#i checked that the same is true for The Untamed and just about threw my phone

[stayedfortheplot]

Yeah I'm fine, just having a quarter life crisis because I learned that pretty much all mainland China dramas are dubbed. And I've been watching for a year and I never saw one mention of this fact.

[drama--universe]

Don't kill each other

Requested by anonymous: Hey hey! How about a request for Untamed where the reader is the twin (or younger sister) of Meng Yao who is involved in planning the murder of Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangshan along with her brother and Xue Yang. Meng Yao is very protective of her sister, always takes care of her and always wants her to be happy (heh, I adore protective brothers even though I don't have one XD). But Meng Yao does not know that his sister is in a relationship with Xue Yang, he is afraid to tell his brother because he believes that he might be jealous of Xue Yang because it was always her brother who protected her and now he will be replaced by Xue Yang. And she wasn't wrong in a way, when Meng Yao found out (he saw them too close together, heard them talking amorously to each other, etc...) and so he decides to interrogate them both, he asks his sister why she kept it from him...

Pairing: Xue Yang x Meng!reader

Word Count: 1.0k words

Warnings: dismemberment, death, threathening

With a loud sigh, you leaned back against Xue Yang's chest. Your brother was god knows where, already an hour late to what was supposed to be your meeting time. Xue Yang threw his arm around you, pulling you closer to him as he placed a soft kiss on the crown of your head. His hand toyed with your hair, pulling at the strands ever so slightly to annoy you a bit. You just shoved him as you sat up, almost jumping from your seat as the door loudly opened. You moved to another seat instead of staying on Xue Yang's lap, sitting a bit more neater and lady-like than before. Your brother, Meng Yao, entered with a frown on his face, creating wrinkles in his forehead that you had grown so used to seeing.

"Who was it this time?" You asked as you spotted some blood on the bottom of his robes, but Meng Yao didn't answer. His frown did lessen a bit when he saw you, softly patting your hair. You smiled at him before embracing him, making the elder break out in a smile eventually. Xue Yang was fascinated with how easy you could change Men Yao's mood, but it made sense since you could easily do the same for him. It was a charm of yours, one easily used for manipulation if necessary and often used for it as well. Xue Yang knew this well enough, it is how you got his attention and how you got him to join Meng Yao's plans. Luckily, you were more true to yourself after getting to know him instead of pretending to be your fake self.

"So, who was it this time?" You asked again as you let go of him, looking at him while he sat down as well. Meng Yao shook his head before looking at Xue Yang.

"Why are you here?" His voice was laced with annoyance, you couldn't figure out why, and Xue Yang scoffed before turning and grabbing his back. It was quickly throw across the room, landing besides Meng Yao. He opened it before closing it again, closing his eyes as well.

"I needed him intact, not just his head..." "The ghouls got to him first, not my fault." Xue Yang said, shrugging as he leaned back in his seat. Both men seemed a bit too unbothered with the fact that there was a literal head in the bag. You, like any normal human being, didn't quite like to see severed limbs. So when Meng Yao dropped the bag and the head of whoever rolled out of the bag and to the floor, you immediatley turned away while trying to not gag. Cue both men looking at you with a worried look, Xue Yang being the first to check up on you.

Unfortunately for both of you, he forgot about your brother sitting an arms length away.

"What do you think you're doing?" His voice was laced with venom, clearly meant to scare Xue Yang in some way. It didn't work, but that didn't mean that Meng Yao would stop glaring. You slowly pushed Xue Yang's hand away from your arm, coughing softly as you tried to compose yourself. Xue Yang didn't stop his movement as he made you close your eyes before you heard shuffling, assuming that he was putting the head away from your sight. Meng Yao frowned as he watched how caring Xue Yang was being to you, unlike what he had seen previously. He picked Xue Yang because of the lack of empathy to humans, yet here he was as he treated you like you were the love of his life. At that thought, Meng Yao's eyes widened as he looked between the two of you. Somehow, everything clicked in seconds.

"You're courting?" He asked, voice even rougher than before as he awaited an answer from you. He didn't care for Xue Yang, only staring at you with a look of, what seemed to be, disappointment. And for you, that was the worst thing to receive from your brother. It pained your heart that your brother was disappointed in you, you fought every single day to not disappoint him in any way and yet here you were. You forced yourself to speak, telling him that was true with a stutter in your voice that you could not hide. Emotions flashed across your brother's face, something that not often happened as Meng Yao never wore his emotions on his face. It ended in an emotionless look, one that you could still read easily however. That was an expression that meant one thing, Xue Yang was going to die.

"Don't you dare." The second you said that, Meng Yao had already turned and pointed a sword to your boyfriend's neck. It pressed against his main artery, drawing a bit of blood that trickled down Xue Yang's neck. You rushed forwards, shoving yourself in between the pair while pushing the sword away safely.

"You can not kill my boyfriend-" Meng Yao twitched, wanting to lift the sword once again. "-Don't you dare." You pointed a finger at him and he sighed, dropping the sword rather dramatically.

"If she gets hurt-" "She won't. You know what I can do." Xue Yang answered, a bit too cocky for your liking as you elbowed him between his ribs.

"I can protect myself, so why don't you both shut up." You spoke as you stepped out of their reach, looking at the both of them before pointing a finger at each.

"Now get along." And with that, you walked out. They'd be fine, even if they fought.

As long as neither died, but you'd kill the other if that happened and you were sure that they knew that.

[cienie-isengardu]

Can you do headcanons on SubScorp (Kuai Liang / Hanzo Hasashi) and the evolution of their relationship, please? ♡

Sure, just please keep in mind that rock has a better romantic sense than I ever will. I’m not a shipper in general and SubScorp has a lot to overcome in my mind to even get close as friends but I will do my best! In advance, sorry for the long text and especially opening. My hand slipped but I needed to build the romantic headcanons on something.

Oh, and I kinda threw away the canon timeline here and there and went with how I would write their relationship (and story, I guess) if I was given the chance.

At the beginning, Hanzo and Kuai were bitter enemies and their hate for each other was the exact reason why Quan Chi kept them working together. The revenants were creatures of vivid emotions, twisted and corrupted by Netherrealm fire. So the stronger they hated, the mightier were their unnatural powers. But there was also a more sinister reason: Quan Chi kept them together, day after day, because it amused him to watch how Sub-Zero and Scorpion wanted to hurt each other but always were defenseless against his magic, always blindly obedient. To have two deadliest of enemies as slaves under his power was the best perk of necromancy.

When they were revenants though, Quan Chi’s cruel joke meant nothing. Kuai Liang had no free will, no remorse, only hate and pain to go on. Hanzo could - should - run away, but didn’t. He was broken in thousands of little ways and it was easier to follow orders, to not think than take responsibility for his own choices, to face the utterly devastating feeling of failure. It wasn't a good life - it wasn’t a life at all, but it was all they had.

After so many days turned into weeks turned into months, the constant presence of each other became the punishment and the salvation at once. They hated each other and this hate never truly left them for a moment, never let them feel peace of mind. They hated each other but it was an emotion that bonded them together, grounded in reality, made sense in an otherwise senseless world.

Hanzo and Kuai Liang got used to each other that the presence of mutual disdain was as normal part of their cursed life as breathing for a living person.

But then Quan Chi lost and suddenly they both were brought to life against their will. The first weeks were the worst. They were victims of dark magic, everyone was saying but none of them was a killer responsible for thousands of brutal deaths. Not like Hanzo and Kuai Liang and because of that, the burden of guilt was their alone. A burden they didn’t want to share among themselves, so they sought out different paths to find some solace.

For Hanzo, there was nothing to come back. The home of Shirai Ryu was destroyed, devastated beyond any measure. He still heard clearly Quan Chi’s voice in his head, how he failed his clan, how shamed his wife and child. Hanzo felt dirty and unworthy and utterly lost. The once mighty Scorpion was now a wreck, a directionless nomad.

For Kuai Liang, the home was Lin Kuei but it was taken by cyber monsters without souls. Once he returned to living, those monsters hunted him restlessly. For years he ran and hid and killed and killed and killed and killed until he was ready to face Sektor and reclaim what was once his. An honor and a purpose in life, so he could find Scorpion and kill him for brother’s death. But then he learned dark secrets of the clan and even darker truths that changed everything.

Because of that, Kuai Liang invited Hanzo to Lin Kuei Temple, offered peace and a new start, a way to atone for all crimes and sins they committed arm to arm during war. Above everything else, offered the truth that finally set them both free from their cruel past.

They did not keep in touch then though. They met sporadically, when Raiden asked his Champions to assist in this or that little crisis. To hunt the demons that somehow survived the war, to find oh so rare, mystic artifact or two, or do a quick job in the Outworld. They were assassins after all and Special Forces the heroes who shouldn’t dirty their hands.

During those meetings, Hanzo and Kuai Liang tried to stay as far as possible without making a fuss about it. During missions though there was no one who could safely separate them, and thus save them from painful memories of the past.

It was terrifying to Hanzo how much he missed Sub-Zero’s cold presence at his side, even if the so well known hate for Bi-Han’s death still hid beneath the cryomancer's skin like a furious, wild beast, always present, never forgiving, kept in check only by Lin Kuei’s iron will.

It was terrifying for Kuai Liang how well he still understood Scorpion’s body language even though the ninja tried so desperately to hide scars left by Quan Chi on his soul, all those unsaid horrors he experienced, all the doubts and pain and self-hatred that burned as hot as Netherrealm fire that twisted them both.

But those sporadic joint missions alone weren’t what helped them connect once and forever.

Ironically, it was the guilt that let one understand so well the other, to know when it was a good time for jab and when not to speak - not to see - raw pain that both so hard tried to bury under their respective masks, of cold politeness and hot devotion to the past. Surprisingly, it was also the arrogance of united governments that wanted to use them to expand Earthrealm’s control over wild Outworld yet did not see them as human beings. To be seen as a useful tool but never truly welcome wasn’t anything new for any of them. Kuai Liang and Hanzo were a relic of a dark past that should have died years ago yet were too stubborn to just yield and blindly follow orders even again. This burning desire for independence and search for their lost humanity built a common ground, the bridge between past hate and empathy.

This, and their shared disdain for Johnny’s never ending jokes. In the past, every time the Champions of Earthrealm met in the same place and Cage opened his mouth to talk Hollywood's weirdness, Hanzo got closer and closer to Kuai Liang. There was no word of recognition or permission - one look at each other and they understood perfectly it was either stay strong together and endure this senseless, annoying wave of words or do something regrettable.

And because they already had enough guilt to worry about, Sub-Zero and Scorpion simply stood arm to arm, like they did during war. Somehow that comforting familiarity grew up into something much stronger; not yet friendship but unity anyway. Time did not heal them but the mutual hate faded little by little, day after day until pain was nothing more than bitter ache they simply learned to live with.

Despite everything and everyone, Hanzo and Kuai Liang got to trust each other, to rely on a bond that was once a cruel Quan Chi’s joke.

Sub-Zero was the person that accompanied Hanzo to the Shirai-Ryu clan’s ruins, so he could finally bury dead ones left there forgotten by the world. Hanzo should have done that long ago, he knew, but the claw of fear clung to his heart for years and would not let it. The fear that Hanzo Hasashi never truly existed and he was a fraud, another lie begotten by Netherrealm. That there was no Harumi nor Satoshi and in the end he clinged so desperately to a nightmare that never was true to begin with. A nightmare for which he murdered the wrong person and brought someone else this maddening pain.

Seeing the ruins of home - the once so familiar bodies now just flesh spread out, glistening bones scattered everywhere, ripped and crushed, forgotten - was like dying again. Hanzo broke down and for the first time in a decade allowed himself to cry. Kuai Liang was there by his side, offering no wise words, nor comfort. He simply sat there, back to back with Hanzo, so he could know he wasn’t truly left alone this time yet quietly like a shadow to not disturb his grief. Hanzo would never forget this kindness for the rest of his life. He wouldn’t forget the sacrifice made that day by Sub-Zero to come to mortuary ruins, to bury another clan slaughtered without mercy in the name of madness and spite.

But with pain came also relief, that his memories were truly his and not another sweet lie whispered to his ear by a twisted sorcerer.

(Kuai Liang came here because it was the right thing to do. To pay respect and melt the dark past into a better future in which Shirai Ryu and Lin Kuei could be an ally, maybe even brothers in arms. He came for Hanzo, because no one did that for him, when he had countless bodies of comrades to bury after Sektor’s defeat and no one should be forced to do so alone. He came there also for himself, to see and be sure Bi-Han wasn’t part of the heartless crime. The hallmarks of a frontal attack, chaotic destruction and coarse, devoid of surgical precision violence were proof it wasn’t Bi-Han’s work. His brother would never be so sloppy, so random in his attack. He even told so Hanzo, in this moment of relief and social clumsiness and Scorpion just looked at him with the reddened eyes and did not burst in flame of anger, just… accepted the truth and Kuai Liang said no more about it.)

Scorpion was the person that stayed at Kuai Liang’s side when Frost betrayed her master and disappeared without a trace. He never liked the cryomancer girl - she reminded him too much of Sub-Zero who sought him for brother’s death. Young and brash, untamed, always snarling, spitting with venom in their face. But above everything else, Frost’s anger burned too hot like his own and he hated to look at her and to see himself.

Maybe losing such a precious student - an heir - was like losing a child. Hanzo understood this crushing feeling but there were no right words to offer. Even if he knew them, Sub-Zero did not want pity, did not want to talk. All he needed was a space to unleash fury and pain, the excess of emotions too large to bury them in the tomb of a cold heart. And so day after day, night after night, the ice and fire clashed over and over again until all muscles burned and the ache brought finally some peace. Not much, but enough to let Kuai Liang not dwell on his failure and focus on Grandmaster’s duties.

(There was something off about this whole situation but Hanzo couldn’t pick on what exactly. Kuai Liang had secrets he didn’t share, not yet and Hanzo respected his wishes, trusting Lin Kuei’s word. So far, Kuai Liang never had let him down. Scorpion trusted and it was terrifying on its own).

Those were the little steps into a path that brought them closer. It wasn't love for each other then, not even romantic infatuation, but love for the lost one, for family that was once but no longer. They understood this grief too well.

The first time Hanzo felt the pang of love, he and Kuai Liang were debating about the proper course of the upcoming mission. They were sitting in Hanzo’s room, with an open door leading to the Fire Garden. Then, without warning came spring rain and both looked out on instinct. The air was filled with the freshness of trees and flowers coming back to life; a freshness they breathed in greedily to wash out the taste of Netherrealm ash forever.

