy found a new mommy!” said Tokyo, which spurred the general laughter once again. The Professor could feel his cheeks becomes slightly redder and attempted to cover his discomfort by looking at the few notes he had brought on the table.

“I wonder who’s on top?” Dared Palermo, never missing on an occasion to tease who he almost regarded as a younger brother.

“I for one believe the Professor’s authority stops at the classrooms doorstep” said Tokyo, causing Denver’s characteristic laugh to fill the air. Most of the looks on the table were turned towards the couple. Sergio continued ignoring them as well as he could, but their expecting looks were mainly focused on Raquel.

“Well it depends on our mood really,”she answered, realizing that they weren’t going to stop till they got a reaction from her, “on how the day went you know? But most of the times, Tokyo’s guess is pretty accurate.” Booming laughter erupted around the table as the former Inspectora openly discussed her sex life, without a hint of embarrassment.

Looking up, The Professor could see Tokyo’s delight as her eyes lit up with curiosity. He knew that neither woman was going to back away from this conversation, even if that meant having every little dirty detail of his sex life exposed. Not in the mood for such a display, he attempted intervene.

‘Why, oh god why are we talking about this?’ He pleaded. Raquel lips tugged upwards as she chuckled, and Tokyo looked ready to challenge the Professor a bit further just to see how it goes. Noticing the look of her face, Sergio quickly turned away and silently pleaded Palermo.

“Alright alright settle down anything more and The Professor’s face is gonna become redder than my shirt” said the latter “Why so much interest in the Professor’s sex life anyway? I’m sure we can find more interesting ones. You , the tall one next to the feminist, maybe wanna share?”

The conversation soon shifted to other topics, and Sergio let out a relieved sight .

“This could have went a lot worse.” He whispered to her ear. She smiled.

“It went great, don’t worry about that. But, you know” a mischievous grin flew over her lips, “ that did remind me that it’s been a while since you’ve been in top... We should totally do it more often”. Sergio head snapped around to look at her, and did not miss that glow in her eyes.

“That is not exactly the most appropriate time to talk about that.” he growled in her ear, trying not to think about the spark of excitement running down his spine.

“Then I’ll guess you’ll have to teach me better, Professor.” she teased, as she shifted back to sit properly on her chair and proceeded to enjoy her breakfast, feeling his grip tighten on her hand.

I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to like if you did or leave a comment to tell me what you thought!❤️

[the0ther-side0f-dawn]

personal thoughts on gifted kid discourse. talk with me in the replies if you want.

been seeing a lot about how "former gifted kids" just have complexes around elitism, and were far more fortunate to pass through the system then to fall through the cracks as there is no support for those that dont have as much ease with typical teaching/learning styles

but this isnt a univeral experiences

this post is just me sharing my experience okay

im denying that that happens a lot but...

we didnt have gifted programs. but we always had teacher aides and out-of-class tuition time for students who struggled.

in primary school they'd put like 5 of us in a class with another grade, bc we were expected to be able to learn independently, basically we were assigned a task or a page in a textbook each lesson and that was that.

and in high school, there was the advanced class but it had the same class size, definitely didn't have the best teachers, but on the plus side, our curriculum moved at a quicker pace and included a couple more advanced topics- so we did get that benefit.

but the one thing i noticed being in advanced classes was that the teachers did less teaching, they would give us the work to do, maybe explain it once if we were lucky, and leave us to it, and sure you could ask questions and get 1-on-1 time which was fine for 90% of the class...

BUT, we were still underfunded public schools.

there were tutorial programs to assist kids struggling to keep up - instead of sport and assemblies they would get direct tuition, and there were after school homework programs for people to access the library facilities and teacher assistance.

but if you were at the top, here's what happened: you were bored. you went to class, you did the task, nothing was challenging, nothing was especially interesting. occasionally something cool came along but the moment it got complicated the teachers would put a cap on it, tell us to just take something for granted, not to learn the intricacies, etc.

you wanted to take advanced subjects? you cant. there's no access.

in my experience what happens, is you just learn how to do menial tasks, you dont learn enduring skills in how to learn or overcome challenges, you don't learn how to study or ask questions or do research, you spend a lot of time learning how to 'dumb-it-down' to prove you know what you know. and then you go on to higher education, and you are not prepared at all.

and youre left with this terrible feeling of failure and unfulfilled potential.

i was told from a very early age that i should have been having advanced tuition. that comes at a cost.

i imagine that the ease at which students learn probably looks something like a bellcurve. and the system is designed for the those in the middle, there's pressure to raise our statistics and bring everyone up to that middle level, which brings some kids up, but it lets a lot down, and drags down a lot who could've gone further.

every child needs a personalised education. every child should be regularly assessed and placed in a learning situation which is appropriate to their level. every child deserves access to 1-on-1 learning to overcome obstacles.

and yeh i succeeded very well at just 'doing things' but the moment i had to learn? turns out im not equipped

---

also the fact i went through my entire education without learning

-how to read music

-more than the most basic level of a second language

-how to do research

-anything about careers

-basic linguistics like different types of verbs (we got: I am walking, I walked, I will walk, as the only tenses).

-literally anything about anatomy beyond the basic digestive system and respiratory system.

[panda-writes-trash]

-Formal Beginnings-

Synopsis: You’re a pro hero! You’ve been assigned on an undercover mission with a younger (Pre-UA teacher) Eraserhead. You’ve been in battle together before and you’re no stranger to each other. But having to dress in formal attire and infiltrate a lavish mansion full of drug dealing villains, wasn’t something either of you are very used to.

-

Word Count: 3,478

Aizawa has worked with you on a few jobs here and there when it was called for. But it was never anything like the task the two of you were assigned tonight. He was used to the quick capture and detain types of missions and they were what he was used to- this was way out of his comfort zone.

---

He sat in the waiting room, the two of you were called in at the last minute as something unexpectedly came up. It was briefly mentioned over the phone what you two would be doing but they were waiting on you to show up before giving a full briefing. It shouldn't be long- he lived closer anyway and had been up doing laundry and cleaning up his less than appealing apartment even if it was already past midnight. He could only assume the call had roused you awake. You had a decent grip on a sleep schedule as far as he could tell.

His suspicions were only confirmed when the doors slammed open to you coming hurriedly in with messy hair and pajamas with your hero suit half sticking out of your bag. He couldn't help but snicker seeing the loose pants covered with cartoon kittens- he never got to see you like this and he found it a bit cute. But he was quickly brought out of his thoughts as you came over and spoke.

“Have you gotten the details yet, or are we waiting on me?”

You were a bit out a breath, no doubt from the run here. He stood up and simply shook his head.

“I have an idea, but no. No details yet.”

He watched as you put your leg up on one of the chairs and balanced your bag on it as you rummaged through it pulling out a hair brush and frantically running it through your locks.

“Okay, good good. Just give me a second to get changed into my suit then we can go i-”

But you were cut off, he glanced up to see the police Chief Tsuragamae had joined them.

“Dont bother changing you two will have to be wearing formal wear for this.”

He glanced over to see your confused look as you set the bag down and placed your foot back firmly on the floor- this is the part that was briefly mentioned on the phone to him.

He sighed and shrugged.

“It's an undercover mission. They want us in formal attire.” He looks up at the dog. “And I dont think I'm the best person for this, especially without my capture weapon right?”

The nod of response causes him to huff. The thought of potentially getting into trouble without it didn't sit well with him. He wouldn't be able to protect you if it comes down to it and it gave him a bad taste. But he was sure there was more to the situation if he was specifically put on this job, so he waited for Tsuragamae to continue.

“We have been watching this group for a few months now, they’re not big but they seem to be pretty heftily funded- we’ve been able to detain a few of the thugs but their leader has a sort of teleportation quirk. Which is why we need you.”

He simply nodded in understanding now. Following the chief into his office with you alongside him as he proceeded to give visuals with his further explanation.

“Because of his quirk he has always escaped our men and it's only a few days before they start causing trouble again. They’re a part of the development of quirk drugs. We managed to track down and interrogate one of the people funding this group. The boss is hosting a party tonight for investors and potential future ones. I know you wont have your capture weapon, but that is why you’re plus one will be Miss Y/N here."

He glances over at you, your quirk has definitely been a helpful one in the past. Like his it wasn't very flashy, you had the ability to halt all movements of anyone you touched. Which certainly would help in detaining someone. You gave him a big smile, he was a little less worried now but still this was all a bit much.

“So what kinda dress did you pick out for me, it better not be too bright- god forbid if it’s orange.”

