#i feel bad 'cause this friend i really respect picked up the emotional slack + i wish she hadn't had 2 do that. :/ i really care about her +

[stinkbeck]

oi i’m pissed 2 high heaven

[miraculouscontent]

Didn’t Need Burrow (May 30th-July 5th)

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Narrative basically ret-cons bad behavior of someone who isn't Marinette.

Oh yay! Alya V2!

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need Burrow to know that Mouse!Mylene will be called Multimouse.

I read somewhere that her name will be Polymouse but the source was broken.

Please be a mistake back when we saw the hero names and Mylene didn’t get her own name.

I’d also like to add a bonus that either Mylene gets named that without her consent (like someone calls her that), or Mylene names herself that without any knowledge of Multimouse!Marinette at all.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow: Assuming Luka×Zoe actually happens, there will be no build up whatsoever. In one episode, they just happen to get trapped together somewhere, talk for like ten seconds and start dating immediately afterwards. Basically the same as Alya×Nino bc none of the ships in this show (other than Lukanette and Adrigami) had any sort of meaningful developement before happening

A relationship beyond the love square getting development??? That’s cute.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow: Nino is gonna realize that Alya has the fox miraculous full time now and because of that he's gonna get pissy and so somehow Alya will be outta commission and Nino will be there so Marinette will give him a miraculous, Alya will probably say something encouraging about Nino, and then HE'LL get a full time miraculous to.

The only reason I don’t feel like this won’t happen is that it doesn’t direct anywhere near as much blame onto Marinette.

Anonymous asked:

Don't need burrow to know Chat will get angry at Ladybug and maybe Rena because Rena is now a permanent hero and he'll spend the day being a dick, but he'll be forced to work with Rena and realize things are good, but he'll only apologize to Rena.

Ladybug is just used to being chopped liver I assume.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Adrigami is restored, while Lukanette isn't.

Marinette will be too busy being forced by the narrative to continue caring about Adrien.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow, Su Han will only reappear at the end of the season and then disappear again.

“Hi, Su-Ha--oh, there he goes.”

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Adrien decide to confess his secret identity as Chat Noir to Nathalie. She decide to don't tell him that his father is Hawkmoth (but also decide to don't tell Gabriel that his son is Chat Noir)

God, the Agreste drama intensifies. Kill me.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette actually REJECTS Adrien after the identity reveal after it hits her all at once that HE did all the awful, questionable things Chat Noir did. This allows the Love Square Drama to continue, with Marinette being slammed for DARING to be upset/have STANDARDS - everyone claims that she's set the bar too impossibly high and is responsible for her own romantic misery, while Adrien continues being coddled by other temporary love interests while waiting for her to wise up.

Uggggggh.

I’m just waiting for Ladybug to loudly reject Chat Noir and then she falls for him soon after and bonus if Chat rubs it in her face that she’s moved on or the narrative ignores Chat’s past actions as Ladybug is all like, “WOW HE’S SO RESPECTFUL NOW.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Ladybug's continued rejections of Chat Noir are directly compared to Gabriel's shitty parenting -- both of them are denying Adrien things he wants, and these crimes against Sadrien are depicted as equally awful.  (If not weighted towards Ladybug being worse because sHe'S bReAkInG hIs WiDdLe HeArT~~~)

This one wins for making me the most upset.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: Juleka will become the tiger hero in another Julerose-centric episode, but this time Rose is akumatized (into princess fragrance again, but this time with a sentimonster so it’s DiFfErEnT). It will chronologically take place after guilt trip, but Rose’s disability will not be acknowledged, even in passing.

I swear, if I have to see a repeat akuma ONE MORE TIME!!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: The major conflict of the season will be Marinette repeating “mistakes” (this can be similar to not keeping chat 100% in the loop till he throws a fit or having a human to depend on emotionally about miraculous stuff) Bonus: The show doesn’t show the good that came out of her actions and only the bad (Not having a breakdown and etc)

Yup. Definitely Marinette’s fault that she needed to rely on someone so she didn’t have a breakdown. She should’ve buried her emotions and broke down every day instead.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: After the show runners give into another fan theory of new permanent heroes, they will quickly show why this was a mistake. Bonus if it’s the very next episode (because if Marinette did it then it has to be bad)

This already felt super likely and then you added “because if Marinette did it then it has to be bad” and now I’m just sad because it’s doubly right.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Marinette, who dreams of being a fashion designer, designs something that’s just ugly. Bonus if it’s never addressed/characters just say it’s great so the show doesn’t look bad at designing clothes

Does Ladybug count? Still can’t believe Chat Noir gets the “complex” outfit with actual thought and Ladybug gets the onesie.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: It's revealed that Emilie intended to use the Miraculi they'd found to 'give Adrien the world'.  This is treated as a sympathetic motive because, as Word of God constantly insists, Adrien is perfect and deserves everything he desires, regardless of how anyone else feels about it.  Thus it doesn't matter what horrific things his parents did or intended; their goals are treated as righteous, with Ladybug being Wrong to oppose them.

They just want what’s best for their son!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: There will be a plot in which LADYBUG is accused of not caring about civilians, with Adrien/Chat Noir getting to lecture her as if HE has the moral high ground.  Or any ground to stand on.  His abysmal track record is completely ignored, retconned, or otherwise treated as inapplicable; we likely get a singular moment where he suddenly Gives A Shit about protecting one of his friends/classmates, which is treated as proof that he Always Cares About Such Matters.