On that day, everything seemed to be in the right place. Just the two of them, sitting arm to arm delighted by the simplest things in life; a warm rain, nourishing garden, a steaming mug of tea between all of this. There was a peace Hanzo did not feel for ages and the sound of the rain and steady breath of his companion lulled him into half-sleep, half-awareness.

On that day, Hanzo wished to keep this moment forever.

The second time Hanzo felt something toward Kuai Liang, it was on Lin Kuei’s training ground. They spared, like they always did in their free or stressful time, but for whatever reason, Kuai Liang smiled at him, this soft, weirdly cocky smile he rarely shows in company and Hanzo looked at it for a few seconds too long before he understood how fast his heart beat, how warmness filled him - not the Netherrealm fire that burns through his muscles and bones, but warmth that he felt only around his wife and child. He wanted to kiss those lips, to feel its coldness on his own. It was wrong on so many levels and he did what he always does in times of overwhelming emotions he didn’t like. He disappeared into flames and ran the hell away from Sub-Zero’s smile. The burned holes to this day were the proof of his shameful panic.

Where did such obscene thoughts come from, he did not have an idea. But the guilt for having them even for a moment about Kuai Liang - any man, really - was too heavy, too suffocating to face Sub-Zero. So Hanzo avoided him for weeks.

And yet, he came back to Lin Kuei Temple. And again and again and again. Despite the burning shame, he sought out Kuai Liang, because only around him, the Netherrealm’s cursed fire cooled down enough to allow him to breathe.

So he danced, between disgrace and this weird feeling of happiness, of living again. Of seeking out the cryomancer and running away from horrific emotion he didn’t know how to get rid off, how to tame.

(Hanzo loved Harumi with all his heart. How could he love - desire - anyone else? And a man whose brother he unjustly killed?)

Kuai Liang decided to not discuss Scorpion’s emotional swings until Hanzo figured it out for himself what he truly wanted. There was no point to get involved into some sentimental drama if there was no hope for sensible agreement.

The Lin Kuei always desired a new generation of warriors, so sex wasn’t any taboo. Some warriors sought comfort in the arms of strange women and men, some between each other. Sex wasn’t forbidden but the emotions were. To feel loyalty or worse, love, to a fellow warrior instead of trusting the masters was a crime.

Kuai Liang did not feel any sudden pang of love toward Hanzo, nor any desire for physical contact. Romanticism never was part of any cryomancer’s nature. He missed his brother and Smoke, but year after year the pain of loss dulled enough to leave him with nothingness. Kuai Liang knew only this: somehow Scorpion became the only source of warmth that kept his heart from freezing completely.

Kuai Liang didn’t have a proper name for what twirled in his soul - a friendship or a love, how one could tell those apart? He wished his older brother or Smoke was there to tell him it was alright to like - care for - Hanzo, but both were dead and twisted into monsters. It was just him and his fragile, scarred heart to judge what was right and what was not. And hope Bi-Han would forgive him the weakness.

They find the balance that keeps both safe, warming the frozen heart and cooling down the neverending flame of anger. For a decade or so, it worked well.

But then Hanzo killed Quan Chi and ruined the chance to free revenants from sorcerer’s curse. The Champions of Earthrealm never liked Scorpion to begin with, now he was persona non grata. Rightly so. Imprisoned, he awaited their judgment. Scorpion could easily escape but chose not to - he was ready to face the consequences yet there was no court nor punishment. The Grandmaster of Lin Kuei came for him and made it clear to all representatives of the united governments and army that he will with Hanzo at his side, over their dead bodies if need be.

Twenty years was not enough time to forget what they together were capable of in fight. How dangerous and experienced murderers they were. No one dared to stop them when they left military base together.

Kuai Liang did not rely on words to show his feelings. Deeds always spoke more than any pretty speech. He was disappointed yet he still came for Hanzo. He saw Scorpion’s arrogance, egoism, breaking point and still came and that only made Hanzo love him more. For the first time, he did not feel shame or guilt for loving - and being loved - by another man.

Hanzo Hasashi’s choice almost brought destruction to the world yet somehow, this tragedy made them inseparable for good. It wasn’t always easy - they argued, for fun and for real and there were still rare days when it was only wise to stay away from each other. Like the day of Bi-Han’s unjust death and the lost chance to bring Harumi and Satoshi to life. They were beyond the primal hate yet some instincts were too strong to risk destroying what they built for themselves over the years.

Somehow through the years they changed from Sub-Zero and Scorpion to Grandmasters of their respective clans and from those to just Kuai Liang and Hanzo.

Hanzo wasn’t used to being so casually called by name but he liked the change. It was Sub-Zero’s voice, he suspected, that made him feel so attracted. At the same time, he felt honored when Kuai Liang told his birth - forbidden - name. He knew it already, for years, but it was different to know and be told, allowed, to use it freely.

Hanzo’s turbulent relationship with other Champions got worse once his student, Takeda started dating Jaqueline Briggs. The Champions distrusted and disliked him and he didn’t feel any need to reconcile with them. Kuai Liang was disappointed in him for treating the girl coldly but everytime asked why he still bothered to deal with Shirai Ruy Grandmaster, the answer was one and the same - he is my equal. For Hanzo it was the most beautiful and terrifying declaration.

(At the same time, everytime Hanzo heard someone accusing Sub-Zero of being cold, heartless, untouched by trauma, the anger burned him wholly. Who were they to judge, to mock Kuai Liang’s pain that hid so well under polite words and calmness? He did not care what people said about him, but would not stand any mockery against those he respected - loved - so much.)

Then of course another immortal being decided to screw up everything and messed up timelines. The younger, brash and mad version of Scorpion wasn’t something that Hanzo and Kuai Liang actually wanted to see, nor the repeat of Cyber Lin Kuei. Then Hanzo died and woke up, again trapped in Netherrealm. So he ran at the first chance, thinking more about Kuai Liang than about his own fears of burning alive in hell forever. The sight of Sub-Zero in hell should have alarmed him - and it did, for a moment, scare Hanzo that the other man died too which was an unbearable thought. But Kuai Liang was alive and so, so determined to bring him back home. If that wasn’t the loudest, the most tangible declaration of love, what else could it be?

And so, like twenty years ago, they fight side to side, like one body and soul. And destroyed, killed, tore apart demons and hellspawn, everything and everyone that stood in their way to freedom, to safety of Earthrealm’s boundaries. First time in ages, they could unleash their anger at those who hurt them, enslaved, and used. It felt so good, so right to be a storm of vengeful fury that frightened even the mighty Netherrealm. They were alive and together and nothing, no gods, titans or destiny, could stop them.

Kuai Liang and Hanzo did not talk much about their last visit in Netherrealm. What happened there was their and only their moment to relish, incomprehensible for bystanders. It was weird though, to come back to live and face his younger, stubborn self. Kuai Liang did not like this Scorpion much and to be honest, Hanzo did not like this version of himself too. It was Scorpion from the darkest time in their past, when only mutual hate connected them. At the same time, there was something amusing to see himself so awkward and uneasy everytime when Kuai Liang and older Hanzo sat so closely, relaxed and calm, like it was the normalest thing to do. When they acted like halves of the same soul.

Kuai Liang never was keen to show any romantic gestures but sometimes he took Hanzo’s hand to emphasize clearly what they were. Hanzo was always surprised by Sub-Zero’s openness and filled with joy, whereas his younger self was confused as hell. Hanzo suspected he would soon need to talk and explain to his younger self what he and Kuai Liang were to each other. Why they needed each other so much and how loving someone else other than Harumi was not dishonor. After all, love wasn’t sin nor weakness.

[arhvste]

KUROO TETSURO - 3:37AM

summary - you and kuroo play hide and seek in the early hours of morning after the hot nights of mid august prevent you both from falling asleep - fluff

this was actually a prompt written by @emma_ichihara on tiktok that i absolutely needed to write about after i saw it so thank u for that queen <3

warnings - none

-

The heat in your bedroom was unbearable. Then again, you couldn’t say you didn’t expect it to be as mid august is always going to be a pain to sleep through.

You tossed about in your sheets flailing your arms and legs about trying to get some sort of breeze across your limbs only to flop down in frustration. Grabbing your phone from the side of your bed you checked the time. 2:27AM.

Your eyes squinted at the brightness of the screen and you put your phone back down only to hear it vibrate on the surface as soon as you let go of the device. Assuming it was going to be a random notification from one of your apps you almost decided to ignore it but something told you to check regardless.

Your eyes once again squinting as they adjusted to the luminous light emitting from your phone contrasting against the darkness of your room. Your heart fluttered as you read through the notification.

2:28AM - tetsoup : i know ur up right now

You unlocked your phone as you typed out your reply. A conversation flowing between the two of you.

2:28AM - thot chan : okay u got me sue me for not being able to handle the heat

2:29AM - tetsoup : would’ve thought after being around me so much you’d be able to handle the hot ;)

2:29AM - thot chan : ur a chemistry nerd u aren't hot

2:29AM - tetsoup : fail ur next chemistry exam for all i care dont ask me for help :(

2:30AM - thot chan : you wound me captain

2:30AM - thot chan : and what are u doing up right now?

2:31AM - tetsoup : same as u genius, this heat is making my body perspire more than what i’d like

2:31AM - thot chan : lmao that means u finna be smelly. go take a cold shower u farm animal

2:31AM - tetsoup : at 2am? i don't think so u imbecile, i have a better solution though

2:32AM - thot chan : and that is?

You stared at your phone expecting a reply quickly but after 5 minutes it never came.

‘Idiot must’ve fallen asleep’

You hummed as you set your phone back down and allowed your head to hit back against the soft pillows on your bed. The heat was still bothering you so it didn’t look like you were going to be getting much sleep, regardless you still tried by closing your eyes and trying to force your brain into drifting off into a peaceful slumber.

Not even 4 minutes into your attempt at forced sleep you heard your phone vibrate softly against the wood of your bedside table. Snatching it up towards your face you stared at the notification in disbelief.

2:43AM - tetsoup : im outside ur house hurry up the bugs are eating me alive

This boy.

Swinging your legs off the hurricane of sheets, pillows and your comforter, you dragged yourself over to the window to peek through your blinds. There stood your tall boyfriend with a big hoodie and sweatpants on, signature bedhead with his hands in his pockets patiently waiting for your arrival.

You smiled slightly. He really had your whole heart and you couldn’t deny that even if you tried.

Grabbing one of his hoodies you had ‘borrowed’ you threw on your shoes and quietly made your way to the front door carefully not wanting to disturb your parents and have them question your activities.

“Finally, my body was about to start decomposing from all the bugs attacking me from just standing here.”

“Sounds like a you problem.”

Kuroo pulled your smaller frame into his significantly larger one as you inhaled the scent of his hoodie. He buried his head into the crook of your neck as he gave it a soft kiss before looking back down at you.

“Come on let's go.”

You hummed in curiosity but allowed the boy to take your smaller hand into his larger calloused one and lead the way to the unknown destination.

It wasn’t rare for you and Kuroo to meet up during the night. Sure you spent a lot of time together most days but there was something about being the only ones out in such public places that made you both feel as if you were the only ones in the world. This feeling never got old to the pair of you as everytime the two of you met up in the earliest hours of morning you would find yourselves falling in love all over again with each other. These hours were the ones you held close to your evergrowing heart.

After 5 minutes of walking through the peaceful streets in your neighbourhood, Kuroo led you to the playground the two of you and Kenma would find yourselves occupied most days after school back when you were all younger. The place was such a public and overlooked one, but you all still cherished the memories created there and would sometimes find yourselves reminiscing on those times whenever you’d come back.

You let go of your boyfriend’s hand as you climbed onto the climbing structure which years ago would’ve proven to be more of a challenge for you to reach the top too. The platform a lot smaller than it used to be, you grabbed the railing and allowed a gentle breeze to run through the locks of your hair.

Kuroo looked up at you, adoration twinkling in his eyes. To him you were everything. He had known you ever since he first moved into the neighbourhood with his dad and grandparents. He used to find talking to others a struggle and found Kenma particularly hard to communicate with. You however, took the opportunity to get both boys to open up more to each other right by the reigns and within your first 6 months of being acquainted with each other, you had managed to get both boys comfortable enough to call you and each other a friend in confidence. For that, Kuroo was eternally grateful and even more so when you accepted his romantic feelings towards you 3 years ago.

“Let’s play hide and seek, you know, like we used to.”

You turned smiling to the beheaded captain. He gave you his signature smirk and turned around.

“You’ve got 30 seconds, be prepared to lose immediately.”

You laughed as he began to count up to 30, crouching behind a slide that you thought covered yourself from his view. It actually took Kuroo 54 seconds to find you and you turned the childish game into a small competition between the two of you, tallying up who could find the other the fastest each time.

It got to your 13th round and this time you were hiding inside the slide. Kuroo had yet to find you and it had been 8 minutes already. This confused you slightly as the usually perceptive boy would’ve found you by now. You climbed out of the slide and onto the platform as you glanced around your surroundings seeing no signs of him.

You raised your eyebrow as you knew the boy surely must be messing with you. He would never actually abandon you especially without letting you know.

Cupping your hands to both sides of your mouth you let yourself lean towards the railing of the climbing structure.

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo!”

You called out while continuing to scan the area in your view.

What you weren’t expecting was for strong arms to find their way around your waist as you felt someone's hot breath against the skin on your neck.

“I’m right here, my beautiful Juliet.”

You gasped as Kuroo kissed your neck before spinning you around to look at you directly. One of his hands supporting your back and the other moving a piece of loose hair away from your face, he stared into your eyes which twinkled under the stars. You smiled widely at him as he admired your gorgeous face.

He allowed his hand to trail down your neck until he moved his fingers to weave through your hair delicately. Moving his head down, he softly kissed your lips as you melted into his touch. Your hands moved to his broad shoulders as he deepened the kiss making you sigh in satisfaction. You hummed as he drew small circles on your back with his long fingers let your own hands move towards his untamable hair and rake through it resulting in a hum of approval from him.

You both pulled away as you studied each other's expressions. In that moment Kuroo had fallen for you even deeper if that was possible. Every fibre in his being adored you and it took so much self control to not just tackle you off the structure and cuddle you forever. You were his soulmate he was sure of that. The idea of love had never crossed Kuroo’s mind until middle school when you had both grown up a little bit more. He was focused on volleyball and keeping up his grades but you were always at the back of his mind driving him crazy to the point where he felt he had no other choice than to explore these foreign feelings for you. He would argue that by confessing to you, he had made the best decision in his life. You brought nothing but pure light into his life he was convinced you were some sort of guardian angel. You couldn’t be real. You were a living goddess and there were times when he’d feel like you were too good to be true.