You spoke out causing the Chief to smile and hand you each bag and send you on your way. Having further information to your phones.

The both of you went into the police locker rooms together. He pulled out the contents of his bags and immediately grimaced.

“Oh come on you’ll look great in a tux!”

You were looking at him with a dumb smirk. He was a bit embarrassed, he hated wearing this kind of stuff. He preferred his usual loose fitting comfy clothing. He hesitantly took off the binds that were around his neck and comfortably sat on his shoulders.

“Just something im not used to is all- hope it doesn't restrict movement too much”

Once he saw you were turned away, he did the same. It wasn't uncommon for heros to change in the same room. Ones with the same agencies typically shared one common area, and after all they are professionals- just gotta keep it professional… he wasn't paying much attention as he changed into the monkey suit, buttoning the pants up and beginning to wrap the belt around his waist when you had gasped completely catching him off guard he almost spun around to look- but had just caught himself.

“Whats wrong- Are you decent?”

You were silent for a bit which had him a bit concerned but when you finally spoke he almost laughed.

“I really like this dress. And yes I am, I just need a little help with the zipper on the back.”

He rolled his eyes but at the confirmation he turned around- and wow. He did have to take a moment watching and looking you over as you admired yourself in the mirror. It was a tight fitting black sequin dress. It dragged a bit behind you but had a slit that had one of your legs sticking out with some matching black heels.

“You gonna stop ogling or what, we got a party to get to Eraser.”

He was snapped out of his thoughts and had a bit of a blush now but came over close behind you and pinched the top of the dress together and smoothly zipped it up.

“Sorry, hard to believe the same girl in baggy pajamas and ridiculous bedhead is the same one im looking at now- thought someone took my partner.”

You gave him a bit of a glare and he smiled- but as you turned around to face him and the mess he left his tie in you shook your head, grabbing the edges of his coat to pull him forward. And undoing the tie to fix it.

“At least your partner can properly tie, and we need to fix your hair too. You’re gonna look like a hoodlum going in with that rats nest- no drug investor is gonna look like that”

He was at a bit of a loss for words as you pulled him and started to fix what he had screwed up, though he didn't think it was that bad. But oh man, you were way too close for comfort, you were practically pressed up against him- and in that dress he could see right down-

He was startled when you pushed him down and he fell back onto the bench between the lockers and you started running your brush through his hair- this was too much. Even through the mess he was in he couldn't let this continue with how he was getting a few butterflies in his stomach so he waved you off.

“Calm down, I can fix it myself… Thank you though”

He had slicked most of it back and tied the top half up as well. Lazily, but still an improvement from before. He looked to you for your approval. Your thumbs up in response brought a slight smile to him.

You two went out the door into the unmarked police car, he opened the door for you before getting in on the other side. The both of you looked over the further details that were sent to your phones. Up until you pulled up to the gate with a large mansion in the back, he got out with you in tow.

“Shota, When I think of villain bases, I think of spooky underground cellar types- not, well, this”

“On a first name basis now?”

He watched you a bit confused, you two were a bit close but he doesnt think you’ve ever called him by his first name before.

“What am I supposed to be calling you Eraserhead around a whole bunch of villains?”

You had a point and gained a chuckle out of him nodding. He was surprisingly a lot less stressed about the whole thing compared to earlier. He's sure that was gonna change at some point. But for now it almost felt like he was taking you on some sort of fancy date. He wouldn't mind something like that, he'd even be willing to get dressed up like this.

You had wrapped your arm around his and walked in unison to the guard standing before the door. Aizawa had given the man the name of the man the police detained and it seems there was no issue as his name was checked off the list, and they were quickly checked to make sure they weren't harboring any weapons before walking in.

He looked down at you as you both looked around and took the place in, “Well Shota, I certainly wasn't expecting it to be so nice here.”

“It's probably how they get funding, put on a pleasing image and you get more backing. They think they know what the group’s doing and find it to be a safe investment.”

He glanced down beside him to find you looking up at him- he quickly looked away and continued.

“Well, lets just blend in till we find our guy- then we can make a plan and try to get him secluded… so-” he rubs the back of his neck, “care to dance?”

You were clearly a bit taken aback by his words where he was almost going to take it back and act as he was joking.

“I didn't think you could even dance, I would love to.”

He sighed a bit in relief and took your hand as he kept his voice low, “not well, but I know enough of the basics.”

So he did, he took your hand and led you out to where other couples were dancing. And held you close while staying in rhythm to the music, started swaying. It was a good place to be after all, they were in the center of the large ballroom and were able to look around to see the target.

He was actively looking around up until you decided to rest your head against his chest as you danced. He wanted to scold you for being unprofessional, but he couldn't deny the fact that he liked the feeling too much to tell you to stop. And with the spinning pattern everyone was dancing in he was able to get a clear view of all the room anyway, no reason to ruin the good time yet. Instead he kept his hand on the small of your back and kept you close.

He did struggle to keep focus, he found himself glancing down at your frame against his more than he cares to admit. But always snapped back to it, you had a job to do after all. He barely was able to spot the man standing on one of the balconies watching the crowd, the target.

“Y/N.”

…

“Hey, Y/N!” He hissed and it jossled you a bit.

You were clearly zoned out, and having been enjoying yourself maybe a bit too much. Though who could blame you.

“The targets on one the top balcony, back by the east wing. He seems to have 3 body guards- with one going out and returning every few minutes. We should go while he's alone with them- It’ll make this a lot harder when he decides to join the party and he's surrounded by dozens of people”

Aizawa made his way with you off the main floor, before simply giving you a nudge

“Are you alright?”

You gave a nod in response.

“Yeah, sorry, it's just been a while since I've ever danced with someone proper like that. I wont zone out again, don't worry.”

He smiled, having made up his mind on his thought from earlier.

“Well, I don't think I’d mind taking you out on a fancy date like this. Ya’ know, when our lives aren't on the line.”

Your head practically snapped up to look at him. And once again immediately regretted the forwardness- it was a bit out of line. You were partners, but not in that sense

“I-”

But before he could even start apologizing you got this giddy grin that made his heart skip a beat.

“Are you serious?”

“Well- I mean, yeah.”

He watched as you hummed. “I think that sounds very nice, a fancy night out on the town and some relaxation would be good for you. You're starting to become more of a hermit everytime I see you.”

He rolled his eyes. It wouldn't be for him, if he had to choose a type of date it would be lounging at home watching a movie and then a nap. But the thought of getting to see you in a dress like this again did get him excited.

He could talk about it more and defend his hermit status later, as the two of you were already at the top of the stairs and he motioned for you to be quiet. You both made your way down the hallway up until you stopped and hissed- he was worried something was wrong until he saw you leaning against the wall and taking off the heels.

“The damn clacking-”

He chuckled and nodded in understanding before spotting one of the guards standing outside the door. If only he had his capture weapon, it would've made easy work immobilizing all of the guards. He tried to think up a plan for a moment- but was drawn out of it by a pair of heels being placed in his hands for him to hold onto as you had stepped out into view. It made his anxiety shoot up for a moment- but hopefully you had a plan since you had revealed yourself.

The guard spoke first. “Hey lady, you're not supposed to be up here.”

Shota sat where he was still hidden but watching, the guard clearly didn't see you as a threat yet which was at the very least good. But what were you planning that you couldnt tell him first?

He watched as you- stumbled?

“H-Huh- what me? I'm just- trying to find the bathroom- couldn't find one anywhere I swear-”

You gave a hiccup, oh my god were you pretending to be drunk? It wasn't a bad act but he was still confused. He watched as the guard looked around a moment not seeing anyone did he smile at Y/N.

“Ah Miss you’ve gone all the wrong ways- why don't ya’ let me take ya’ don't worry yer’ in safe hands.”

Shota grimaced and felt a bit sick, how disgusting and low men could get. So far to try something even while on the job. And just thinking about a man taking advantage of you made his blood boil.

But as he put an arm around Y/N the conditions were met for her to activate her quirk and he finally saw what she was going for as the guy went stiff as a board as every muscle in his body locked up, jaw and tongue included so he couldn't speak.

You slipped out from under his arm and made your way back to him with a pleasant smile on your face.

“I think my acting is pretty up there ain't it.”

He wasn’t very amused by the whole thing, “you could've at least told me you know, could've done something better than playing a drunk victim.”

“Got the job done didn't it. Only two guards and the target to go right?”

He sighs, you had a point. It just didn't sit well with him and gave him a sour taste. He gave a nod as he looked at the door, the three should be just on the other side.