The feelings were mutual on your side too. Kuroo Tetsuro had been a challenge for you to get to open up but when he did he didnt hold back on subconsciously taking your heart and occupying your thoughts on the daily. The two of you held such a deep and indescribable love for each other sometimes you felt like it was too hard to contain.

Brought back to reality by your hand caressing his cheek Kuroo turned to you and smiled so genuinely.

“Y/N, I am so so in love with you.”

“I know Tetsu. I love you too. So much.”

You pecked his cheek as he guided you off the climbing structure and onto the soft grass surrounding the playground.

You both laid there in a comfortable silence as you allowed the sounds of distant cars passing through the busy city of tokyo, and the soft sounds of crickets chirping as you cuddled up to Kuroo’s chest.

He wrapped his muscular arms around you and pulled you close to him whispering “I love you” over and over again quietly enough for only you to hear.

The early morning had reached 3AM and you both knew you’d have to make your way back to your homes soon but right now nothing else mattered.

The only thing on your minds was the fact you were both stupidly in love with each other and you would continue to allow yourselves to fall in love over and over again as you stared at the stars whispering small professions of love to one another for the remaining time you spent outside.

Kuroo Tetsuro, a perceptive boy who hadn’t considered love until you came into his life, had never felt such raw emotion in his life and it was these early hour moments which he would hold close to his heart for the rest of his life which he had planned to go through with you by his side.

[robots-and-writing]

The Road to Ruin (MTMTE Sunder part 3)

(TW: Needles, Surgery, blood, mind control, yandere, mentions of human experimentation)

Sunder left his beloved's room, human blood staining his hands. His room is directly beside it, and in the corner is a hole where he has a perfect, one way view of his dearest. Their set up is the same as last time, except this time a note is set on their chest. It's handwritten, in his scratchy yet legible handwriting.

"To my dearest most beloved little angel,

My dear, you've been out for a day after those nasty decepticons attacked us. I fended them off but they managed to injure you. I've dressed and bandaged your wounds and I will be back soon with some food and some clothes for you.

Your dearest Conjunx,

Sunder"

It was a messy letter, with a small bloodstain on the corner. But it would serve its purpose well. He checked his human supplies for anything he may be lacking. Blood transfusions ready to go in case of any injuries, water, food, and clothes. There was still more to get but the human would have to wait for them to arrive.

Sunder looked over to the altar dedicated to his beloved. Pictures of them adorned his walls, along with their name all over the walls written in energon. The altar had little keepsakes of them. One of their shirts he had stolen, a lock of their hair and a vial of their blood were his favorites. But his favorite thing of theirs? A recording. Taken without their knowledge back on earth, they had a lover there. They confessed under a tree to their old flame, and Sunder's spark broke in two at that moment. But one good thing came of that confession. A recording of his little angel, saying "I love you, more than anyone else. Despite your flaws and despite mine, we are meant to be."

Those words tasted like the most delicious memories, like the sweetest energon, and like the greatest victories. They repeated in his mind 24/7, and were what motivated him to continue on when it came to keeping as sane as he could be without them by his side.

But despite his best efforts, Sunder couldn't handle being without them. Seeing them with another person made his brain swim with thoughts of violence. He should use his powers to tear that wretched other human to shreds. But something made him stop himself.

What if my dear hates me?

Sunder wasn't exactly the friendliest looking cybertronian. Tall, broad and scary, with spikes and pointy bits sticking out of him, most humans would run away in terror. (Before being torn apart of course.) But after a few human experiments, his idea was made possible. Mnemosurgery works on humans. Not from a distance, that requires a brain module. But it could be done.

His first experiments were unsuccessful. Too many needles meant a full lobotomy and possibly making them brain dead. Too few needles and the results were more temporary and a much more thorough "coding" would be necessary. Some of them bleed out due to him accidentally hitting a major artery. Some starved as he didn't feed them right. And some couldn't handle being an experiment, so they threw themselves off the workbench onto the ground, committing suicide. It was a delicate balance.

At first he didn't want to alter his beloved too much. Just make them despise other humans. Then he realized that would just make them miserable. So then he wanted to make them like him. But that would be too easily undone. He had to go full in. Make him their guardian angel. Make him the only one they feel safe with. He is the only one they will ever love. He is what stops the universe from killing them.

Getting the human was a challenge. He could do it himself but that would run the risk of alerting the other Autobots to his presence and imprisoning him again. He could do something the humans called "Catfishing" but that requires patience. And that is not something he has ever had enough of. He finally settled on a bounty hunter. 10 million shanix, as long as not a hair on his precious human's head is harmed.

He got a ping from a famous bounty hunter. He had the human. "Rendezvous at the coordinates and bring the shanix." Sunder did, and the human was finally in his grasp. Kicking and scratching at his hand, they were a wild and untamed thing. Taking the human back to his ship he pet them gently on the head, far more gentle than he ever had been.

"Who are you? Why was I taken here? Are you going to kill me? I thought Autobots didn't harm us?" He only smiled.

"Are you even listening to me? I'd at least like to know if I'm going to die? Are you really just going to keep on petting me like some pet-"

"You're home now darling. And soon, you'll be whole. We're two sides of the same coin."

"Uh- WHAT? I have a partner, and I love them very much! Besides I don't even know who you are, now put me down before you break my arm or something?"

He deposited the human in a large glass enclosure, with a bed, sink and bathroom and a cup on the side of the sink.

"Is this... an enclosure? Am I a pet to you? Excuse me but I'm a person with a life to live, rent to pay, and a partner to love! I'm not for your sick entertainment!"

Sunder only looked at them with wonder and glee, like a kid on Christmas. He spoke in a spine-tingling, nerve-wracking voice, as if Satan himself was speaking through him.

"You my dear, are a unique creature. Small and insignificant in stature, yet bigger than anything in existence." His words did nothing to soothe them as he leaned in so close his eyes reflected their face like a mirror. "Humans are so short lived, yet manage to reek of sin. Even you! With your small head, and tiny little legs, you have managed to commit the worst atrocity of them all!"

"What did I do?"

"You promised yourself to someone other than me."

Sunder tilted his head in a way that was probably trying to get a better look at them but only brought tears of panic to their eyes.

"I don't- I don't understand! I don't think I deserve to die!"

"Kill you?" The confusion in his voice was true. Had his intent not come through clear with his words? "My dear! You are sorely mistaken. I am your Conjunx! Your other half! Or as humans put it, your husband?"

"HUSBAND!? Sir I hardly know you! And even if I did know you, I already have a boyfriend and I love him more than I will ever love you."

The hand Sunder had on the edge of the clear box the human turned to a fist, shards of glass bursting everywhere. It cut into the human and they hurriedly put their arms in front of themselves to protect their face.

"Now now. That walking pile of sin is far far away now. And there is nothing more you have to do with him."

"But-"

"You're bleeding darling. And while your blood would taste delicious, I can't afford to have you fall unconscious or worse."

Reaching for them with the hand that didn't have glass shards sticking out of it, he held them firmly in his hand and took them to a corner of the room that had medical supplies. Sunder pinned them to the table as they thrashed around with blood dripping everywhere. One limb at a time, he picked the pieces of glass out of them and dressed and bandaged the wounds. Judging by the screams of pain the human made, it stung terribly. Then Sunder moved them to the medical bed and strapped them to it and moved on to cleaning off their face. He patched them up with expert precision as they cried out hoping someone would rescue them.

"Hello? Anyone? Please, someone help me! This can't be happening to me!"

"You speak as if anyone will ever rescue you."

The human finally stopped moving and let Sunder work as his words set in. No one will ever come for them. No one will ever save them. Ever. Ever. Ever.

The human didn't even react anymore to the sting of the cleaning of their wounds. Nor when he set them in his hand, this time loosely and just sat there petting them with a look of wonder and some sick form of love. For once, his mouth was closed.

Sunder looked back on the next two days as a time where he had what he thought he always wanted, but had been in denial of one fundamental truth. Having his beloved is meaningless if he isn't their beloved. Sure they didn't resist his petting, or him telling them all about the last person he ate the memories of. But they never reacted. They only drank when he forced water in their mouth. His dearest didn't even eat and became lethargic and entirely nonresponsive. That's when he knew. It's time for you to be perfect.

That was also the day he realized he had been conned. He woke up and they were gone. All that was left of them was a fresh bloodstain where he had broken the glass a few days ago. The vent nearest to the glass box was open as well, meaning they had truly escaped. Sunder cursed himself and his oversight. But now he had a human to catch.

The first place he checked was his room. And sure enough, there was a stack of boxes the human must have climbed down and the door was open. They must be terrified. If they stayed with me they would be worry free. And they were terrified. Straining his audials, he heard a faint and distant whimpering from a hallway further down.

"Oh dear human, why do you feel the need to run?" He put his hand around the corner of the hallway, just to hear their muffled gasp. "With me, you will never feel any shame from your sinful memories, and you will have eternal happiness by my side."

Now backed into a corner, they stood strong and tall, looking him in the optics with nothing but pure revulsion at him.

"Sunder, eternal happiness by your side? How is that possible?" His hand dented the wall unconsciously. Their words hurt, but he was not surprised. "You tore my family to bits, kidnapped me and forgot to give me anything but water for 3 days! I could never be happy with you."

Yes. It's time now my dear. Now It's time for you to be perfect. He didn't bother trying to hide his smile as he reached his hand towards them. There was no trying to escape him now, they were cornered.

Back in the present, Sunder had been scrawling mortilus' name on the walls in the blood of his beloved. The walls had been written over multiple times, in both blood and energon which made his entire room smell of rust. He checked on the human one more time before going into recharge.

[shnuggletea]

A belated birthday surprise for @eringobroke!

Better late than never?? So, she’s actually read this already lol. I commissioned art from her for it! But the surprise is the posting as I hadn’t told her when I would post this lol. I took a short break from working on kisses to get this ready for the public. I know everyone is hurting for some fluff (and this is not fluffy) but I promise you’ll get a ton of fluff on Sunday! It has a lot of smut in it. If you want the full version, you’ll have to subscribe. It all still works without the smut (I think). So you don’t have to subscribe (but I’d love you a little more if you did!). You can read chapter one below or head over to Patreon for the free version. 

Happy Birthday @eringobroke!!! And thank you so much for the brilliant art! Working with her was a dream guys something to consider when thinking of your next project to commission! Idk if this is a gift, commission, or both but I hope it’s a good surprise. Either way, I’m so glad to have you and your work in my life!

Check out the art eringobroke made titled Hunting a Dryad!

For AO3 (since this is a gift) click here. For Patreon click here. Or keep reading below.

TAGS!!

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Chapter One

It would be the first time in years I had stepped into a forest like this. Fear had kept me away. With it being so long and things so changed, I felt safe. Not to mention it wasn’t the same woods that I originally feared. 

“Come on Kikyo!”

I was spacing out, looking out at the horizon as we rose above it. Ayumi ahead of me, I turned back to her and the path with a smile. “Where did you guys find this hike?”

“Google,” Hojo stated simply. 

The boots felt strange but I was getting used to them. As well as being deep in the forest with my friends. “It’s beautiful.”

Ayumi giggled, “you fought us so hard on coming here, I thought for sure you’d be bitching the whole time!”

Yes, I had fought the idea, cursing the fact that my friends were adventurous for the first time since I met them. We had done a lot of things together. They had really brought me out of my shell. Skydiving was still my favorite. 

So I knew it looked weird when I turned down a simple hike. The path wasn��t on any map and according to Hojo, it was magical. I had to agree but I was biased. Regardless of my previous trepidation, I loved the wild and untamed forest the most. 

Now that we were deep within, I felt all my worries and anxiety were for nothing. I felt nothing, not even a tingle. There was nothing here in these woods that was a threat to me or my friends. 

We made it to the top of the mountain, panting and glistening with sweat. Eri was passing out water from her pack while I dug out some dried seaweed. Sitting on rocks, the fog cleared and we could see all the way across the valley of thick trees and brush to the town in the far distance. The air was cleaner, crisper than I had breathed in a long time. It reminded me of days long past. 

Watching the sun start to drop and the sky turn to gold, we all silently agreed it was time to go. We made it back to the car by sunset. My hand was on the door when it hit me. If I hadn’t had a hold on something, I would have fallen to my knees. It had been so long, I forgot how overwhelming and powerful the sensation was. 

“I… I need to go.”

Eri looked at me with a slight lift on her lips. “Then go in the bush. We’re too far out for a bathroom.”

I was shaking but none noticed thankfully. “No, I need to get out of here. Away from all of you.”

All smiles dropped, Hojo grabbing my shoulder gently. “Kikyo? What’s wrong?”

The feeling left, coming and going quickly. I took a deep breath to steady myself before fixing the damage I had made in my haste. “Nothing. Sorry, I’m just… tired.”

They each looked to one another and I wondered if they would believe it. Hojo was the first to turn back to me with a smile. “Let’s get you home then?”

Holding onto me a little longer than necessary, Hojo showed me affection the only way he dared. I worried he would confess to me soon. Then I would have to leave the group earlier than planned. I would have to leave someday, ghost them completely as I had done many others in the past. I would miss them just as I did all my other friends now long gone. But that was the nature of my secret and how I kept it all these years. 

This time when I felt it, I didn’t let fear overrule me. Keeping calm in the back of the SUV we all crowded into, I quickly got out when it stopped at my place and said my goodbyes. It would most likely be the last time I saw any of them. 

As I neared my door, my hands began to shake. It was coming from inside my apartment. There was no point in running, I had been found. All this time I had managed to stay hidden, I assumed no one was looking for me. That may still be true but it didn’t change the fact that I had inadvertently stepped into trouble and it had followed my scent to my home. 

That was why the feeling went away in the woods. I hadn’t been left and forgotten. No, my scent was all that was needed to find my home and wait. 

Even though I expected it, my heart still jumped into my throat as I opened my door to the creature that sat in my living room. I closed my door, using my body as I fell back on it with dread. 

Standing on four paws, the large dog snarled at me. He stood as tall as a Great Dane but was the shape and coloring of a wolf. But it wasn’t a wolf, it was a dog. 

“Hello, Inuyasha.”

The snarl stopped but I knew he was still frowning. I didn’t dare move or look away, watching as he shifted. His bones and muscles twisted while his shaggy white hair retreated, all of it save for the hair on his head which grew in length until down his back. The white fur changed to peachy skin and the muscles bubbled and popped out all over his toned body. Now standing on two thick, human legs, the only thing that remained the same was his glowing, demonic, gold eyes and fuzzy white ears on top of his head. 

No matter what form he was in, Inuyasha was beautiful. Stunningly, which was why I still couldn’t move even as he stalked towards me. In a flash, he had my wrists in his hard grip and slammed them back into the door above my head. 

“Hello, Mate. Long time no see?”

I shudder, his naked body close to me, and the heat of his skin wafting over mine was close to driving me mad. “What are you doing here?”

He shook his head slowly and clicked his tongue. “You messed up. Stepped too close to me and I felt it. It was nothing to figure out your path and find your scent, leading me here.”

Leaning in, he put his face so close, I could feel the tip of his nose as it brushed my skin and the air as he dragged it in, smelling me. He went from my shoulder, up my neck, to my hair. But then he went back to my ear. 

“I thought you were dead,” I whimpered at his harsh whisper, his emotions felt even as he spoke so soft only I would hear. He was trembling against me now. “For years. But my mark didn’t fade. So I thought… I had screwed up somehow. Then I realized… you left me.”

“I… I’m sorry. I had to.”

“Is that your sapling out on the balcony?”

He had come in through the window, passing my tree in the small planter. I gave him a nod as my heart tripped in my chest. 

“It’s grown. You’ve been taking care of it. As you should I suppose. So you dug it up and ran? Why?”

I couldn’t tell him. Not now, not ever. I didn’t know what damage it would do. “I…”

He was waiting for an answer but I had nothing. Silence fell over us but it didn’t last. Inuyasha pulled out of my neck and glared down at me, his eyes no longer gold. Now they were red. 

“You left me. Cared so little about our bond and our mating that you didn’t even say goodbye…”

“I couldn’t…”

“For decades now I’ve had your mark, laughing at me for ever thinking you gave a shit about me…”

“Inuyasha, please…”

His mouth crashed to mine painfully and my body responded instantly. Roughly, he put my arms around his neck and grabbed the back of my thighs hard. I had no choice but to wrap my legs around him and he continued to press me against the door. He threw me to the floor and continued.

“As good as you remember, Kikyo?”

I felt sick, my belly turning when he called me by that name. “Don’t… don’t call me that…”

“Oh? So only your human friends can call you that? If it bothers you so much, then use your real name.”

“I can’t. You know I can’t…”

His face inches from mine, I watched the colors swirl in his eyes. Red and gold mixing around his irises. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have left me for the damn human world?!”

“I didn’t…”

He left me on the floor before him while he sat on his heels. I waited, waited for him to say something. To hold me. To be just like the man I remembered. But instead, he got to his feet and walked around me. 

“Inuyasha…”

He stopped but didn’t turn, facing the window he had undoubtedly entered from. “You’re my mate so I’m bound to you as you are me. But there is no longer love between us; not since you broke my heart and left me for dead.”

“I… I’m sorry…”

“Doesn’t fucking matter now. Because now that I’ve found you, you will do what I want. I’ll come and go as I please and screw you when and how I want. You’re no longer my Mate. You’re my whore.”

I was shaking and so was he. The cold tone of his voice left me freezing on the floor. The floor he had just had his way with and left me on. As soon as I saw him, smelled him, I wanted him, wanted it, wanted him to make love to me like we once did. That wasn’t what he did and it wasn’t what he was going to do to me in the future. 

Standing on the edge of his escape, he finally looked back at me before he disappeared. “See you soon, Kagome.”

With my name (my real name) on his lips, I rolled to my side and curled into myself. My clothes were nothing but rags under me while my boots knocked the floor. Not as hard or as loud as they had while Inuyasha fucked me but they were still there. 

With one hand, I grabbed my wrist, the one that had his mark. Slowly tracing the faint purple moon on my wrist I allowed myself to cry. It had been a long time since I was reminded of what I had given up and it didn’t lessen the ache in the slightest. 

I knew she was near, I could smell her. A week of chasing her and I refused to give up. 

I caught sight of her a short distance away. Her golden flank flashed in the peaks of sunlight through the heavily shaded woods. She was grazing, her mouth low to the grass as she nibbled. 

She was waiting. 

I slowed my approach, careful with my paws so I didn’t alert her. She might be waiting but with her running from me at every turn since we met, I knew better than to let her on to my presence. She still felt it; felt me before I was close enough to strike. 

Her muzzle lifted and her azure eyes found my golden ones. A flash of white and she was off, her tail high as she ran. And I chased. Today would be the day. I could feel it, a tingling in my spine and loins stemming from the hurried breaths she took. 

She was excited. 

I could hear it in her breaths and smell it in the air; her white tail turned upwards and showing me her hindquarters while scenting the wind with her sweet, succulent musk. 

But then I lost sight of her, turning hard and fast down a long lane of bamboo. It ran thick around the water’s edge, a river that parted the forest and many animals drank from, and hid her from me. When I rounded the tall grass and entered the narrow path of its forest, I stopped short. 

There she was, knee-deep, quickly cupping water and splashing it over her body as if it would cool down her heat. No longer the gentle and beautiful doe I’d chased for days on end, she stopped and stood at her full height as the gorgeous woman I met over a week ago. 

Her long black hair curled with dripping water; water that ran down her breasts to her flat belly. Dark curls met it before sliding over her round hips and slender thighs, sad when the water had to return to the river. 

She didn’t face me, half-turned and giving me her side. I took in the sight of her as much as I could, feeling her eyes on me the entire time. The sand was soft under my paws; soon under my feet as I stood up before her. Her lids closed and opened slowly, black lace brushing her rosy cheeks as she lowered her sights over me. 

I was already up to my knees, grabbing her thin arms and enjoying the feel of her soft skin on the pads of my fingers. Her hands went to my chest when I pulled her to me, her chin shooting up to keep her eyes on mine. Twisting us, I had her on the sand, watching as she waited, laying on her back for me. Her eyes were everywhere, searching for any other eyes on us. 

What we were doing was probably breaking the rules. Considered a sin, with me a Hanyou and her a forest nymph, a Dryad. If that’s the case, then they would have to take it up with the fates as they were the ones responsible. This union was beyond mine or her control. 

Crawling over her, I grabbed her face and stilled her search and worry. If anyone were near, I would have smelled them. 

Now, with her eyes wide on me and only me, I lowered my mouth to hers. Sucking in her air (tasting her fully) it was like nothing else in this world. It ran sweet down my tongue and burned in my belly like ale. 

“Inuyasha…” She whispered when I pulled away.

The tears in her eyes made them sparkle like sapphires. In the short time, we spent together before this moment, I had not told her my name. And she didn’t tell me hers. But I knew it; just as she knew mine, pulling her to me and cradling her in my arms. 

Mates always know their names and she was finally ready to be mine. 

“Kagome…”

Panting, I pulled back from her hold, her eyes glassy and to the sky. Taking her hand, I sunk my fangs into her wrist. She flinched as if waking from a dream, looking at me as I marked her. Kagome didn’t hesitate, taking my arm and biting until she drew blood. Her blood slid down my throat as mine did hers, sucking slightly as we left our marks. 

Retracting my fangs, I watched. Sure enough, the swollen and bloodied mark turned, changing into a waning moon of a light purple that stood out greatly on Kagome’s skin. 

She was watching my skin, her eyes wide and curious. Such a beautiful creature, I struggled to understand how she was mine. But as her bite turned into an arrow the same golden color of her doe form, there was no confusion. 

The gods had accepted our mating.

[wolfenm]

Wei Wuxian’s story fixed what Tony Stark’s broke ....

Prefacing this to say that I do love RDJ and Tony Stark and Marvel, etc (though, for many reasons, I still refuse to see Endgame). But I was just struck a moment ago by how much more I adore Wei Wuxian, and how much better / more satisfyingly I feel he was handled on a couple of story points that are similar to Tony’s. SPOILERS for the MCU to-date, and for The Untamed / Chen Qing Ling (and technically Mo Dao Zu Shi, but I prefer the show’s depiction of the character, over the book, so this is written with the show specifically in mind).

One thing I’ve argued with people about in the past is how, I feel, it was character assasination to have Tony Stark get / stay angry at Bucky (and thus Steve, for defending him) for the death of Tony’s parents. Hell, when I ficced Bucky being found before Civil War, I had Tony see getting Bucky’s mind back as the perfect revenge on HYDRA! So I was thoroughly baffled at Tony going apeshit against Bucky in Civil War. I loved that movie in general, but that storypoint felt hella contrived just to have some excuse to depict an “iconic” moment from the comics (from a plot I likewise felt was a bit too contrived / threw Tony under the bus for drama, but I digress).

I’m sorry, but I refuse to believe that Tony Stark, the man who created BARF, wouldn’t grasp, sooner or later, that Bucky was fucking MIND-RAPED by HYDRA, and was thus as much a victim as Tony’s parents. And so I then ficced Tony coming to his senses and using BARF to help Bucky … only for me to subsequently be disappointed again on that front by the MCU canon. (I also refuse to believe that Tony couldn’t understand how and why Steve would put his love of Bucky before everything and everyone else – Tony had two {or three, if Happy counts} people like that in his life during Civil War {Pepper and Rhodey}, and then Peter and Morgan. Digressing again, sorry.) But people have been all, “It totally makes sense for him to be like that!” – even though he’s supposed to be a good guy, a hero!

I’m even more disturbed by the sentiment I’ve often come across that Tony *needed* to die to complete his arc of learning to be selfless. Last time I checked, he already tried to sacrifice himself in The Avengers, when he took a nuclear warhead through a wormhole! I’ve seen so much hate towards him for all he did in Age of Ultron, but THERE, his actions actually made sense to me, more or less (even if I didn’t exactly agree with them): he *thought* he was doing a good thing. I could see the logic in his conclusion, and things COULD have turned out well, if not for certain data points he’d missed / him being overconfident. Atonement is about cleaning up your mess, not specifically about dying – especially if you still have people to live for!

So then we have Wei Wuxian. Like Tony Stark, he’s brash and confident and inventive and can sometimes run roughshod over people – and certain things he does are highly frowned upon by others. He comes to regret, at least for a time, the controversial path he carves for himself (like Tony regretting being a weapons manufacturer).

But when a group of innocent people, survivors from the Wen Clan – the same family as a couple of the show’s villains, but a different branch – were being mistreated and even killed because everyone else felt they were as guilty as the true villains (for not standing with everyone against the evil members of their clan, never mind that they had been threatened by them too – Bucky under HYDRA, anyone?), Wei Wuxian – who, mind, had gone on a murderous spree to slaughter the truly evil Wens via malicious means – sacrificed everything, getting exiled by his clan, and living in poverty and under threat, to defend those innocents. Even after feeling extreme wrath towards his mortal enemies, he understood right and wrong enough to not paint everyone with the same clan name with the same brush. He could have *just* saved Wen Qing and Wen Ning (to whom he owed a mountain of gratitude, even though his clan brother Jiang Cheng, who owed the same debt yet didn’t stand up for them them, faulted Wei Wuxian for putting them over his own clan), but no – Wei Wuxian went against the world, *even his loved ones*, to do the right thing, saving all the survivors of Wen Qing’s people from deadly servitude.

And then there came a point where Wei Wuxian’s world was ablaze. It’s understandable that Wei Wuxian was initially furious with Wen Ning’s part in what went down (Wen Ning killed Wei Wuxian’s brother-in-law, unknowingly under someone else’s control, but that wasn’t discovered until much later), but Wei Wuxian still was immediately horrified and extremely distressed by the idea of Wen Ning giving his life in atonement (and later, Wei Wuxian was endlessly concerned for Wen Ning).

Anyway, Wei Wuxian had reason to believe it was his OWN fault that certain horrible things happened (he didn’t know about outside interference by someone with murderous intentions and little concern for collateral damage). And so, Wei Wuxian committed suicide, feeling that the world, including his "lifelong confidant"/"soulmate", was better off without him and his disastrous creation (the Stygian Tiger Amulet, which he’d actually controlled better than he’d thought, but the concept of it did end up being misused by others, so …).

BUT THAT WASN’T THE END OF HIS STORY. In fact, as all versions open with the announcement of his death, in media res, it’s technically the *beginning*! Years later, he’s resurrected, solves a series of murders, acts as a mentor for some youths, learns a lot of truths (including what had really happened with his brother-in-law’s death, and that there were those who’d actually loved and missed him when he’d died), and presumably goes on to a bright future – a LIFE with his soulmate, putting his talents to further use for the benefit of humanity. He doesn’t pay the ultimate sacrifice to stop someone else’s mess (like Tony does with Thanos) – his death never made him a hero, just was a tragedy. In fact, many people in his world had said “good riddance” when he’d died, but we learned that they were demonstrably wrong in feeling that way – we were supposed to be sad over it, and relieved when it was undone, and thrilled at his second chance, feel a great wrong had finally been righted! Not feel that it was the best possible outcome!

(Even some of the people I’ve talked to who DO agree that Tony’s end was a tragedy, not deserved / needed for his character, still seem to have WANTED it, felt somebody dying was the best way to end Endgame, and I just can’t relate AT ALL. To me, his best end, the best way to write Tony out so RDJ could retire from the franchise, would have been him just retiring to the lab, as promised to Pepper, and maybe consulting by phone now and then.)

Considering Wei Wuxian went on to save all the clans from annihilation, it’s a good thing he DID come back! And considering how he solved mysteries and saved a few people after THAT, it’s a good thing he didn’t die saving the clans, either!

So poor Tony. Poor Pepper. Poor Morgan. Poor Peter. And poor us.

Thank the gods (and the novel author, and the Untamed showrunners, and actor Xiao Zhan) for Wei Wexian (and his Lan Wangji, his Lan Zhan), healing my little fan heart after Marvel devastated it!💖

[marshmallow-phd]

Lies Untold

Part of The Untamed - EXO Wolf Universe

Genre: Supernatural, Wolf Au

Pairing: Luhan x Reader

Summary: For generations, your family has been the protectors of mankind. You were considered one of the best and due to that reputation, you were sent on what could be the most important mission for the organization. Going under cover in a college to sniff out a particularly large and threatening wolf pack seemed easy enough. But when you meet one of the members, everything you’ve known since birth will be overturned and your loyalty to your family and heritage will be tested.

Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I 9 I 10 I 11 I 12 I 13 I 14 I Final

**

One step forward, two steps back.

Luhan shook his head while he fiddled with the empty cup on the table in front of him. Your own half-sipped drink still sat across from him, condensation dripping down the sides as the ice began to melt in the cream-colored liquid.