“Alright I got an idea.”

---

He explained to you quietly and swiftly. That this had to be an instant take down. Otherwise they risked the chance of alerting the others in the building, and that would make things a mess and the target would probably instantly escape. He had to use his quirk on the boss instantly otherwise it was game over. The entrance to the balcony was a double door opening outwards, each of you would hide on each side. Make a noise and as they came out to investigate, you each would pop out. He would use his quirk on the boss on the balcony and deal with his guard the old fashioned way. You would use your quirk to stun the guard and bolt and do the same on the target before they had a chance to call for help. It was simple enough and straight to the point but he thought it was the best option given your circumstances. When you had eagerly nodded in agreement you both took your places to the side of the large oak doors.

He gave a final nod to you and you returned it. He picked up the pair of heels he’d been holding and wasted not a moment more to toss them in front of the door, the hard plastic making a loud enough clap against the tile floor that it was only a few seconds before the door hesitantly opened and the two guards peered out guns drawn. It was time to go.

He sprung out along with you. A little bit further to get a view of the boss in the back, his hair going high as he made sure this guy wasn't going anywhere. But there was also the gun in his face he had to deal with- good thing you caught them by surprise, they weren't ready to pull the trigger. He bobbed to the side and with a swift movement popped the bottom of the guys jaw with his elbow. He dropped his gun and before he even hit the floor you were already on the target and had locked up both of the men.

He gave a sigh of relief, but quickly helped you move the men off the balcony before you had any peeping eyes overseeing the catastrophe.

“It's nice seeing you get physical- most times I see you its just all about manipulating that scarf of yours”

“What, didn't think I’ve had combat training?”

He raised a brow looking you over, your quirk really was amazing and it came in handy on many occasions. Now especially since he can't deny someone's quirk for more than a few minutes at most. Yours lasted hours.

He pulled out his phone, “Im gonna call the chief, we got the guy they wanted. The force can come in and wrap the rest of this up.”

You simply hummed in agreement as you picked back up your heels slipping them back on, your feet were getting cold simply standing on the polished tile.

---

Before you knew it Tsuragamae had waves of armed police flood the building. And since the security in this place made such a point of disarming the guests, there wasn't much of a struggle. And the target was quickly carried off into custody.

“I’d say that was a mission success!”

He looked over at you as you both sat on an outside bench. His overcoat wrapped around your shoulders, it and your hair swaying gently with the breeze as you swirled and sipped off a champagne glass you had grabbed amongst the chaos on the way out.

You both sat in silence watching as police came in and out of the building with bundles of the party guests, sticking around just in case there was a need for your assistance.

But since you both were simply waiting, he smiled as he thought he’d bring up a bit of conversation. Shifting his weight and leaning over some.

…

“So how about that date?”

[missyslittlepet]

((This is just a short one. Summary - Louis seeks comfort in you after the death of his best friend.))

Rest Easy Marlon...

It had all happened so fast. The sound of the gunshot rang in your ears while the thunder continued to roar above the group. It took a few moments to process what you had just seen. You reached up and wiped your cheek. As you pulled your hand back to look at it you were met with the crimson red blood of one of your closest friends.

Marlon was dead.

You tore your eyes away from his limp body and looked at the boy still holding his gun.

"What? I aimed for the head." AJ shrugged.

He sounded so innocent. So unbelievably calm about what he had just done. You felt your lip quivering as you watched him. Your anger bubbled the longer you stared but you knew you couldn't do anything. He was just a kid after all. He didn't understand the world the way you did.

"No!" Louis shouted taking a step forward. You placed a hand on his arm making sure he didn't do anything he'd regret. It seemed to ground him slightly but he was still shaking.

"Oh my God..." Omar muttered from behind you.

"We could get medicine. From the nurses office." Ruby pushed past everyone and started kneeling down next to Marlon.

"He's dead! The kid blew his brains out!" Mitch shouted.

"Y-you shot him. He's dead." You could hear the shaking in Louis' voice as he slowly approached AJ. "You're a murderer. You got him to give up. You saw how broken he was." He turned to face Clementine. "What the fuck did you teach this kid?!"

Everyone's eyes were on Clementine now.

Mitch curled his hand into a fist so both you and Violet jumped in between AJ and the group.

"Back off. All of you!" Hissed Violet, holding up her meat cleaver.

"It was under control. I talked Marlon down then he murdered my fucking friend!" Louis' had never sounded so angry.

"Louis, we know." You nodded. "Marlon was our friend too and I understand you're upset but you need to calm down. We all do."

"Calm down?! Are you fucking kidding me (f/n)?!"

You jumped when he raised his voice at you. Deep down you knew he didn't mean it but it still stung to hear him talk to you like that.

Rosie's barking seemed to fade into the background as you and Violet stayed on high alert. You eyes darted from person to person trying to figure out if any of then were going to try something.

"Take AJ and go inside." Violet told Clementine.

"Come on. Let's go." Clementine said taking AJ by the hand and leading him away.

"Oh, just let them go back to the dorms?! What happens the next time one of us does something this kid doesn't like? Should we expect a bullet too?" Louis took another angry step forward.

"That's not what happened." Explained Violet.

"It's exactly what happened! It was over 'til little Mr Trigger happy decided otherwise!"

"Louis, he's just a kid. He didn't grow up in a world like ours..." You tried to reason with him.

"Just a kid? Are you serious? How does that makes this okay?! He killed my best friend, how can you just defend him?!"

"Look around you Lou, we're in a troubled youth school! We've all done things we regret and that's with a society that had laws and where we were taught right from wrong. What's your excuse?"

"Really?! You're going to compare what I did to murder?!"

"We get it Louis, so back off. Okay?" Violet interrupted, still gripping her meat cleaver.

"Back off? Seriously?" Louis' jaw was clenched as he stared at the pair of you. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Clementine quickly ushered AJ inside leaving everyone else standing in the rain.

Ruby was crying now. Desperate for someone to help her patch up the dead boys wounds. Meanwhile, Willy and Mitch went inside to find something they could use to dig a grave for Marlon. They came back and gave everyone bowls saying it was the best thing they could find. You all took a makeshift shovel and got to work, silently carving away at the dirt. You glanced up and caught Louis' eyes briefly. He looked so fully of hatred and you felt a pit in your stomach begin to form. He shook his head, his damp dreads sticking to his wet face. You were about to speak but he had already looked away.

When it got too dark to continue and everyone was soaked through Ruby muttered something about not having enough medicine to help if you all got the flu and promptly told everyone to get inside.

You stood and began shuffling into the school. Louis was walking ahead of you so you quickened your pace.

"Lou, can I talk with you?" You whispered when you made it to his side.

He didn't even acknowledge you were there. Just kept his eyes forward and his jaw clenched.

Once inside Louis stormed into the dorms and slammed his bedroom door behind him. You were hot on his heels. There was no way you were losing another friend tonight. You knocked on his door but heard nothing.

"Come on Lou, please talk to me. I'm not the bad guy here." You sighed pressing your forehead to the door when you got no response.

"Fine." You muttered standing up. "Have it your way Louis. There's no point in pissing you off further. You know where I am when you decide you finally want to talk to me again."

Louis heard your footsteps walk down the hall and he finally allowed himself to breakdown.

You lay awake staring at the top bunk. The breeze from your opened window chilled your room and allowed the thunder to echo off the walls. You felt so numb. You had considered going out to keep watch or continue digging Marlon's grave but you couldn't bring yourself to move. Your head ached from the crying and your cheek was still stained red from Marlon's blood. It wasn't just Marlon you had cried for. The fact that Minnie and Sophie were possibly still out there because of him turned your stomach. Would he have sent you too? You couldn't imagine how scared they would have been but, then again, you couldn't imagine how scared he probably was either. You were all just children and none of you deserved to have to make that kind of call. Maybe there was something you could have done? Someway this all could have been prevented.

The soft knocking coming from the other side of your door dragged you from your thoughts. Slowly the door creaked open and you heard someone walk towards your bunk. You shifted your eyes slightly to see who had invited themselves in. The moonlight shining through the window and the assortment of lit candles around your room allowed you to see Louis awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other in the middle of the room.

He scratched the back of his neck and looked at the floor. His eyes were bloodshot and it was obvious he had been crying.

"I err-" Louis shyly looked up at you. "I can't stop seeing him. Everytime I close my eyes all I can see is him with a fucking bullet in between his eyes..." His voice broke and so did your heart. They were like brothers.

You shifted in your bed making some room.