What had he said to make you run off like that? Was it his family? Did you have issues with your own? Or were you thinking about all the nomadic packs you surely came into contact with over the years?

Luhan shuddered away the thoughts of how those meetings possibly could have ended.

Seeing you on the sidewalk, just barely catching you in the corner of his eye was making him think that luck was finally siding with him. Hell, there were even small moments of smiles and laughter between you. But then it all went to crap. Why couldn’t he just get closer to you? He wanted to spend time together without you running away five minutes later. Was this how Junmyeon felt when his mate kept running away? Last Luhan checked, the mate pull was supposed to pull you together, not do the opposite.

With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself up from the booth and grabbed both of the cups and tossed them away in the trash can before shuffling out of the shop, only answering the barista’s wish of him to have a good day with a lazy wave.

He wandered around the business district for an hour or so, just killing time and wondering of what he could do differently in the future to not make you scared or uncomfortable. His mind lingered back to when he tried to reach out to you, to comfort you, but you kept your hands firmly in your lap, determined to stay away. It seemed obvious to him that you didn’t have the same burning desire to keep that electricity again. Or maybe you were just better at fighting it.

When the sun began to fall behind the horizon, Luhan figured it was time to head home. He didn’t have to work again until Friday night and hopefully he’d get a little peace and quiet down in the basement. That didn’t seem like a good idea at the moment. Maybe Sehun would want to play a game or maybe he could drag Minseok away from his mate for five minutes to kick the soccer ball around in the yard. They hadn’t done that for a long time.

Eventually, Luhan made it back to his car, sliding into the front seat with a heavy heart. When his mother told him stories about one day finding his mate, he’d always stared up at her with wide, optimistic eyes. It sounded like a fairytale, the way she worded everything. And that made sense to him. He was a creature of myth, so why shouldn’t his story of finding love be just as magical? Funny that what he got instead was some dumb, tragic retelling of Romeo and Juliet.

He just hoped they both came out of this alive.

**

“You ready for the run?”

Luhan sat up on the couch from where he was untying his shoe. An eagerness was more than apparent in Sehun’s eyes as he bounced from foot to foot off to the side of the seat.

“More than ready.”

“Then let’s go!” Sehun urged.

Hopping up from the couch, Luhan followed him while simultaneously yanking his shoes and socks off.

This was a rarity. Luhan couldn’t remember the last time they all went for a run together. It had to be before he, Kris, and Tao left. Twelve overgrown wolves running around – even in a forest this big – was too risky most of the time. Not to mention, keeping track of the more rowdy members was a bit more hassle then it was worth. But no one complained when Junmyeon suggested a pack run that morning at breakfast. Everyone was excited.  

When he passed the stairs and entered the kitchen, the room was already full of half-naked pack members itching to get going. Luhan peeled his shirt off, the eagerness now hitting him in full force.

Junmyeon counted out loud to make sure that all twelve were present. “Okay!” he yelled over the buzzing chatter. “Let’s go! And remember to stick together!”

A thundering herd scrambled through the backdoor, letting out whoops and hollers into the darkening sky above. Mei let out giggles of her own as she squirmed in Evie’s arms, wanting to join in on the fun. Kris grinned from ear to ear as he watched his daughter with pride.

“Be careful,” Evie urged quietly to the point that Luhan had to strain to eavesdrop.

Kris gave her a reassuring kiss on the lips before replying, “It’s just a run, baobei. Nothing to worry about.” He chuckled at Evie’s protesting pout. “I promise, I’ll be careful and come back to you in one piece.”

“Thank you.”

Kris gave Mei one last kiss on the top of her head. Reaching Luhan as he walked away, he patter the latter on the shoulder. “Shall we join them?”

Luhan beamed. “Let’s get out of here.”

Outside, there were already ten wolves staring intensely at the back door, irritated that the two older members were taking their sweet time. Both of them stripped out of their pants and threw them in the pile with the rest of the jeans and shorts to be fought over later. Once their two legs became four, the pack was off.

The ground was soft under his paws. Each step sunk into the dirt, leaving behind its traces in the curves of his claws. Some of the younger wolves up ahead were yelping and playfully snipping at each other, urging them to race, to see who could go farther and faster. If Sehun or Chanyeol got a little far ahead, Junmyeon would bark out an order for them to slow down. The witch’s premonition still spooked him and if everyone was going to run together then they were going to stick together.

And the alpha wondered why he was referred to as “mother” so often.

Through the break in the trees above, Luhan looked up and took in the bright full moon hanging in the sky. It lit up the forest as if it were middle of the day, outshining the poor stars around it that didn’t have the same potency. He wondered what you thought about when you looked up at the same moon. Did you think of the ridiculous legends that told of the moon’s dictatorship over their transformations? Or maybe you just took in its beauty, appreciating it for the round rock that it was, stuck in a cycle that it didn’t necessarily ask for, but was given anyway.

Luhan snorted. It was kind of a good metaphor for his life. He never asked to be born a werewolf, but he took his first transformation in stride, realizing that he couldn’t change the way he was made. A stray thought drifted through his mind, wondering if you had a similar experience with your childhood. Being trained to kill supernatural creatures isn’t exactly in every child’s curriculum at school.

Someone nudged Luhan’s shoulder and he glanced over to find Minseok had fallen back from the grouping and was now matching pace with him.

You okay? You keep staring up at the moon.

Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just pretty. Thank god their pack telepathy wasn’t omniscient. He would have been discovered the second he shifted. But the most anyone ever picked up on was emotional ques unless a direct thought was pushed out, one that was meant to be heard.

Huh, Minseok mused, looking up as well. I guess it is.

You should try appreciating it more often, Luhan teased.

Minseok rolled his large brown eyes that were still strangely human. Luhan never really got over that fact, even though by now he should be used to the contrast. Seeing it on another wolf still gave him a weird feeling, though. I do admire the sky. I just prefer not to do it while running. Usually, one looks where they’re going.

Where’s the fun in that?

But Minseok’s warning was all too true.

Up ahead, Tao and Baekhyun had started playfully shoving each other while somehow managing to keep running. However, Tao was much stronger than the white and brown wolf and rammed his shoulder a little too hard, making Baekhyun lose his footing. He rolled several times and ended up under Luhan’s own feet, who was still glancing up at the moon. Now he went down, the air getting knocked out of him as he hit the ground and rolled a few times as well. An instinctual growl rumbled in his throat when he finally came to a stop.

Crap! Sorry, Luhan! Baekhyun whined.

Luhan shook his head and simple sent an annoyed look his way. As if being a white wolf didn’t make it hard to stay clean on a run as it was, now he was really going to have to scrub in the shower to get all the dirt he was coated in off. The only saving grace was that, as one of the older ones, he got to go first once they got back to the house.

What’s going on? Junmyeon asked worriedly as he came running back. Everyone had stopped as well to check on the two of them.

It’s my fault, Junmyeon, Tao confessed, hanging head down low.

Baekhyun yelped. Nah, it’s my fault. I started it. It’s easy to forget how strong Tao can be sometimes. You know, considering it’s Tao.

Tao growled at the implication, but Kris stepped in. Just leave it, Tao.

Junmyeon let out a huff that could be interpreted as a sigh. Okay, let’s get- wait. His ears perked up, stiff with listening so hard.

Jongdae cocked his head to the side. Did you hear some-

Shush, Junmyeon ordered. Now the whole pack was straining, trying to pick up on whatever the alpha had heard. Everyone, get behind me!

They all obeyed, save for Kris, who took his place beside Junmyeon as the fellow leader. Luhan immediately went into an offensive stance, ready to strike if need be. What could be lurking in their woods at this time? It had to be something other than a lost human or Junmyeon wouldn’t have gone on the defensive so quickly.

The air filled with tension, fur visibly standing on ends. Several wolves quietly shifted their weight from foot to foot, itching to just know. The waiting, the anticipation was increasing the adrenaline in their veins. And when a wolf got too hyped up… you might want to stay out of the way once that energy was released for your own sake.

Luhan looked over at his brothers. Scanning the area, he was confident that whatever was here with them, luck – and numbers – were on their side. But at the same time, he was hoping – praying – that it wasn’t you. That it wasn’t you lurking out here in the woods with a group of hunters, looking for them. If that was the case… Luhan would have no choice. He’d have to protect you even if it meant fighting his own brothers.

Relief rolled over him once the cause of the alert was finally discovered.

A smaller pack of maybe seven diverse wolves came out of the shadows, led by a dark brown wolf that was halfway between Kris and Junmyeon in size. They approached cautiously, knowing full well this wasn’t their territory and that they were greatly out number nearly two-to-one.

While Junmyeon remained low, ready to pounce at any moment, Kris immediately relaxed, even shifting back into his human form.

“Well, long time no see, Kun,” he chuckled.

Kun? Luhan took a closer look at the other pack and mentally slapped himself. It really was them!

He followed Kris’ example and shifted back into a human. After several exchanged glances, the wolves on both sides transformed. Then the unsuspecting boys in Luhan’s pack gasped.

While six of Kun’s pack were just ordinary wolf boys, a rarity stood among them.

“You have a girl in your pack?” Baekhyun exclaimed.

“It’s not completely unheard of, asshole.”

Yup. Same old Lyn.

“Please, excuse Baekhyun, his mouth doesn’t exactly have a filter and whatever he’s thinking just comes out,” Junmyeon apologized. It was a bit comical to watch him struggled to look literally anywhere but at the naked female in front of him. In fact, all the boys were avoiding even glancing her way. If any of their mates found out they’d stared a little too long… well, who’d get to sleep on the couch and who would have to take the floor would be the least of their worries.

Except, there was one blonde avoiding any eye contact and it wasn’t out of decency for his mate.

“What are you doing here?” Kris asked, thankfully breaking the awkwardness.

Kun folded his arms across his chest, sighing. “A rumor reached our ears about a hidden hunter somewhere in the area.”

Luhan’s heart jumped up into throat.

No. No one was supposed to know. How did a rumor start circulating? A million different scenarios, all ending badly, played out in his head. If they knew who you were, Luhan had to get you out of town.

“A hunter?” Chanyeol growled, his fist tightening at his side. “Who? Who is it?”

Now Luhan’s heart sank from his throat to his stomach. It didn’t matter that you weren’t old enough to be involved in the death of Chanyeol’s parents. In his eyes, a hunter was a hunter and they all deserved to pay.

“We don’t know who it is,” Fin, Kun’s second-in-command, admitted.

Luhan’s mood immediately lifted. If they didn’t know that you were the hunter than he could protect you better. He’d keep you close and throw off any suspicion that might form around you. With Hae In as your cousin, you should already be out of the running, but any little slip could make their alarm bells start ringing.

“So, then are you guys just passing through?” he asked cautiously.

Kun shook his head. “We planning to spend the next week around town.” He turned to Kris – and affectively Junmyeon. “If that’s alright, of course.”

Scratching the back of his head, Kris nodded. “Yeah, not a problem. I, uh, I’d offer our place, but….”

“That’s alright,” Kun chuckled. “I’m sure that farmhouse you told us about is more than full with your pack. Still think you’re all crazy for having one so huge. And by the looks of it, the house has almost double the occupants.”

“What makes you say that?” Jongdae frowned.

“Please,” Kun snorted. “I’m not blind to the way you are all acting like Lyn doesn’t exist right now.” He turned to the taller alpha with a more somber gaze. “You, too, huh, Kris?”

Kris nodded proudly. “Yeah. Soon after coming back.”

“And he’s a father,” Sehun snorted, not missing the chance for a jab.

Kun’s mouth dropped. “A dad? Wow. Things certainly have changed.”

“It wasn’t planned,” Kris said quickly. Then his tune changed completely, everything about him softening as he thought of Evie and Mei. “But I’m happy.”

“That’s all that matters.”

“I think we should talk more about this hunter rumor,” Junmyeon suggested. His eyes flickered over to Lyn for a split second before he cleared his throat. “Maybe back at the farmhouse… and clothed.”

“Good idea.” Kun turned to his members and gestured out with his head. Everyone began to shift back into wolves and follow Junmyeon and Kris back to the house. It was a quick trip. The news of a hunter possibly in their midst obviously put Junmyeon on edge and pushing him to run faster, everyone else just trying to keep up.

Evie was still in the kitchen going through and organizing the fridge like she always did when the house was empty. It was the only time she could throw out old food without having to argue with one of the boys about why it was no longer any good and why they shouldn’t consume expired food. She was shuffling the trash can around in an attempt to free up a little more space before packing in more moldy fruit. At the sound of bare feet hitting the wooden floor, she looked up.

“You guys are home early,” she frowned.

Kris didn’t waste any time walking up to her and giving her a quick kissing before answering. “We, uh, ran into some old friends that need to talk to us.”

“Old friend- oh goodness!” Evie shielded her eyes the moment Kun’s pack entered the kitchen. Luhan barely caught himself in time to stifle the laugh. While they were all dressed at the moment – and Evie was used to the occasion run-in from a forgetful wolf getting back from a run – the others were still very much in the nude.

“Baobei, why don’t you go grab the clothes sitting in the front parlor that were packed for donation?” Kris suggested.

“I would be more than happy to do that.” Evie scurried out of there like she was running from a wild bear. When she came back, she held the white trash bag of old shirts and pants up in her line of sight.

“Where’s Mei?” Jongin asked sadly, taking the focus off of the awkward moment.

“She’s already down for the night,” Evie answered. “But, you know, I think I’m going to go check on her.” Dropping the bag, she ran for the staircase and disappeared into the basement. Out of the corner of his eye, Luhan caught Lyn rolling her eyes. Yeah, definitely hasn’t changed much.

“Nice catch,” Kun joked with Kris.

The latter shrugged with a wide smile as he looked towards the stairs. “I like to think so.”

Already, the others were rifling through the bag, tossing clothes at each other to make sure everyone got the right sizes. Lyn stayed back until the male members of her pack had their share. She never liked getting in the middle of their rowdiness, thinking she was a bit above that. But Luhan couldn’t judge too hard. It had to be tough, being the only female wolf in a pack of obnoxious boys.

When she reached for a black shirt that was lying on top of the pile, Tao stopped her with a hand around her wrist.

“Wear this one.” He held out a red sweatshirt Luhan was pretty sure used to be Sehun’s.

Lyn took it, whispering an awkward “thank you” before pulling it over her head and slipping into a pair of basketball shorts that Evie had insisted Kris throw out. After that little exchange, Tao slipped out the back door while Lyn rejoined her group.

“So, how did you hear about this supposed undercover hunter?” Junmyeon asked as soon as everyone was comfortable.

“An omega we were chasing away from our territory told us,” Kun replied.

“While he was laughing,” Fin added. “Chuckling like he was watching a clown get beat upside the head with a foam bat. As if we couldn’t handle one little hunter.”

“One little hunter can easily become a bigger group,” Kun warned. “Besides, if one is hiding among us, we need to be prepared, find them before they can call for reinforcements.”

“And you’re sure he wasn’t just bluffing?” Minseok questioned. “Being an omega and all?”

Kun shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe he was. But considering how dangerous hunters can be, especially with their tactics these days, I’d rather look like an idiot and search for something that might not be there than sit back and do nothing, getting us all killed.”

“I’d rather know the truth as well,” Yixing commented.

Junmyeon nodded, taking it all in. “Alright, then. We’ll start searching around town in our spare time. Looking at wrists for their mark, checking into anyone who might be new, and following through on anything slightly suspicious. We’ll always go in at least pairs, maybe more, giving us the advantage. Kun, if you don’t mind helping out with that.”

“Not at all.”

“Thank you.” Junmyeon sighed. “And thank you for passing this information on to us. I greatly appreciate it.”

Nervousness built up in Luhan’s limbs. Looking at wrists? You’d done a pretty good job at hiding yours since that first night, but what if Hae In saw it? Did she know you had it? Would Baekhyun say something about looking out for the tattoo to Hae In? Or would he actually keep quiet in order not worry her? With that wolf, there was no way to know for certain.

There was only one conclusion. Luhan would have to stay close to you, watch over you whether you knew it or not. He couldn’t let something bad happen to you, but he also needed to know the exact reason that you were here. If you weren’t here for them, he could work with that. But if you were here to stake them out or cause any harm to the pack, that was going to be a much harder battle to win.

Especially with the additional angry wolves now in the mix.

[ecofinisher]

Day 4: Miraculous (Adrigami)

Or sort of ChatGami.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18142001/chapters/43059809

@mlshipfleet

It was night in Paris, most of the citizens were heading home, others were still strolling around the metropole and others were leaving their house to head to work or any other specific places.

On the top of the Eiffel Tower on the platform for the visitors stood a young Asian girl with short blue hair watching over the city of lights shining brightly just like stars. The girl looked down at the ground, where she could see the Champs de Mars with a few pedestrians hanging around the place and a tall, muscular raven-haired boy running around followed by a shorter brunette boy with glasses. The girl kept looking down at the ground, then behind her from up the sky appeared a blonde in a black leather suit and a belt as a tail and black cat ears over his long and rather untamed hair, landing on the platform of the tower, then admired the Japanese descendant girl, which kept looking at the beauty of France’s capital.

The blonde superhero in the tight suit took one step forward to get closer to the girl, then faked a cough before he said something.

“Meow,” He said calling the girl’s attention, then walked closed to the girl.

“In Japan you’re not able to admire the city like this, right?” Asked Cat Noir.

“I could observe it from the Tokyo Skytree or the Tokyo Tower,” Kagami said looking at the superhero.

“Right, right but it’s nothing unlike Paris I guess?”

“Both are amazing cities, please don’t make me chose between them”

“Of course not Kagami,” Cat Noir said chuckling, then the girl approached him.

“Why did you call me here?” Questioned the brown-eyed girl. “Did something happen?”

“I don’t know it exactly, but what I know is, that Paris needs a new superhero since Ladybug, well the person behind Ladybug had to leave Paris for good because of some issues with her family outside of France.” “And on who did you think to take her place?” The Japanese teenage girl asked the blonde.

“You were the first person to come to my mind” Responded Cat Noir. “You’re brave, you’re clever and you’re great at combat….at least in fencing, but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to be good as Ladybug, I know you will be good”

“I don’t know, I will need time to practice as Ladybug, like how to use the yo-yo, jump and travel around as she does...”

“Don’t worry, I’m here to help you and so is Tikki” Cat Noir said, then Kagami tilted her head.

“Who’s Tikki?”

“She’s a kwami” Responded Cat Noir. “Just like Plagg”

“Ah right”

“I think she and Plagg are opposites, but you and Tikki will get very well along”

“Alright,” Cat Noir said taking out from the pocket of his jacket a miraculous box and handed it to Kagami. “You got in there a pair of earrings, which are your miraculous and you gotta stick them on your ears like normal earrings….except they’re not pierced on your earlobe.” Explained Cat Noir earning a nod from the blue-haired girl. Kagami opened the box and a red light shined brightly making both cover their eyes and the light flew around them and stopped in the middle in front of Kagami’s face and as the light was gone, there levitated a red kwami with a black dot on the forehead and two antennae falling down on the sides of her head.

“Good evening, Kagami” Greeted the kwami.

“She knows my name,” Kagami said looking at Cat Noir.

“Uh I haven’t told her yet”

“Okay, well….Cat Noir told me Ladybug is gone now and that I’m going to be on her place instead”

“That’s correct,” Tikki said flying around her head. “You’re going to be a great hero, I can feel that” The red kwami assured making Kagami feel a little embarrassed.

“What about, if you two try out the miraculous?” Questioned the blonde cat miraculous holder.

“Are you ready Kagami?” Asked Tikki earning a nod from the Japanese girl. “Well I’m going to tell you the basics when you want to transform you say Tikki, Spots on, when you want to transform back you say Tikki, Spots off. Your transformation is unlimited until you have activated your lucky charm, which I’ll explain later, then you only have five minutes until you transform back into yourself automatically.”

“Good and I have also to feed you Camembert?” Questioned the blue-haired girl.

“I’m fine with cookies or anything alike”

“Okay”

“Then uhm...to activate the lucky charm you throw the yo-yo up in the air and shout Lucky Charm and you’ll receive a mysterious object, which you will have to use to defeat the villain, save yourself or anything else, that comes into your mind”

“Uhm okay?”

“There will always be objects, which leave you baffling, but in the end, you will always manage to find a good use” Explained Cat Noir remembering situations with the strangest objects.

“When you freed the Akuma, you catch it with the yo-yo to purify it and so, in the end, he turns into a regular butterfly. Then the last thing for you to do is to throw the yo-yo up in the air and yell Miraculous Ladybug to activate the healing light to restore everything back to normal.”

“Okay, got it”

“After we transform back you can still ask me questions and during the time you’re as Ladybug, you can ask Cat Noir. He also knows how it’s used”

“I’m going to try it out, is that okay?” The Japanese girl asked earning a nod from the red kwami.

“Good, say Tikki Spots on”

“Tikki, Spots on!” Shouted Kagami activating her miraculous earrings to transform herself into a Ladybug-themed superheroine.

“Woah I thought you would wear the same suit as Ladybug” Cat Noir said looking at the new tight suit of the girlfriend.

“Well it still is the same, besides my back is fully black and my arms too,” Kagami said holding her arms up like she was doing the T letter to check herself from behind. “Also around my butt, I’m black colored like a ladybug,”

“You still do look gorgeous in that tight suit” The dark dressed superhero complimented making the new superheroine smirk.

“Dork”

“What, it’s true,” Cat Noir said moving his eyes away from Kagami’s new look. Kagami looked at her waist, where she had her yo-yo hanged on and picked it up, then looked again at Adrien’s alter ego, that glanced back at her.

“Do you want to try it out?” The blonde questioned.

“But there are no akumas or anything”

“I know, but you could try to use it to catch somebody or to travel around with it?” Suggested the French superhero while Kagami looked at the yo-yo, then rolled it down and pulled it up.

“Yeah, what do we use as an obstacle for me to practice?”

“Well….” The cat miraculous holder said looking around for anything useful, but then he had another idea and ran at the other side of the tower’s platform and stretched his arms.

“I’ll be your obstacle”

“Uh okay,” Kagami said rolling her yo-yo down to spin it around with her right arm, then she threw it towards Cat Noir hitting him on the face shrieking her. “Oh no, I’m so sorry” Apologized the girlfriend covering her face shocked about her mishap.

“I’m fine,” The boy said looking at the yo-yo on the ground. “I think you have to pull it back like you were using a normal yo-yo except this one is magical”

“Alright,” Kagami said pushing the yo-yo back to her, which retrieved the whole cord back into it, so only the top of the cord tied around her finger was out.

“Alright Kagami, try it out again” Cat Noir ordered earning a nod from the blue-haired girl, which threw the yo-yo from the side at Cat Noir’s direction passing around his legs, then Kagami raised her eyebrows as she didn’t fail this time, then pushed her yo-yo to fasten it around Cat Noir’s legs.

“Well done” Complimented Cat Noir, then he removed the cord from his feet and it got pulled back into the yo-yo.

“Cool, what shall we do next?” Questioned Kagami, therefore, the blonde superhero looked up at the top of the Eiffel tower and had another idea.

“Throw the yo-yo at the top, then pull yourself up to it”

“Uh, do you think this is going to work out?” Questioned Kagami looking up at her boyfriend.

“It will go fine” Answered the superhero. “If not, I’m there to catch you” The cat-themed superhero said causing the blue-haired heroine to smile, then look up at the antenna and spin her yo-yo around like a lasso, then she threw it at the antenna, afterward the yo-yo rolled a few times around it tight, then Kagami pulled on the cord and she got pulled up at the tower, scaring Cat Noir, which took out his baton and extended it to jump up in the air to follow the girl, which flew above the top of the Eiffel tower and Cat Noir caught the girl, then they passed beside the Eiffel tower falling down.

“Quick, aim your yo-yo down at the middle of the tower” Ordered the superhero and Kagami ejected out her yo-yo down at one of the bars over the space in the middle of the tower, which got tied around it by itself, then both passed through the open space and both landed on their feet.

“Whoa, this was insane!” Kagami shouted looking at Cat Noir taking his staff back.

“The more we do that the more used you get to the yo-yo and know how to use it in dangerous occasions like this” Cat Noir explained.

“Yes you’re correct,” The Japanese girl said. “Can we practice somewhere else my yo-yo skills?” Questioned the brown-eyed girl looking at the green eyes behind the sclerae.

“I have to think about, where we could go and do that” Cat Noir said placing his hand under his chin to think off something, then they heard a loud noise of a car’s engine, followed by a police siren and both looked at the streets to see a pimped vehicle racing on the streets and a police car trying to keep up with it.

“What do we say, if we help them to stop the racer?” Questioned Cat Noir. “This is actually easy,” The blonde said earning a now more confident smirk.

“Good”

“Then let’s go!” Demanded Cat Noir using his staff to jump up high in the air to the car bridge running behind the two vehicles, then Kagami looked up at the Eiffel tower, after that she watched her boyfriend followed the others and ran out at the streets throwing her yo-yo at the lightened stake tighten it around then she swung forwards with her yo-yo and got down on her feet running now over the sidewalk on the bridge of Lena and did the same step on a few posts further to swing closer to her partner to assist him in the pursuit.

[brightsun-and-darkmidnight]

Heartbeat: A Fragile Reminder

TITLE: Heartbeat: A Fragile Reminder

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 21 / ?

AUTHOR: brightsun-and-dark midnight

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki falling in love with a Midgardian and his words to Thor about Jane during Dark World coming back to haunt him. “It would be a heartbeat. You would never be ready.”

RATING:  M for Mature

NOTES/WARNINGS: ~▪︎~FOR THE WHOLE STORY~▪︎~

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Check Masterlist. It's going to be a long read. I try to keep each chapter around 3,000 words.

My Ao3: brightsun_and_darkmidnight

!-!TRIGGER WARNING(S)!-!

So many triggers, read ALL of them!

Swearing. Angst. Death. Depression. Violence. Self-harm. Regret. Carelessness for safety. Doubts. Torture. NSFW. Smut. Fluff. And Of Course- Mischief.

Summary: The new image.

 ~ ~ ENJOY  ~ ~

Alicia woke up in pain. Her head was splitting and her stomach- Alicia jumped out of bed and barely made it to the bathroom. As the annoying dry heaving continued, Alicia noticed she was prepared for this morning. Hair tied up and in suitable clothes to get rid of or to lounge in. Loki must have,

"Love. Breakfast is here." Speaking of him...

Alicia saw Loki in comfortable clothes… oh she hoped could relax today. Her head remained in the toilet for another minute as she gasped and tried to relax. She wiped a stray hair back. Loki gave her a warm cloth he actually rinsed by hand. Alicia breathed carefully and flushed the source of the terrible scent in the air.

"You don't have to be here, smell that."

Loki chuckled, "You obviously forgot last night."

Alicia stopped momentarily to ask, "what did I do...oh no. Susan…" Alicia knew it was not going to be good...

Loki took great interest in his sleeve, "most of it is being replayed on the news."

Alicia rinsed her mouth then sighed. Loki chuckled at her deep sigh as she went to the common area. The TV showing Alicia being held back by Loki, her snarling something about her list. Alicia rolled her eyes and trudged to the table.

"Do you remember anything?"Jane was glancing at Alicia.

Alicia lifted her hand and teetered it by the sides in a lazy way. "I know that guy pissed me off. I imagine that was a death sentence." She shrugged as she poked her food, eating toast instead. Marcibeth was sure to find the guy, he was probably being tortured right now as she drank her coffee and ate a microwave sandwich.

"We need to go over the mission for that information on Luit. But you are cleared for the rest of the day, Alicia."

"Thanks Thor." Alicia mumbled as she took a sip of orange juice. She felt better after eating but her stomach still hurt. She went to the library and found some interesting books. Some were Asgardian. Alicia ran her fingers over the patterns wondering what the beautiful curves and dashes said. 

She felt the gentle yet firm hands on her, wrapping around her as a heavy head was placed on her shoulder. A smooth and low voice she first fell in love with spoke, "the witch found peace among her visions. Her real eyes might have been stolen long ago, but she was able to see the future before everyone else. Knew what to say to keep a peace around her. She saw moments of new family members in her arms and was able to see the wonderful faces of her grandchildren. Knowing about her death approaching, she pushed further and saw the birth of her very distant descendant. Full of power as if a pure blooded family member despite the mixture of many bloodlines. The descendant saw the worst of the future.. however the descendant made the best choice to save all of existence-with a sacrifice of her……."

Alicia fingered the bloodied page, "it doesn't finish?"

"It is a prophecy from thousands of years ago. A very crafty healer was able to speak this as a story, but could not tell the price. No one is sure if this prophecy happened yet…. There are many visions that foretold great loss."

Alicia hummed, "Will I lose my eyes?"