"Come here..." You said holding out your arms. Louis slowly walked over to the bed and lay down with you. He cuddled up close, resting his head on your chest. Your arms wrapped around him, protecting him from the cool air that filled the room.

You were considerably shorter than him so it probably looked odd but you didn't care. Louis was in pain, you all were.

"I didn't mean to shout at you." Louis muttered into your shirt. "I just couldn't understand how you were so calm about it."

"I think me and Violet had to be. If not then someone was going to kill AJ and then we'd be digging two graves, possibly more if Clementine had of lashed out." You sighed. "Look Lou, Marlon was one of my closest friends and he really didn't deserve what happened to him but you've got to understand just how young AJ is. I can't imagine the shit he's gone through to survive. We've had it good, had walls and gates. Him and Clementine have been on the road trying to survive. AJ saw a bad situation and he dealt with it the way he was probably taught. It was the wrong call ,definitely, but what Marlon did wouldn't have sounded great to him. He killed Brody, traded two of our people, tried to blame it on Clementine and then pulled a gun on her."

Louis was now looking at you. You were surprised he was so calm about what you were saying.

"What he did was awful." Louis began. "If he had traded you I... I dont know what I would have done. I just can't believe he's gone (f/n)." Louis' eyes started tearing up and you placed your hand on his cheek.

"Neither can I... Marlon didn't deserve the amount of pressure he was under to keep this group safe. He was just a kid, just like the rest of us. I'm sorry I defended AJ out there and I'm sorry I upset you. I just didn't want anymore death that's all..."

"It's okay (f/n), I understand. I'm sorry I upset you too. Don't think I've ever shouted at you before, didn't think I could." His eyes were full of regret.

"It's okay," You laughed sadly. "I deserve it. I didn't mean to drag your parents into it either, I just wanted you to understand what I was saying... wasn't the best way to go about it though."

"I know, it's okay." He gave you a small smile before snuggling back into your side. "(F/n)?"

"Yeah?" You whispered.

"Can I... Can I stay here tonight? I don't want to be alone right now and Marlon not being in his bed... I just can't sleep. I can't stop thinking about it."

"Of course Lou, honestly, I could do with the company too." You pressed a kiss to the top of his head and he sighed, pulling you closer to him.

Silently you both listened to the roar of the thunder outside and kept each other close. If anything you had both became more aware than ever that a person you loved could be ripped away from you at any time. Getting over Marlon's death was going to be rough and the revelation of what had truly happened to the twins was definitely going to become a large topic of discussion.

You sighed and stroked a hand over Louis' dreads.

"Try and get some sleep Lou, you aren't alone now." You whispered.

Louis said nothing. He grabbed you hand and squeezed it gently, burrowing his face further into your shirt. You both lay away for a while silently but soon enough you heard his shallow breathing and knew he had fallen asleep.

Your eyes stung and you knew you would follow suit soon. The warm weight of Louis by your side was comforting and you found yourself hoping it would become a regular occurrence.

"Goodnight Lou." You whispered pressing another kiss to his head. You took a deep breath and sighed looking back up at the top bunk.

"Rest easy Marlon..."

Another clap of thunder echoed as the final candle burnt out and you finally let sleep overcome you.

[kazhewbrekker]

vilify me - chapter 4

this is the longest chapter to date! and probably the last one for a little while as im settling into college and dont have as much time. fear not though! chapter 5 is in the works and im committed to finishing this monster of a multific. without further ado!

(AO3 Link) (Chapter 1) (Chapter 2) (Chapter 3)

Kenji seemed unimpressed as he walked into the hanger. I wasn’t expecting a huge reaction, but I thought he’d be at least a little bit excited over the prospect I was offering. I gave him a wink as he walked closer and patted the seat on the motorcycle I was leaned against, lovingly. It was a good thing I hadn’t run my plan past Warner, he would’ve been jealous.

“Do you know how to ride a motorcycle?” I asked innocently.

Definitely not impressed. “Never seemed like a necessary skill set.”

I shrugged. “Feel like learning?”

Kenji crossed his arms over his chest as I passed a helmet to him. He didn’t take it from me, which was to be expected. There was no chance he was going to go easy on me. I mean this was literally me trying to appeal to him enough to get him to trust me. Or maybe, just maybe, it was me trying to find something to relieve myself of the utter boredom that had befallen me since I came to Sector 45. Which, I had to remind myself, wasn’t Warner’s fault.

He was busy. I was also usually busy, that’s just how things were with us. And now, with this mission he’d put me on, I would find a new way to be busy.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.”

Kenji took the helmet begrudgingly, “Where are we going?”

“Does it matter? Let me answer that, no.”

I climbed onto the seat, settling my feet in their place on either side of the bike. Kenji hesitated again, the black helmet now smugly fastened around his head, trying to figure out where he was supposed to sit on the motorcycle with me. I grabbed his wrist, between us was the layer of his military coat and the riding gloves I had fashioned myself with, as I pulled him on behind me.

“I’m not going to kill you.”

“I didn’t say you would, Princess.” Kenji shifted uncomfortably and created a space between the two of us. I had the urge to roll my eyes. Like that would stop me. If I wanted him dead he would be by now. “How come you don’t wear a helmet?” Kenji asked.

I revved the bike. “Let’s hope you don’t find out.”

-

“Put your foot on the break,” Warner instructed. “No, hold it down.”

“Sorry,” I shot him a glare and pressed down all my weight on the car’s brake. The glare broke apart in an instance. I was too excited to be mad.

Finally, after being told over and over that he would teach me, Warner was going to show me how to drive. I’d wanted to for years, ever since he had when he was eight. Mum and Dad would never let me behind the wheel of a car, at least not until I was older no doubt, they didn’t even trust Emmaline in one yet. But I would learn how to drive first, because Anderson had left home earlier that morning and Leila wouldn’t mind if we borrowed the car. Or totalled it.

“Okay,” I said, “okay, what do I do next?”

“Shift into drive.”

I blinked down at the controls. “What am I on right now?”

“Reverse.”

I managed to shift the car into drive recalling what I’d seen in films, “You don’t have to look so nervous, we’re indestructible, remember?”

Warner sighed exasperatedly, hands tightening on the seatbelt. “Keep your eyes on the road.” I grinned and checked my mirrors, slowly pulling my foot off the brake and towards the gas. “And I wish you’d stop saying that.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because my biggest fear is that one day it’ll stop being true.”

I frowned. I took it slow, but driving on a street that no one was ever going to come down again gave me the whole road to practice. I jumped between brake and gas over and over, inching forward and trying to get the hang of it. Every once and awhile, Warner pointed something out to me, but he was as patient as he was with teaching me anything. It was easy, easier than I thought it would have been.

“I’m not going to lose my powers, Aaron.”

“No,” he agreed, “but have you considered your parents’ new project.”

I sucked in a breath and the car huffed in response. Warner didn’t looked shocked as I hit the brakes to look over at him. He looked worried. “Project Canary. Emma’s losing her mind over it.” I said.

“I know, I heard.”

I raised an eyebrow, “Don’t tell me she’s bothering you about it too.”

“When she can’t call you she calls me, I’ve told you this before.” He tucked his chin and looked down at the watch affixed to his wrist. “Emmaline is just worried about you, love.”

“Of course she is, because if they can get through me it means she’s next. I don’t blame her.”

“Ella.”

“It’s true!” I shrugged, “You know it, I know it. I reckon if Canary succeeds, then I’ll be the only one affected. Well, and you, probably.”

“Probably? You can’t be serious.”

I sighed dramatically, shifting gears and turning us around back towards the house. I knew he was staring at me, I could feel it burning under my skin. If he was offended by the truth that was his problem. Not mine.

“If something happened to you,” I wasn’t watching his face, but I heard the way his breath caught in his throat. A chill settled around me as I waited for him to continue. “I would be devastated. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, sure, of course.” I snipped back.

“Ella, I’m serious.”

Too much, too heavy. I nodded in an attempt to get him to drop it. Warner was my best friend, but God if he didn’t make everything out to be life-and-death. Though, technically, this situation could very well end in my untimely death. It didn’t matter. He was serious all right, far too serious. And I didn’t want to think about the immediate future, not like he did.

-

I loved motorcycles. More than cars, planes, especially boats. Nothing else could get me in contact with the same level of speed as the motorcycle could. I wondered a lot if it was anything similar to drugs, Mum and Dad would have me caged again if I experimented with anything that could mess with my brain or my body. So, death defying activities was all I had.

But I had to drive carefully, Kenji’s arms wrapped around me so tightly I had to focus on the wind whipping my hair to not break down at the feeling of being barred.

I hadn’t been lying about the helmet comment, as far as Kenji knew I was talented in hand-to-hand combat and could most likely kill someone if they just so happened to brush my skin. He had no way of knowing that a motorcycle crash was much more likely to hurt whatever I crashed into then myself. When I’d first embraced my daredevil tendencies, Warner had insisted that I wore protective garments, riding jackets and enforced padding. We hadn’t known the full extent of how much damage I could sustain. We found out though, eventually.

I came to a stop in a place where the road evened out and the buildings had grown scarce. It was strange, Southern California had always been overflowing with populace and new houses that the large expanse of nothingness was almost unnerving. I pushed those thoughts from my head and removed Kenji’s hands from my waist.

He attempted to climb down with me, but I steadied him on the bike with a smile and said, “I’m teaching you how to ride remember?”

“I never said I wanted to learn how.”

“Yes, but you also never said you didn’t.” I placed my hand on the handlebar, about to launch into a speel about what each part on the bike did, until I noticed he was staring at me strangely. “What?”

“I’m curious. What brought this on?”

“Me teaching you how to ride a motorcycle? I was bored, wanted to ride my bike, and you’re supposed to follow me everywhere I go.” I paused, sardonic in nature. “Thus, here we are.”

Kenji looked back at me as if he didn’t believe me, and I had to give him credit, he was a lot more intuitive than he had appeared at first glance. It wasn’t as if I was lying. I was currently trying to use enough of the truth that he’d have eventually just have to believe that my intentions were pure. It’s not as if I had given him any reason to believe otherwise. Beside the fact that I work for a fear mongering government that treats its citizens even worse than the ground they walk on.

I might have to rethink my plan of action.

“Okay,” I huffed. “Clutch is here, gear shift is down here, throttle, and break. You’re ready to go.”

“Wait, hold on a second, that’s the big lesson? You point at all the controls, pat me on the back and say ‘Good luck.’ You’re the worst teacher in the history of ever.”

“Jesus, that’s a little harsh.”

“Never have kids.” He said with a straight face, “You’d try to teach them how to ride a bike and then just throw them straight into oncoming traffic.”

I groaned, “Newsflash you egg, traffic isn’t as issue anymore. The 405 is dead and I’d be a great mum.”

Kenji didn’t move as he held his humorless expression. As the silence dragged and we continued to just stare at one another, something cracked. I wasn’t sure if I was the first to snort, but giggles erupted from my lips until I was crumpled on the ground holding my stomach from laughter. Kenji wasn’t much better, he had to use to the motorcycle to hold himself upright as he practically hacked up a lung.

I was wiping tears out of the corners of my eyes when Kenji finally said, “All right, that was hilarious. But I’m still not riding this death trap with a ten second long instructional period.”

“Just,” my voice was still strangled with restrained giggles, “trust me here.”

“You don’t make that easy.”

But he listened and settled on the bike like before, keeping one boot on the ground to stabilize himself. I corrected his form and I watched as his eyes darted nervously around the open field. I couldn’t say I completely understood his nerves, I’d never had to really worry about bodily harm before. With that, I had the sudden realization that this was a terrible plan, and if it failed it would really suck to have to drive home with a dead body. Or, even worse, have to walk.

“Ready?” I asked honestly.

He didn’t in the least bit look ready. At least he knew how to brake.

Kenji gave a curt nod and I stepped away from the bike, giving him room to start the engine again and prepare for take off. The motorcycle gave a growl that I felt in my chest, that made the hair on my arms stand up, and as Kenji gave me one more glance before staring at the opened, empty road before him. I gave a silent prayer to a God I don’t believe in.

The motorcycle lurched forward, shakily and slow it made its way down the street. A couple of times I worried if it was going so slow that the machine might tip over, but at every chance Kenji shifted his weight to keep it steady. It wasn’t until he turned around and came back towards me that I saw he had a genuine smile on his face.

I rolled my eyes, he was going barely more than 20 miles per hour.

“All right. It’s not a vespa.”

He hit the brakes as he neared me and the sudden stop made him ram his stomach into the center console. Kenji took a shaky breath but his voice was only a little winded, “What’s a vespa?”

“Oh my God.”

-

Our bedroom was cold. It was the middle of July and from the window I could see the moon against the cloudless sky. It was the only thing lighting the room. For once I was happy that snow hadn’t come so early this year, because if it had then I wouldn’t be able to see the moon at all. I clung tightly to my blanket knowing that it was my only protector, that would stop the dark corners of the room from getting any closer to the foot of my bed.

I had been working very hard to not let it bother me, to sleep through the night without interruptions or nightmares. If Emmaline could do it then so could I. But it seemed like the harder I pushed away the negative thoughts, the stronger they came back with a vengeance. And the more they stole my breath straight from my lungs. I knew what panic was now though, I’d felt it before. It kept rising and rising like the temperature on a thermometer. Until my head started to feel dizzy and my chest began caving in.

What was it that Warner always said? Try to breathe.

Easier said than done.

At this point I should’ve been used to any form of sensory deprivation. Nothing to see, or hear, only the cold walls of the room that remind you that you’re not dead. Or asleep. Or somewhere in the middle. Mr. Anderson would turn down the oxygen in the room if I tried to fall asleep. It would go on for hours. But it always ended, sometimes I was worried it wouldn’t.

Little bird, little bird in a gilded cage. With spikes on the bars. Little bird with no escape.

“Ella,” my sister’s voice whispered across the bedroom. “Ella, go to sleep.”

I froze. My rampant neverending thoughts must have woken her up, or at the very least kept her from falling asleep. I wasn’t quite sure what Emmaline could hear and what she couldn’t. But if I hated being in my own head, then surely my sister would despise it just as much. “Sorry, Emma.”

She sighed, rolled over. I felt my face burn with shame. “No worries, just…“ Her soft words disappeared into the cloud of dark that blanketed over her half of our bedroom. We’d been sharing a room since I was born. At least that’s what I had been told. But now the sea of carpet between the two of our beds felt wider and all the more terrifying under the gaze of the moon. I had to steel myself. I couldn’t be weak, I couldn’t whimper at the idea of closing my eyes, what would Mum say?

“Ella. Come here.”

I looked over to Emmaline’s moving sheets. I could barely make out her motions across the room. But I didn’t give it a second thought. I bundled the blankets around my body, grateful for the socks that covered my feet, and I tiptoed over the lie to Emmaline’s side of the room. Where pink met purple.

Emmaline was waiting patiently with arms outstretched. She pulled me and my blankets up onto the sheets with her, and that’s when I noticed the long sleeves pajamas and the gloves. How had she been wearing gloves to bed? Emmaline pulled my head to her shoulder and hugged me tightly. I wished I could see her expression. I wished I could read her thoughts for a change. My panic spiked once more.

“Calm down,” Emmaline yawned. “Give it a rest.”

“S-Sorry.”

It was dangerous to be this close to my sister. It was dangerous to be around anyone, ever. This was my curse. My burden. Mum called it a gift, she said it made me special. But I had to work harder, so I could be just like my sister. Mum would kill me if anything happened to Emmaline. She’d actually kill me.

“Shhh, go to sleep.”

“I-I…”

My sister’s finger combed through my hair. I closed my eyes against her pillow.

“Sleep, Ella. You can worry about things in the morning.”

She was right. I knew somewhere deep down that she was, but a part of me refused to accept it. It seemed like no matter what I did, my worries would follow me into my dreams too. I focused on Emmaline’s breath, her heartbeat, the slight brush of my hair from my forehead. It made me crave the blurry memories of climbing into bed with Mum and Dad, falling asleep in the safety they provided. Now it didn’t feel safe to be near their wing of the house, or even near them.

“I don’t want nightmares.” I whispered back to her.

Emmaline paused. If I paid close enough attention I could feel the edges of her power just on the cusp of my consciousness. If I dared to push against it all I would feel would be numb. “Okay, I’ll make you a deal.”

I blinked my eyes opened, “A deal?”

“Sure,” she pinched my shoulder. “If you try to sleep, I promise I’ll chase all the bad dreams away.”

It was far too dark in the room for me to see the look on her face. I couldn’t even tell from her tone if she was messing with me. I was a bit too old to believe that anyone could chase away my bad dreams, especially when they had been formed out of reality. But then again, Emmaline had power over the mind. Even now I could feel her rooting herself in my thoughts, sharing them with me, but blocking me from following that path back into her own head. It was a one way trip, or so she said.