"Some witches do...it is common for them to look in the future to be able to see. As said in the story."

Alicia didn't want to lose her eyesight.. she could barely handle visions now. She couldn't even remember them. How would she be able to force a vision? Would she remember? Would she forget what everyone looked like? What if she had children and never saw their faces the same time Loki did? Would she trip over things and be clumsy? She turned and took in Loki's face. Admiring the sharp features, dark curls that were untamed and fell beautifully, then those eyes...

"I don't want to lose my eyes. I don't want to forget what you look like." Her hand rested on his cheek, traced his jaw then pulled him by the neck. She kissed everywhere. Holding the book so it would not get between them once lips met and he pulled her closer. "I love you. So much." Her forehead rested with his. "Can we just… I don't know… I would like a little space...having you around is..comforting.. could we relax separately but in the same room?"

"I love that idea."

Alicia smiled when he placed a light lingering kiss on her forehead.

Loki was staring at her, "Would you like to relax here after the meeting?"

Alicia nodded and then the AI told everyone to meet for the mission preparations.

Alicia sighed as she heard everyone talk. She healed her headache and spoke with a clearing head, "Look. We just need to stalk around, listen to conversations, take those who know important things, and ship them to my sister."

"You would be surprised as to what people put on computers." Natasha suggested to stick with the original mission.

Loki informed everyone, "Luit does not record anything."

Valkyrie spoke up, "His partners might. Those he worked with were very predictable."

Alicia didn't like this… something was off. SHIELD didn't have much information and SHIELD was the keeper of all important knowledge. Marcibeth wasn't getting too much information currently either.. Loki had to be right.

"We go with the original plan. Reindeer games will get; sour patch kid, spider boy, woman master assassin and capcicile in for information and out with no issues. The rest of us will be on the sidelines waiting to be tapped in."

Alicia didn't even react to the nicknames Tony just threw around due to being annoyed too much already.

Everyone ate together on the common living room. The TV was on and Alicia did her best to ignore it.

"Sweetheart turned seductress? OR was she always that way? Loki did say she had charm."

Alicia rolled her eyes as she took a bite of the Chinese food with a slight rumble in her throat.

Hearing Loki's hum made Alicia glare at him in warning but he suggested with a purr, "would you like to use that charm on me later?"

Alicia heard Peter snort and try to cover his laugh with coughs.

Tony waved his hand in Loki's direction, "no. You stop now. Peter stop laughing."

Alicia glared at Loki but she couldn't help but laugh at Peter trying to explain that was not the reason for the laugh with his stuttering over words and continuous trench digging through his explanation. Tony trying to get Peter to shut up must have been Loki's master mischievous plan...

"I.i.i. it was Thor's face."

"Is there something amusing about my face?"

Peter shrugged as he talked, "well it was. Ya know..you looked like"

"He will make you a cooked spider. Better be careful." Loki smirked and took another bite and Alicia could see Loki was content with Peter being nervous and with everyone's irritation.

Alicia's eyes rolled so hard that she could feel the strain behind her eyes. Everyone flustered over a little comment and not worried in the slightest about red flags concerning a mission. Was Alicia the one everyone was worried about putting lives in danger?

Thor's phone went off and he quickly stood and walked off. It got everybody's attention. Then Loki heard his name being called from across the room. Thor waved for him to hurry, prompting Loki to give Alicia a reassuring squeeze before leaving.

Thor leaned forward to whisper, "it is about a healer. Eir has chosen."

Relief surged through Loki as he lowered his voice, "When will they be here?"

"They are already on their way."

"Well, who is it?"

Thor looked in Loki's eyes and the relief left.

"Only two survived.. out of 13. Emma is her healer… Eir is considering using the other healer once they are able to heal themselves.. As well. Alicia was assigned a healer because the only ones available survived."

Loki's hands fisted and he closed his eyes. What the Hel did they see? Two healers left? Loki heard of healers trying to tell the vision they saw to warn people. Was she going to be in that much danger? Loki knew she was reckless and he had a feeling that could be it. His hand felt the familiar pinching and pulling.

Thor gave Loki's arm a squeeze. "Eir is confident in Emma. Rest knowing the healers were not in any state other than confidence and a small amount of doubt."

"The others that talked… were they gloating?" Loki's damn skin was insistent on healing.

"When they talked, it as if they knew something important but didn't know what to do. All of them tried to be smart in their warnings but it was too soon to get even a whole sentence. Recurring words were 'ship' and 'join' nothing else was understood."

"I suppose the Oracle is refusing to give more information."

"You are correct. Only the two surviving healers and Alicia will know the future."

Loki inhaled and exhaled deeply. "This is very odd. To be confident, but risk their lives to share information? Confident with the worst vision? She literally just had a vision come true that is likely linked to her torture." Loki picked his finger and ripped the nail very deep and sighed, "she was, rightfully, upset with the visions of her father… but when she had the following vision of her torture she was so confident."

Thor finished Loki's thought, "she must be in danger."

"Because she sacrifices herself."

"You know things will work out how they are supposed to." Thor clapped his hand on Loki's shoulder, "shall we tell everyone she has a healer?"

"Just leave it at that."

Things work out as they should? Thor was insane. How bad was Alicia going to sacrifice herself? It better not be the end of her heart. Loki could not bare to think about a life without Alicia. More specifically not to not see that smile so warm her eyes became bright enough to cast the darkness to flee. Loki walked to Alicia and held her hand. He pulled her to him and walked to the window. She stroked his hand and gave him a small smile.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Yes." Loki smiled with charm. "Your healer is on the way."

Alicia smiled. "Good. Less stress on you."

Loki's voice raised l in pitch, "Don't believe I'm not going to worry. There are still going to be times I will have to pull visions."

Alicia played with that finger he picked at the nail. "What are you so worried about?" She traced her finger over his and soothed it with her magic.

"You don't need to worry." The dip of volume and the breath before the last word gave him off his lie.

He knew Alicia noticed when she rose an eyebrow, "you are poorly maintaining your reputation, God of Lies."

"Everything will be fine. I refuse to believe anything else."

Alicia hummed watching the small wounds heal slowly and Loki swore she was trying to soothe all of his stress away through his finger. She looked up through her lashes, "God of Truth?"

Loki chuckled, "I have never lied to you."

Alicia snapped at him, "Bullshit. You tear your hands apart in worry and tell me it is nothing."

Loki muttered, "There is nothing that gets past you.." Loki pulled her to sit with him in the chairs by them.

Alicia childishly popped the second symbol, "Nope." She ran her glowing fingers up his arm to his shoulders and rubbed. "Are you relaxed?"

"Yes Darling."

"Are you learning anything because I would love one of these later."

Loki's hands found her knees and his thumbs rubbed the inside gently, "Put you to sleep after touches so relaxing and mind clearing?"

Alicia giggled, "stop it."

"Are you ready to relax Love?" Loki smirked at her indecisive look, he chirped, "Let's go to the library."

Finally, it was just Alicia and himself in the library. They stayed quiet except a little squirming Alicia kept staring at him. He refused to call her out on her actions because he wanted to act as if he was not actually, "in the same room." He wanted to give her some sort of space. It was unlikely they would have much time together once her witch specific training began. Though Alicia seemed uncomfortable, maybe too used to having him around.

"Can I sit in your lap?"

Loki laid so she could sit with him. He draped his arm over her as his other held the book. He did notice she was playing with her wrist a bit, but didn't comment, just relaxed his arm more to add pressure. Thor and Eir walked into the library after announcing they had Emma. Alicia was quick to stand and she looked shocked. Brown and white robes, Emma's dark red hair illuminated by the candle Alicia had insisted on lighting for the scent.

Alicia spoke with a wide smile, "I'm glad to see you are better."

Emma nodded, "It is thanks to you I am alive. I wanted to do this to repay you."

"Thank you but I held no debt."

"Because of you I am alive, and my family. I owe you more than I will ever be able to repay you." Emma lowered into a bow.

"No.no.no. don't do that. It is not necessary. I assure you I am difficult to take care of.. I'm quite stubborn so, I will thank you for accepting to be my healer." Alicia giggled, "you might not get an apology again."

"You don't need to thank me at all. It is my job to care for you now."

Eir spoke up, "Emma is in charge of your health for the most part. Especially concerning your visions. I would like to see your training start today. Now actually."

Alicia stuttered, "sure."

Once in the special room, designed by Asgardians, for magic training Alicia was forced to sit on the floor with her back against the wall, sketchbook in hand.

Eir explained in a very teachable way, "Emma is going to force you into a vision, walk you through it and try different phrases."

Alicia nodded and all Loki could do was watch.

[prettywordsyouleft]

Muse

Summary: You had no idea who you were but what you did know was that you could sing. And when Yonghwa overheard you in the park, he was drawn to you, hoping that you could help him rediscover his musical muse. 

Characters: Jung Yonghwa x reader

Genre: ghost au / fluff

A/N: This idea is one I’ve had for years, but admittedly the idea was for a fully fledged fiction sequel to my fiction over on AFF My Afterlife with Lee Joon. I think that’s why I had a little bit of trouble getting into this idea properly. I also wrote more than what you’re seeing here, but I feel like it got way too dramatic and ridiculous, and really didn’t stick to the original light-heartedness of this beginning part. Maybe I’ll work with it in the future and share it with you, but for now, I hope you enjoy Muse at the length it is!

Word count: 1265

When you were alive, singing was something you did to make yourself smile. You’d sing in the shower, belt out a note or two as you drove to work, work on harmonising with your friends at karaoke bars and hum lullabies to yourself as you fell asleep. If there was one thing you had been proud of in your short life, it was the joy you felt whenever you sang.

And now in death, singing was the only thing that helped you hang on.

You had never made your passion your job or shared it with many people. Although others encouraged you to try, you were the type to want to keep singing precious. Sharing with others did bring you happiness, but you didn’t want your own happiness taken away if you made it your way to pay the bills. So sometimes you’d fulfil the desire to perform by singing at weddings or birthdays, but nothing more.

Now that no one could hear you apart from the other wandering souls, you seemed to sing more often. It was a shame that death had given you more time to compose new songs when they couldn’t be heard by others. All the same you were drawn to the art of watching the world go by and singing for yourself. At least you could still hear your voice.

The great thing about the world moving on whilst you sang meant you had no inhibiting moments. You could sit in a coffee shop and belt out a sombre piece right next to a couple lovingly gazing into each others eyes. You could bounce around to a good beat when someone outside was arguing. It was kind of freeing to perform wherever you pleased.

And that’s when it happened.

You were sitting in a park singing to yourself when a man came into your view, his hurried steps soon slowing. He had a cap and mask hiding his face so you couldn’t tell what he was up to, and yet it didn’t deter you from perfecting your latest song. He stopped entirely in front of you, which kind of threw you off, especially when his eyes seemed to connect with yours. You laughed internally and diverted your gaze so you could continue; he was clearly very alive still. Yet the feeling of being watched didn’t stop and you took a break, sighing to yourself and hoping he’d move on so you could continue.

“Is there more to your song?” a muffled voice asked and you froze, your eyes widening at his sentence. “It was really pretty.”

Lifting your head, you pointed at yourself. “You can see me?”

“Should I not?” he pondered, removing one side of the mask and then smiling at you. It seemed to ease your fright, but now you were embarrassed that someone else had heard you so raw and untamed in your singing. If you could have blushed, you were certain your face would be red by now.

“I uh, don’t normally have an audience.”

He chuckled. “You’re in the wrong place to be unheard then, a park is pretty public.”

“But normally people don’t see me,” you continued, rubbing at your arm awkwardly. His smile only faltered for a second before he was approaching you and sitting down next to you on the bench. You blinked rapidly. “You do realise you shouldn’t see me, right? Doesn’t that frighten you?”

“No?” He seemed too casual and it made you sigh heavily. You hated when you had to inform people what you were.

“I’m not exactly alive.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sing,” he replied with another smile and you blinked several times again. “Does it frighten you that I’m not bothered?”

“You can see spirits?” you tentatively asked, though it was kind of obvious since he could see you. He nodded easily. “Ah.”

“I’m guessing you don’t meet many people like me,” he said with an awkward laugh, and his mouth opened a little wide with the emphasis on his guffaws. His warm eyes darted around a bit, attempting to find a way to make the environment more at ease. “Did you like to sing when you were alive, were you a performer?”

You shook your head, but smiled gently. “I just sung for myself.”

“You kept such a nice talent to yourself,” he said honestly and it made you bite at your lip nervously. He was too good to be true. Living and generous? Just who was this guy?

As if he read your mind, he smiled at you. “I’m a singer too. But I chose to share my voice with the world.”

“Really?” You eyed him more closely. His face did seem familiar the more you stared at him but you had problems with remembering names lately. You didn’t even know your own name since crossing over. It was the only thing you couldn’t remember when it came to yourself, as if it had been snatched away by Death himself.

He pouted at your obvious lack of knowledge on him. “I’m kind of famous.”

“I’m kind of dead,” you retorted with a small playful smile. He grinned. “I don’t remember names. You are familiar though.”

“Huh, you don’t remember names? That’s a new one,” he said thoughtfully, nodding his head as he deciphered your words. “Well can you remember my name if I tell you it now?”

“I mean, no one has ever asked me to, but I can write it down in my book, hold on.” You reached into your bag for your lyrics book and the man peered over your arm as you scrambled to get to an empty page. You eyed him cautiously and he seemed to realise he was invading your privacy and backed off. Finally you had skipped to a blank page and looked up at him expectantly. He smiled. “Jung Yonghwa. And your name is?”

“I don’t really know, I don’t remember my own name either,” you admitted and he frowned.

“Maybe it’ll come to you,” he offered and you nodded softly. “The song you were just singing, did you write it?”

“Just yesterday.”

“And you’re already sounding so in control of it? Are your emotions stronger than when you were alive?”

“It’s easier to compose now,” you told him and Yonghwa was thoughtful again.

“Maybe that’s what I need to do.”

“What, die?!” you asked in horror and he let out another generous laugh before stopping to sigh heavily. He seemed frustrated.

“My muse is missing, whilst you seem very much overloaded with one. I’m envious.”

“The feeling’s mutual, being dead and not knowing why kind of leaves me frustrated most days. Singing is all I have left.”

“Well, maybe we can help each other out?” he offered and your glance at him obviously made him feel a little embarrassed. He chuckled weakly as his eyes grew wide. “I mean, if you would like to. I’m not a bad person!”