If anyone could get rid of the nightmares, actually get rid of them, it would be Emmaline.

“All right.” I said.

She nodded once into the dark, “Close your eyes, then.”

I did as she asked. A moment passed, but in the moment the darkness of my eyelids didn’t feel constraining, like I was being pressed against the walls of a prison. It felt almost calm. Like a purring cat under my bare fingers, enjoying the feeling of my touch. It felt like I was back in North America, tucked into familiar sheets, pressed against the side of someone else. But only for a moment.

And then I opened my eyes and Emmaline was gone.

I sat up, wrapped in pink sheets, and stared across the room to the bed I had fallen asleep in. Purple sheets as pristine as if they had never been slept in at all. I should have figured. That kind of comfort and safety could only last a night.

-

Kenji wasn’t confident enough to drive us back, and I wasn’t entirely confident he could either. So, I drove the motorcycle to the compound, stopping myself from taking any unnecessary risks, least Kenji never go on another adventure with me again.

As much as I loathed to admit it, my plan was almost certainly backfiring. I was having fun just making friends with someone new. Socializing wasn’t exactly a skill I excelled in and the fact that Kenji almost didn’t seem nervous to get on the back of the bike with me after spending the afternoon in my company made me feel better than I had in awhile. There was a churning afterthought though, that if he wasn’t who he said he was, if Warner was right; then Kenji would die by my hand. There was no way around it.

Or so I told myself as we parked in the hanger.

I shot a scathing look at the soldier who carted off my bike, knowing they would take care of it, but trying to retain the menacing aura I had accumulated before I started letting myself go soft. Maybe Warner was right and I really should go back to training in the mornings.

It was only a second later as I turned to speak to Kenji that I felt a thrum of energy go through my body. The sensation stilled me to my core, even my lungs refused to take in oxygen as my brain scrambled for concrete meaning. I knew this feeling and I knew it well. My body restarted.

“Kishimoto,” my voice was harsh, “you are dismissed.”

“But--”

“Now, soldier.” There was a bite at the end of my words that I hadn’t ever used in conversation with him before. He registered this and, probably with some sense of betrayal, turned on his heel and marched away from the hanger. I hoped he was fast enough.

When my ability had first manifested, there were a lot of things going through my five year old head. And still it wasn’t anywhere near as complicated as Emmaline’s own mind. My sister, being a year older than me, took it upon herself to compare us in everything. Even before our powers. Shockingly, she wasn’t so far off when it came to this over everything else. Our abilities were simultaneously complete opposites and so similar that they could not be recreated in any test subjects. Though it wasn’t from lack of trying.

I could feel the energy of living things. Around me were spools of thread that tied back to every living creature, I could feel their hearts pumping, I could sense the electricity beneath their skin. By extension, Emmaline was connected to life through their minds. She had her own network that she organized and colorcoded, more orderly than my own, efficient. But our largest connector remained each other, and it was at that moment that I felt my sister’s ability wrap itself around me. As if it wanted me to know she was here, listening in to the private confines of my head. So, I did what any little sister would do.

I immediately thought back to the last time Warner’s lips were on mine, the heat of our breath as I undid the buttons of his shirt. I let my eyes close as the memories washed over me, leaving a singing fever in their wake.

Emmaline withdrew faster than a bat out of hell.

“That was rude.”

I heard her before I saw her. My eyes blinked opened tentatively as I watched my sister walked down the stairs into the hanger. Soldiers stopped, if only for a moment, to stare and wonder. Emmaline looked a lot like our mother. Her hair was two shades darker than mine and always laid flat down her back, her face was older, wiser. And she wore that red lipstick that Mum liked.

It was hard not to think of that woman when I looked at her. “What, like looking through someone’s head? Tell me, is that real rude?”

She rolled her eyes, “You’ve made your point.”

“Have I?”

When she stepped down from the last stair a smile appeared on her face, out of nowhere. And then she held her arms open towards me. I noticed the sleeves of her coat, the collar of her shirt that covered her neck, the gloves that seemed to permanently cling to her hands. This wasn’t a last minute decision, my sister had come to Sector 45 with the full intent to see me.

I tried to walk calmly towards her. I’m pretty sure I failed.

Emmaline hugged me. She squeezed my shoulders and rocked us from side to side like a dance. It wasn’t appropriate, to be so excited to see each other, if our mother was there she would have chastised us greatly. But Mummy dearest wasn’t there, and we could do whatever the hell we wanted.

“This is a surprise,” I said as we pulled away.

“I told you I’d be visiting shortly.”

“Actually, you asked if you could visit and I never got back to you.”

Emmaline huffed as if I’d greatly inconvenienced her, “Doesn’t matter. It’s not as if you’re busy, hiding out from our parents and what have you.”

“They know where I am.” My eyes narrowed on her as a mischievous smile inched its way onto her face. “Mum does know where I am, right Emma?”

“Oh, she could guess, but I’m afraid she’s preoccupied right now.”

I held my breath. No wonder I’d been left alone for almost a month. Emmaline was covering for me and with her powers no less. It was starting to get scary how easily she could deceive the people that more or less ran the world.

“And what was your excuse for flying out here?”

Emmaline glanced at me, her lips upturned in a smug expression that made her lipstick seem darker. The color of blood. “I’m allowed holidays just like you.”

There was a palpable moment of tension between us that shattered with a clap of my sister’s hands. She turned on her heel and made her way back towards the stairs. I followed, just as she had expected me to do, and I watched as her hair flew behind her like a black veil. Nothing was different about Emmaline from the last time I had seen her, but I knew my sister better than that. She wasn’t a consistent person in the least.

She had plans. Always.

“Why didn’t you introduce me to your friend?”

I met her eyes as she glanced back at me, “Didn’t think you’d be interested.”

Emmaline hummed to herself for a moment before we entered the main hallway. She let me move to take the lead as I headed for the nearest elevator. It was just around dinner time now, the sun had already begun it’s decline over the ocean. Well, it would’ve anyways, if it wasn’t for the clouds hiding it. And I was starved from messing around in God knows where for hours.

“Y’know, sis,” she spoke finally after the elevator doors closed. “You can’t exactly lie to me.”

I gritted my teeth.

“And I’m not just saying that because I can read your mind. What, can’t trust me now? Especially when you’ve decided on making friends with someone you think is working for the rebellion.”

“Hush up,” I hissed.

The elevator was still steadily moving up towards the higher floors. That left us with little time left to speak with the comfort of not being recorded. Once we were out in the open, anyone could overhear us and report back to Anderson, Kenji would be as good as dead.

“I don’t know for sure.”

Emmaline scoffed.

“I don’t. Doesn’t matter, I just don’t want you rooting around in his head while I’m trying to do my job. Because if he is with the rebels, then maybe he can lead me to that base.”

“The base Anderson’s on your ass about.”

The doors open, “That’s the one.”

We walked in silence towards the dining room. There was something strange and familiar about wandering these halls with my sister beside me. Maybe it reminded me of when we were children, I scrunched my nose. Emmaline and I hadn’t wandered the halls together when we were little. We barely interacted outside of bedtimes and Sunday breakfasts. I watched her out of the corner of my eye and found her looking back at me. Her expression was blank.

Before I even opened the door to the dining room, Emmaline groaned from beside me. I felt a tinge of a smile make its way onto my lips before I waltzed inside, emulating the grace of a person with the ball in their side of the court. If she was going to be confrontational or then I simply wouldn’t let it get to me, Emmaline could whine all we wanted but this was still Warner’s sector.

A telepath and an empath walk into a bar… I’d hate to hear the punchline.

Emmaline hesitated by the door as I swept inside to take my usual seat beside him. He barely spared a glance at my sister, before turning to me, his side of the table devoid of paperwork for the first time in weeks. I narrowed my eyes, had he heard of her arrival before I had? Most likely.

I leaned close enough to press my lips to his cheek as he whispered, “A nice surprise.” I had to stifle the laugh the built up in my throat.

As much as I liked to taunt my sister, I also found myself increasingly more demure in her presenance. My cheeks reddened and I dug my teeth into my bottom lip as I pulled away from Warner and into my own space. I caught Emmaline’s eye as she, now quiet for the first time since I’d seen her, sat down carefully beside us. I braced myself for whatever she was reading, whatever she could feel.

“Don’t stop on my account.”

My nerves blew out of my lungs in an instant. Warner brought a water glass to his mouth rather enthusiastically, he was hiding a grin. I could rest easy knowing that this dinner wasn’t going to be a normal Emma-Aaron staredown, where I was placed in the middle and forced to choose which one I would have to calm down first. Frankly, I found it unfair that they put me in such a position at all.

Emmaline and I had been rivals since the beginning on account of our abilites and the expectations that came with them. It made our relationship difficult to say the least, stressful and even distant. We rekindled what we could salvage the older we got, but it was hard to put the pressures our mother had forced down our throats away. Warner and Emmaline’s rivalry was different. And I couldn’t even be sure when it started. It almost felt like I had woken up one day to the both of them being at each other’s throats with no explanation other than, “Because I hate him, Ella.” on my sister’s lips.

I had my assumptions. But I certainly wasn’t going to tell them that.

“C’mon now,” Emmaline spoke first. “What have you two been up to, spare no details.”

“Is that why you came here? To catch up?” Warner raised an eyebrow and I felt his hand find mine underneath the table.

Emmaline amused herself my looking through the assortment of bottles on the table, in Sector 45 there never seemed to be a shortage of alcohol, before picking one that suited her tastes. “Why else would I be here?” She said as if there was a very obvious, very necessary reason for her to be here. Her eyes met his with something I could only describe as contempt, “To make sure you haven’t defiled my little sister?”

I felt more than saw Warner’s reaction to her words. It was like the walls turned ruby red, the air became almost stifling, but neither of the other occupants seemed to notice. No, Emmaline was reveling in my love’s discomfort. There was a gnawing dread in my stomach that colorfully plated breads weren’t going to fix. I squeezed Warner’s hand.

“Behave,” I said.

Emmaline shrugged, “I haven’t done anything that warrants punishment, Els. Even if punishment is your specialty.”

“For someone so gifted in speech, you’d think you would have learned when to shut up.”

“Bite me.” She laughed and buttered a roll.

The heat had dulled, but only slightly, and a dull blade was worse than a sharp one. I turned to Warner, who was still fixing my sister with a death stare. I raised his hand to my cheek. If I kept his attention on me, then hopefully they wouldn’t do something I would end up regretting.

“I rode my motorcycle today.”

“You did?” Distraction successful, he answered curiously.

“I missed it. We should do it more often, it wasn’t the same without you.” The room smelled like lilac. “It’s getting pretty cold out, as well, so if you want to go riding--”

“A metal deathtrap.”

“--We’ll have to go soon.” I gritted my teeth again and caught Emmaline’s gaze out of the corner of my eye. “You never have anything helpful to add, do you?”

Emmaline was watching our exchange, eyes shimmering with something that I couldn’t place. But Warner could. I could read his movements better than his facial expressions, as he tilted his body in front of me. The lilac that had misted the air had turned frigid, but hadn’t disappeared. Not yet anyways. Emmaline placed her chin on the palm of her hand.

“Still trying to find a way to break your neck?”

How dare she pretend to be innocent. “Why? Decided to give it a go afterall?” I answered.

There was an ebb and flow to the frequencies that surrounded the table. Emmaline, ever the bringer of chaos, was upsetting my natural balance. I knew she would, hypothetically, and I could handle it. Hypothetically. But what I couldn’t handle was my sister trying to infuriate the both of us at the same time. Though that was what she did best wasn’t it?

“Tell us why you’re really here, Emmaline.” Warner’s voice was serious.

I stiffened as my sister’s lazy smile faded. “You already know, don’t you?”

“Tell her, then.”

“Or you will. I’m familiar with the threat, thank you.” She rolled her eyes and the childish glee she’d been playing with from the moment she’d hugged me, disappeared completely. If I could feel emotions like Warner, I’d suspect any cheerfulness in my sister had blown away, almost like it never existed. “Project Canary.”

My blood froze in my veins.

“They’ve completed it?”

Emmaline appraised Warner’s question, “They believe they have.”

“And that’s all that really matters.” His fingers tightened their grip on my hand and I squeezed back with just as much force. I couldn't feel the rest of my body, I was grasping for anything, and had settled on my power. It covered me like a blanket, extended itself to Warner and wrapped him in it as well. It was protecting us, it would protect us. But not from that, not if they had succeeded.

“Don’t be dramatic,” Emmaline chasitied. “As if I would let them create something powerful enough to neutralize Ella. I’m not an idiot.” That was a pointed statement if I ever heard one.

“What were you doing in Asia?” How could Warner be so calm?

“Testing it, obviously.”

He leaned back, “And?”

Emmaline was silent for a long time. Long enough that I began to count. I hated counting, more than anything. As much as I loved mathematics and sciences, the theory of numbers and how they could organize the entire universe, I despised counting with a passion. Because once I started, it was almost impossible to stop. To pull myself out of that scared little corner of my head that I only fell into against my own will.

1, 2, 3, 4…

Warner’s pointer finger tapped on the inside of my wrist.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t serious.” Emmaline continued, “I could have waited for my sister to come home to see her again, but it couldn’t wait. So, here I am.”

“Here you are.”

It was a message, it was a message and I couldn’t decipher it, but I would keep trying. For him. I focused on the feeling. The soft brushes of the pads of his fingers as they typed out a message to me and only me, heavily coded, even in his mind. Emmaline couldn’t read this, only I could. If I just--

“The Unnaturals they found in the last raid have been wiped out. Overseen by Supreme Commander Ibrahim and Mummy dearest, of course. It wasn’t a diplomatic mission, I lied, Nazeera and I watched the precessions.” Warner could no doubt see what Emmaline was recalling in her mind, “Their frequencies, their signatures, just vanished. Like they were dead.”

“But they weren’t dead, not when they disappeared.”

Emmaline nodded, “It was like a blackhole. I’ve never felt anything so… wrong.”

“I can understand that at least.” Warner went quiet again, and deep inside my mind where reality couldn’t touch me I felt all the more trapped losing that tether. I shut my eyes tightly. Without the sound of their voices, the darkness, the frequencies were consuming the edges of the room, and I could feel them sting across my skin. The hand that Warner held was the only place that cooled, like soaked in water, safe. “Love, you need to come back to us now.”

I was weak. How could I be falling apart so easily? Here the two of them were speaking calmly and I was falling apart at the dinner table. If Anderson saw me, if our mother heard--

27, 28, 29, 30…

“Thinking like that isn’t going to get you anywhere, sis.”

Warner’s free hand came up to tuck my hair behind my ear and slid down to cup the side of my face. It was like balm on a sunburn. If I could just move, then I could disappear into the circle of his arms where I would be safe, and loved, and

“Wake up, sweetheart.”

I gasped and the ticking of a clock. The numbers. The counting stopped.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered to the both of them, my eyes trained on the tablecloth. Embarrassment, shame, weakness burned in my gut.

Warner stroked my temple, his eyes never left my face but Emmaline turned away and I had to restrain my own wince. My mind was not a serene place to be in at this moment, that was for damn sure. Maybe if she learned to stay out of my head then she wouldn’t read things she couldn’t stomach.

“But that wouldn’t be very fun, would it?” She mused.

Warner pursed his lips and answered her, gaze still trained on me. “I think that’s enough for tonight. Actually, I think that’s enough entirely. You passed on your information, Emmaline, go home.”

“Gladly,” she responded, “if my sister comes with me.”

“No,”

The noise was raw and strained, I wasn’t sure where it came from until I saw my sister’s eyes turn to me. There was a mix of pity and desperation in them that made me feel all the more sick to my stomach. Maybe she believed the best way to protect me was by us staying together, but if her information had solidified anything it was that I couldn’t return home. Not anytime soon anyway.

“Emma, I can’t.”

“And why not?” Emmaline stood to her full height. She towered over the table, but I could feel her unease rolling off her frequencies in waves. It had been awhile since I had fallen apart in front of her. Probably almost a decade.

“Mum, she plans to test it on me.” To my surprise, my lips didn’t quiver. “It will work.”

“And I’ll stop her.”

I shook my head. She didn’t understand, she couldn’t understand what losing my powers even for a moment would mean for me. The vulnerability that I hadn’t felt since I was a child. How stripping me of something so intertwined with my entire being would be alike to killing me. The fact that the Reestablishment could very well kill me using such an object.

I watched the warring emotions on my sister’s face as she considered my thoughts. I wished that I could read her own and understand why she would be so insistent that I return home with her. It didn’t work. Emmaline turned away from me, and away from the table, and walked back towards the door. We hadn’t even gotten the chance to eat anything. I hadn’t noticed until now.

“Els,” Emmaline called back to me. “I’ll see you in the morning. For training, yeah?”

She paused. I bit my lip, “Of course.”