His hands were dismissing any ill thoughts with his words and you couldn’t help but grin, he seemed so sweet. You then laughed and he did too, dropping his hands and smiling at you again. “Shall we see if you can help revitalise my muse? And I’ll try what I can to help with your name and why you’re like this. Deal?”

You looked at the hand Yonghwa outstretched to you then and you gently slipped yours in, gasping at how solid the connection felt. It made you feel as close to living again as you grinned up at him, nodding your head. “Deal.”

_________________

Welcome to Frightful October, a collab between myself and @this-song-thats-only-for-you … this week’s theme is Haunted! To follow more of the stories check out the links below:

Other stories in Haunted: Spirited / Dreaming / Muse / Dare

[Frightful October Masterlist] | [Main Masterlist] | [Request Guidelines]

[jeremystrele]

A Day In The Life of ‘Hamilton’ Star, Chloé Zuel

A Day In The Life of ‘Hamilton’ Star, Chloé Zuel

A Day In The Life

by Sasha Gattermayr

Chloé in her sunny Clovelly apartment. Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

To manage nerves and mindfulness, Chloé has started journalling in the mornings. Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

Given she works nights, Chloé’s day doesn’t start til around 9am when she wakes up. Then it’s some quick meditation, a coffee and some yoga! Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

Exercise is a very important daily activity for Chloé, professionally and personally! Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

What a way to start every day! Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

Chloé’s days are upside down, she eats dinner at 5pm and then heads off to start work! After arriving at the theatre she does a physical warm-up, voice warm-up and starts on her makeup. Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

Chloé as Eliza Hamilton. Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

We hear shamefully often from performers of colour that they never saw people that looked like themselves on screen or stage while they were growing up. For Chloé Zuel, who plays Elizabeth Schuyler in the Australian production of the world-famous musical, listening to the Hamilton soundtrack when it debuted in 2015 was the first time she had heard a chorus of voices that sounded like hers, too.

‘Hamilton has opened up the space to such diverse performers that may not have had this platform to be seen and heard before, which is so incredible,’ she says. ‘I love that I get to be a part of that movement in Australia.’

Chloé is Mauritian-Australian, and has talked candidly about the overt and casual racism that pervades the industry she loves and works in. But Hamilton has been a catalyst for worldwide change in an industry that has long suffered minority representation problems, and has even breathed cool new life into a form often dismissed as dorky. Such is its effect, it even breathed new confidence into Chloé:

‘The pandemic was definitely a big moment of reflection for me. I wondered if the industry would ever come back and if it did, whether I would still have a place in it. Working in the industry for the amount of time that I have, I’ve had more “no’s” than “yes’s”, and it’s a constant struggle to remind yourself that ‘no’ means something else is coming,’ she says.

After receiving the news she had been cast, Chloé threw herself into preparation, reading the Alexander Hamilton biography that inspired the production, and listening to the Hamilcast podcast (true fans will know!). Rehearsal and routine became more important than ever.

But at the end of the day, no amount of work can fully prepare you to star in the most famous musical in the world. Chloé still gets nervous every day, about her voice, about her talent, about her right to be on stage.

But if there’s one thing audiences are certain of, it’s that Chloé was born to play this iconic role. And if they already don’t, the world’s gonna know her name!

First Thing

I usually wake up between 8am and 9am. The first thing I do is snooze my alarm, drink water and kiss my husband!

I feel like I spend the first half of my yoga class yawning and then I’m present after that. I’m probably a little sluggish to start but I’m definitely not a morning monster.

Morning

During the week we do evening shows so I get to work usually no later than 5pm. On the weekends we do two double show days, meaning I’m usually there from around 11am and leave around 10.45/11pm.

I meditate every morning, even when I really don’t want to because it helps with my stage anxiety and also helps me to be present while I’m on stage and focused. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have to force this task on myself, but I do because it’s for my own good.

Lunchtime

Because I have an unusual schedule, finishing work quite late and therefore eating quite late I usually have my coffee around 11am so I don’t eat my first meal until midday usually. I’ll usually eat two boiled eggs, some greens, avo and a piece of toast or I’ll grab a veggie wrap from the cafe down the road if I’m being lazy.

Afternoon

I do life admin or catch up with people during the afternoons. I try to get to the beach most days too – even if it’s just to briefly look at the water and get some perspective. I do singing lessons once a week and on the days I don’t do a lesson I’ll do an afternoon vocal warm up to make sure I’m ready for the show that night.

I sometimes get a slump in the afternoon but I also wake up later than most people, so sometimes I’m still riding on a high from the day because it only started at 9.30am. Sometimes the afternoon can be a little overwhelming because the task ahead for my night feels huge, but I feel very grateful that I get to have my days free to enjoy the sunshine.

Evening

I get to the theatre around two hours before the show to warm up, sometimes have physio, eat dinner, do make up and just be in the space.

I eat dinner at 5pm before the shows and then eat something small during interval to avoid having to eat anything after the show. If I do eat after the show, I’ll try to have something small so that it doesn’t affect my sleep. I eat really boring things on show days- very plain so that I don’t feel sick while on stage. Most days I’ll have a protein with greens, sweet potato, brown rice and avocado and I eat in on the way to work or at my dressing table at work. Very glamorous!

I make sure I eat well before the show so that I have time to digest. Then I do make up and usually do my second mini warm-up at the same time. After that, we have a full-cast physical and vocal warm-up. I get my wig and mic on at the half hour call before the show and then costume and mic check at the five minute call.

Before most shows the three sisters will sing through ‘Schuyler Sisters‘ because it’s such a tough sing for us, and it’s also a nice time to connect with each other before we go on. I also often shove some chocolate in my mouth before I have to brush my teeth and put lipstick on. I should try to take that out of my routine to be honest…!

So many things happen while I’m on stage and it varies scene to scene and night to night. While I’m on stage I’m thinking about the scene I’m in and telling the story but I’m also thinking about my pitch and the music I’m hearing on stage along with spacing and lighting. I’m often figuring out how to navigate vocal and physical fatigue and also sometimes trying to remember my words…  It’s a juggling act every show!

Night

I finish work between 10.30 and 11pm. After the show I always shower at work and take my make up off there while doing a vocal cool down. On the 25 min drive home back to the beach I’ll listen to some chill music, the commute actually helps me unwind. I try to get into bed within half an hour of being home and I should stop looking at screens earlier than I do, but I’m still working on that!

Last Thing

I try my best to get home and be in bed no later than midnight. Often I won’t sleep until 12.30 but I’m always fighting to get into bed before 12am to get the most out of my sleep! My body needs at least 7 hours to be able to do the show and my voice definitely suffers when I have less than 7 hours. I aim for 8 hours a day.

Costume, make up and hair are the first stop after the warm-up. Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

Perfection! Photo – Alisha Gore for The Design Files.

The full cast on stage. Photo – Daniel Boud.

Right now I’m listening to, watching, and reading…

I love to make playlists on Spotify so I listen to those mostly. I’ve also been listening to lots of Laura Mvula, London Grammar and Ben Abraham. I’m slowly reading My Dear Hamilton which is a fiction based on Eliza Hamilton’s life and re-reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle because I love it. I also got a new journal from Musings From The Moon which I’ve started writing in when I can. When I get a chance to watch TV I’ve been watching Morning Wars or if I need an old favourite then I’ll watch Friends or Gilmore Girls.

I get my best work done when…

The sun is shining, I’ve had a coffee, I’m not pressed for time and I don’t have a lot of distractions around me.

My productivity tool/tip is…

Do the tasks you don’t want to do FIRST and exercise early. The endorphins kick in and help your brain to function. It always makes me feel like I’ve earned my sleep that night and I’ve done one challenging thing that day and succeeded.

A philosophy I live and work by is…

Do your absolute best every single day and hold yourself to the highest standards, with love.

Something I’ve learned the hard way is…

My brain controls more than I think it does. Thoughts are powerful. Kindness to yourself and being gentle with yourself is imperative to being successful so as to not get in your own way. Also, sometimes we just need rest… Still working on that one.

Hamilton’s Australian production has been extended to Melbourne! Tickets for the Melbourne season will go on sale Monday 19 July 2021, with pre-sale tickets available to Telstra Plus members here from 10am, Thursday 24 June.

Tickets for the Sydney season are currently on sale here through to 19 December 2021.

[chm-photography]

So, here it was, the last leg of my hike on the West Highland Way. The prospect was great: Good weather and no physical challenges along the way. This part was going to be the easiest by far. I was looking forward to it. However, I had made up my expectations without taking my weary feet into account.

Through the Shire and over Trolls Bridge

To get back to the West Highland Way I had to go back eastwards along Stirling Road before after about 1km I would get back onto the West Highland Way, southwards over a pasture. So, for a while, I pretty much had to focus on avoiding cowpats instead of enjoying the landscape. Pretty soon, however, the West Highland Way joined the Gartness Road, so, for a while, I got to walk over a nicely paved road. The road was going down more often than up, so walking was fun and easy. It was wonderfully quiet and peaceful. I met a group of German walkers, whom I recognized by their accent when they asked me (in English) for the shortest way to Drymen. I can still see the surprise on their faces when I answered them in German.

A short while later, I met a single walker who had seen the camera and my tripod. Carrying my gear attached to my backpack had become second nature in the past couple of days. In fact, it took me a second to realize what he meant when he said to me, „You must be a professional photographer.“ „Well, I pretend to be one from time to time,“ I said. „Certainly much more than that,“ he said with a friendly smile. I liked this chap.

Here on Gartness Road, the West Highland Way had lost all of its wild and untamed flairs. Everything was clean and nicely trimmed. So, it shouldn’t have come a surprise when after about 3 km a sign told me where I was.

It’s always good to know where you are walking.

I half expected to meet a hobbit around the next corner. However, a few hundred meters later I came to the conclusion that it was probably better to not wish for an encounter with fabulous creatures.

Very reassuring, don’t you agree?

Pain

At this point, the painkillers began to wear off – much too early. I had taken them in the morning, knowing that I wouldn’t get far with the heel spur in both feet. Even though I hadn’t even completed a quarter of the way, and the pain began to become nasty again. I used both walking sticks to relieve my feet of at least a bit of the weight they had to carry, even though the terrain was easy. This helped for a while. Ironically, I was thankful for each short ascent because then I would walk more on my balls of the feet than on the heels.

As I said, the landscape was nice and clean, but also a bit boring which is why I didn’t take any noteworthy pictures for a few kilometers. After about 9km I reached The Beech Tree, a restaurant suitable situated next to the West Highland Way. Here, I took a break and threw in the next round of painkillers. It was a nice place to sit and wait for the effect of the pills to kick in. I studied the map and enjoyed a beautiful view of Dumgoyne, one the last noteworthy hills on my way.

Dumgoyne

At about 1 PM I got back on track for the remaining 13km of the West Highland Way. The pain was not completely gone but for held in check by the painkillers. I passed Glengoyne Distillery which wasn’t attractive for me as I don’t drink alcohol. But Dumgoyne was an impressive landmark, so I made a few photos.

Dumgoyne

Whitehouse beneath Dumgoyne

In the distance, I could also see Dunreath Castle which looked beautiful and quite painterly with the sheep in the fore- and the trees in the background.

Dunreath Castle

Lonely trees, shapely hills, and a beautiful loch

After about 12km the West Highland Way circumvented the small hill of Dumgoyach, an area that once again offered some picturesque photography subjects, mainly lonely trees, and shapely hills.

The West Highland Way

Dumgoyach

White Tree on Dumgoyach

Lone Tree

Yet another lone tree.

Here, the old photographer’s wisdom to always take a look back proved to be true again because one last time you could see the West Highland Way trail off towards the distant highlands. Soon enough, the West Highland Way passed the small but picturesque Craigallian Loch. The Loch, the lake and the impressive mansion amidst the trees was a good subject for a photograph.

Looking Back on Dumgoyach

Two walkers heading north. I envied them. But at the same time I was happy that I had already behind me what they had yet to face.

Looking back to the Highlands

  Mansion near Craigallian Loch

Back to civilization

At this point, you could feel and hear more than I could see that I was approaching a more densely populated area. There were many sounds in the distance, behind hedges, walls or trees, that indicated that I wasn’t far away from civilization anymore.

After a while, I entered the Mugdock Country Park. Magnificent trees lined the way and more than once I stopped to photograph a few of them. I knew these pictures weren’t spectacular or extraordinary, but I took them anyway simply for the process of shooting.

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Tree in the Mugdock Country Park

Tree in the Mugdock Country Park

Tree in the Mugdock Country Park

Tree in the Mugdock Country Park

A small and white furball crossed my way, followed by a loud and clear call from the further away. „Nico!!!!!“ Nico, the dog, didn’t listen kept on sniffing the trees and the grass underneath. I went on and met his owner, a young woman who managed to say a friendly „Hello!“ in between her calls. Long after I lost sight of her, I could still hear her calling. Nico, it seems, is a rocker.

It was fascinating that even though I was so close to the city, its noise still appeared to be remote and muted. It wasn’t until after a few wrong turns I reached the West Highland Way Gate, which I suddenly found myself in the city center of Milngavie. I had made it.

A West Highland Way info sign

The end of the West Highland Way in Milngavie

  Some walkers are preparing to embark on their own adventure.

The last steps

I found it very convenient that there was quite a sizable Marks & Spencer supermarket nearby, so I bought some of my favorite snacks (mostly fruit, but also a small bag of vinegar crisps). Then I stowed away my walking poles because the way to my accommodation wasn’t long – a bad mistake. Thanks to my heel spurs, every step was very painful now. I quickly realized how much the poles had helped me. Given the pain I was feeling now, it is safe to say that I wouldn’t have made it without them.

Home

I spent the rest of the night facetiming home, eating my snacks, and watching a documentary on BBC Scotland. Cameron McNeish walked the so-called Western Way in Scotland, documented by a camera team which filmed him walking up and down mountains, crossing the frame from left to right and right to left, and occasionally setting up a tent. Just the right stuff for a weary walker to fall asleep to. On the next day, the way home was wonderfully uneventful. Everything worked out as planned. When I landed back in Germany, my family was waiting for me at the airport to take me home as quickly as possible. We didn’t have much time to talk because we had to begin packing for our family holiday in Majorca where I intended to spend two weeks by the pool, indulge in fond memories of Scotland and lick my wounds.

What’s next?

The travelogue itself might be over now, but there is one more thing. In the next (and final) part, I will go over the equipment I used on my way and report on how well worked and if I would use it again. Stay tuned.

West Highland Way Travelogue #9 – Drymen to Milngavie So, here it was, the last leg of my hike on the West Highland Way. The prospect was great: Good weather and no physical challenges along the way.