And with that she nodded and left. The door slamming behind her with more force than necessary and a weight settling in my gut that I could be sure would disappear overnight. I glanced to Warner, his eyes still heavy on my face, and I found something in them that perfectly reflected how I felt. How this whole situation felt.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face into the collar of his jacket. And I cried.

[kookiesandbananamilk]

Harmony - Pt. 2

Summary: Being an idol was an entirely new experience for you, and meeting the famous Jeon Jungkook didn´t change that fact.

Words:  1756 (sorry It is so short, I am not sure anyone read these anyways) 

Genre: Smut (Im blushing of myself but I aim to please), Fluff

A strong urge rushes trough you to kiss him and run your fingers through his hair, but stunned by the situation all you could do was to stand there looking perplexed, Jungkook becoming more and more visibly unsure. How did this boy manage to go up on a stage in front of thousands and thousands of fans, hip-thrusting like his life depended on it, eye-fucking the fan-cams and make both men and women swoon over him, but at the same time sit here, nervously so on the edge of your bed, looking oddly like a nervous bunny.

Jungkook wasn't sure how to react to your standstill. Usually invitations for girls to go to bed with him ended with both panting after fucking multiple times. He looked down at his feet, black socks and slightly wiggled his toes. He scrunched his nose and bit his bottom lip. You couldn’t help yourself and the next moment you found yourself sitting on top of his, your lips interlocking with his, tasting the beer on his lips mixed with a sweet, unidentifiable taste. He is taken aback by you launching yourself at him and sits unable to move for a few seconds before intertwining one hand in the hair at the back of your neck pulling you from him. He looks at you surprised, making you blush heavily and cursing under your breath for making  such a bold move. He smirks, a smirk that sends shivers through your body, heating up your core, before pushing you towards him again in desperation and lust. You bite down on his bottom lip, giving it a slight pull, making him groan deeply.  

 He pulls at the back og your t-short tugging it over your head, The loss of his mouth on yours making you wince slightly. “This is a bit unfair”, you say looking down at your almost naked upper body, thankful that you had worn a simple but cute black lace bra today, and then at his thick hoodie. He hastily removes it and throws you down on the bed, laying on top of you, his growing bulge pressing against your core to provide some sort of release. He moved away from your lips leaving small kissed on your neck, moving down to your breast, his hands massaging one, his thumb lightly brushing your nipple under your bra. He pulls you up, unhooking your bra before launching it to the other side of the room. You laugh at the gesture, and he smiles proudly, before going down licking one nipple before sucking on it lightly, abruptly anding your giggling. He gives it a slight bite prompting a silent moan to leave your lips,  “Jungkook-ah”, you can notice him smiling, and continue placing kisses further down towards the waistband of your shorts, you pushing hips towards him in anticipation.

 «Eager baby?” He say giving your shorts a light pull with his teeth. He haven't even toughed you yet and you are already a moaning mess, raising your hips so he can easily rid you of your shorts and panties. He stands still for a few seconds admiring your naked body, letting the tips of his fingers trace the inner part of your legs, he leans down and places light kisses on your thighs, kissing upward, skipping the part you wish he would kiss the most with a mischievous grin, “jungkook-ah” you sigh in frustration causing him to brush his fingertips lightly over your core, and continues to kiss your hipbones, leaving small bites and kisses all over your skin, you breath heavily. “Baby, what do you want?” He asks in a low but stern voice. “Please jungkook…” you moan unable to voice your  wants, pressing your hips towards him, hoping for him to stop the teasing. “Say it sweetheart”, he says, ceasing all contact with your skin. “Please Jungkook, please just touch me baby” you wine, spreading your legs more and giving his soft, light brown hair a tug. Seconds later you let out a loud moan clasping your mouth, remembering that the others were watching a movie just down the hall. His tongue liking your slit painfully slowly, taking his time to savor you. “Baby, you taste amazing”, Jungkook moans, his blunt words causing your cheeks to flush. He sucks lightly on your clit, and you moan out in pleasure and pain. He uses his long fingers to spread you and eases one long finger into you. “Fuck, how are you this tight?” He murmurs against your wet core and moves his fingers slowly before easing in another, letting his tongue flick your clit between sucking on it, your body jolting. You grip the sheets and try to think straight, your hands frantically trying to get a hold so you could drag yourself back into reality,  buy the combination of Jungkooks hands and tongue makes it hard for you to even remember your own name. You find your core tightening and you press your hips towards his face to chase your orgasm, you loudly moan his name, fully ignoring the house full of people when it hits you, causing your inner and outer to shake.

 Jungkook lays next to you, a proud smile on his face, giving his lips a gentle lick before leaning into kissing you again, you reach down to grab his cock, and your fingertips barely hit his clothed member. Knock, knock, knock. Jungkook sighs in frustration, «Jungkook-ah» Namjoons voice seeps through the door. You frantically look for yoir clothes, flushing, terrified that he will come in. «We have to go now, Pdnim wants us back at the dorms». «Just a second hyung!» Jungkook yells back, taking  a few deep breaths before pulling on the white t-shirt he was wearing underneath the hoodie before giving you a small peck his lips still tasting of your wetness. He smiles widely, his bunny teeth visible and say «I guess we have to continue this another time», before hurrying out.

 When you decide to make an apperance in the livingroom an hour later the three girls were sitting there, Sunhee and Yeji watching some kind of drama and Inhye busy scrolling through SNS. «You missed the whole movie», Yeji said in a casual tone. «Anything interesting happened?» She cock an eyebrow trying to act uninterested but you know they all are dying to know. «Uhm nothing in partiqular» you say looking down, trying yo force your increasingly red face to stay a normal colour. «Stop lying! You are wearing his hoodie and your hair did not look like that this morning!» Inhye squeels throwing a pillow at you. «We might have kissed», you mumble, Jungkooks warm hoodie, smelling exactly like you imagined it would of warm cotton, washing powder, musk and vanilla, comforting you. The girls all started talking over each other, asking all kinds of questions about how it was and do you realize you kissed THE Jeon Jungkook. You just silently retreat back to your room, imagine the warm sweater being him holding you when you fall asleep.

 It was so unlike you to be this stupidly crazy over a boy. Yes, you definitely had been in love before, or at-least had crushes, but not like this, everything that happened during the next day reminding you of him. You didn’t even know if he even liked you. You had just met and had just slept together, well almost slept together, he probably did this all the time. Trying to seem cool and chill about it all and forcing your expectations to lower you turn of your phone to avoid texting him first. You had always thought of yourself as strong and independent and you were definitely not the type of girl to sit around waiting for a boy to call, but something about this particular boy made you feel like when you had your first crush in middle school.

 The next few days are uneventful, rather busy with dance practices and music producing and monitoring. You are tired and your whole body aches when you sitt in the sofa in your dorms with the other members. Your hair in a bun, wearing sweatpants and watching some drama on tv you dont really know what is about when a message plings into your phone.

 20.49 [Bunny]

Hey, Its JK, want to go for a drive or something?

 You are not an idiot even you know a drive means sex, even if you are a rookie you know that driving to a remote location often the only way idols are able to "date". But you can´t say you are too opposed to the idea. The thought of Jungkooks slim but muscular torso, soft lips and sweet smell is enought to induse a delishious tingle in your core unlike the way any guy has done before. You have often found yourself daydreaming about what that boy could do in bed, only to come to your senses and worry that you had drooled all over the place. You take a deep breath and answer his text with a yes.

 20.55 [Bunny]

Ill pick you up in thirty.

 A little more than 30 minutes later you find yourself sitting in a luxurious mercedes, the leather seats making your skin stick to the seats making you curse yourself for wearing such a short skirt. You look out the window nervously using your fingertips to smooth down the hem of the skirt even if it lays perfectly to begin with. Jungkook is talking about his day and practice and his voice and slight lisp when he gets exited about something is comferting and strangely familiar and makes your heart beat at least at a normal speed, even though even his presence, his soft smell of vanilla and some kind of spice you cant really pinpoint that fills the air is enought for you to forget to breath at times. When you stop at an intersection Jungkook lays his big hands on top of yours, which are nervously fiddeling with your skirt. You hitch slightly, the softness of his touch catching you by supprise. "Hey", he says smoothly, his voice, crystal clear. "Dont be nervous". He laughs slightly moving his hand upwards, his slender fingertips only slightly caressing the skin of your exposed arms and softly grabs the hair in the nape of your neck. "Relax noona", Jungkook says with a michevous smile biting his lower lip to hold back a smile, seing your mock offended face and suffering from a few light, playfull punches to the shoulder