Bonus if it’s Ladybug choosing not to defend/save someone who spited her/deserves it, which is “clearly worse” than Chat Noir threatening to let Paris drown in “Syren.” Ladybug is not allowed to be human and also not allowed to show people that there are consequences for their actions, proving that they/Chat can take advantage and mock her as much as they want with no repurcussions.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Sabrina and Chloe have another Friendship Breakup; when Sabrina seems poised to actually get away from her abusive 'BFF' for good, Adrien intervenes/whines at Marinette to help him fix it, because it's nOt FaAaAaIr for Chloe to be aLl AlOoOoOoNe...

Is it too late to make Adrien disappear and have it look like an accident.

Anonymous asked:

DNB: In a Shocking Twist, Cats are revealed to be cursed - the majority suffer some catastrophic fate as the Ring eventually causes their Destruction.  Only True Love can break it, making Ladybug's refusal to give in to Chat Noir's advances a literal matter of life-and-death and 'justifying' all of his behavior.  Bonus if it's retconned that *Adrien always knew this*, despite nothing in his behavior ever indicating he believed himself to be on borrowed time.  Because Angstrese.

Also bonus if this is also used as just another way to make him seem sympathetic. Double bonus if this information is brought up after Ladybug snaps at Chat Noir, and she’s told this information to make her feel guilty.

.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: If Adrien reveal someone his secret identity, it will be ... obviously Wayhem.

Nino: hello darkness--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Goat!Marc, Rooster!Nathaniel and even Ox!Ivan will be buffed out because not even the boys in this show are allowed to keep their own body shapes when they become superheroes.

I’m positive Ivan especially will be beefed up. The civilian models are really awkward at times and clearly not prepared to be put in onesies (it’s hard to explain and maybe someone more experienced with propotions/anatomy will be able to say it better, but their limbs don’t have a lot of “shape” to them I guess?).

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: Alya’s miraculous looks exactly the same in it’s ��camouflage” mode solely so Lila can easily switch her necklace with Alya’s. (seriously why does it not change that bothers the hell out of me)

If that happens, I’d put money on Alya not getting called out on it. Good to know you put so much priority on “secrecy,” Alya.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t need burrow: A kwami swap will happen again somehow. Marinette will uncharacteristically scold Adrien way more harshly than normal AGAIN to make him feel bad about himself and this will further the (Adrien melodrama depression arc) of him feeling useless/ replaced. Bonus points if Alya picks up his slack.

Honestly, I was here for the scolding in “Reflekdoll” just because there weren’t consequences for her for once.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: There will be Sad Noir galore. Its all Ladybug’s fault, naturally.

Naturally.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Episode where Sabrina gets Dog Miraculous will be Chloe-centric (or Bourgeois sisters centric)

&

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: the episode where Sabrina gets the Dog Miraculous (which seems inevitable now, ugh) will heavily feature or even focus on Chloé, despite the fact that Chloé has already had a couple of episodes focusing largely on her this season. Sabrina’s introduction as a hero will have about as much focus as Kim’s or will be jammed into the last five minutes of the episode. Bonus points if they manage to deny her a proper transformation sequence like they did Kagami.

Roger: *exists and desperately needs development on his policy that caused Sabrina to become Chloe’s slave in the first place*

show: okay but--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Under pressure, Marinette admits to Alya and/or Tikki that she doesn't mind the attention (aka constant harassment) Chat Noir gives her; parroting common claims by sexual harassers, she says it makes her feel *special* and *noticed*.  She may also insist that she still wishes he would focus on the AKUMA/their responsibilities more, but the obvious point of this scene is to 'justify' his behavior with evidence that 'she enjoys it'.

MARINETTE

PLEASE

YOU DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: There will be a joke about Chat Noir *copping a feel* on Ladybug after an akuma sends them into an awkward position.  Ladybug's shock and discomfort is played for laughs; bonus if he quips about her suit not leaving much to the imagination.  Adrien is in a fantastic mood afterwards, considering that to be the 'best battle yet'.  (Alternatively, another heroine is victimized and Ladybug is visibly jealous/her annoyance at Chat is treated like jealousy.)

I’m not adding this to the spreadsheet just because a scene like that is too dicey for a kid’s show (though, believe me, if it were to happen, I’m putting that on it’s own damn card), but I will say that this would 100% happen if this were an anime/aimed towards an older audience.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien tricks Alya into thinking that Chat Noir already knows Ladybug's secret identity, thusly learning that she's Marinette.  This is passed off as all MARI's fault, naturally.  If Alya apologizes at all, it's in a backhanded, "But why didn't he know this already?" sort of fashion.

It’s Marinette’s fault for telling Alya her identity in the first place.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Post-Reveal, Marinette struggles to reconcile how her crush is also her abusive slacker 'partner'.  Adrien, by contrast, accepts her as Ladybug immediately... though his words make clear that he doesn't give a shit who SHE is, just that she's Ladybug.  Naturally, this is treated as Mari needing to learn how to accept Adrien for who he is, all while insisting that his many flaws and failings aren't issues at all.

i hate it, thanks

Anonymous asked:

DNB: The RLBS is EXPLICITLY punishment for Marinette: after a mutual reveal, Adrien declares that they can't get together as civilians until she accepts him as Chat Noir.  Mari is forced to awkwardly pursue Chat as Ladybug while he strings her along/humiliates her; meanwhile, Adrien trolls her with shallow gestures to fluster her/rile up their shipper classmates, who ride her ass for not 'sealing the deal' and making their relationship official.  Alya, aware of everything, is the WORST about it.

I presume that “RLBS” is “Reverse Love BS” which... yes.

Also, that whole “she needs to accept him as Chat Noir” infuriates me because that’s been a fandom thing forever.

.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: The only reason Sabrina got Dog Miraculous is because of a scene where Chloe literally "Kick the Dog".

&

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow to know that despite Sabrina almost certainly getting a miraculous and becoming a hero, the fact that she deserves better than being abused by Chloé and is a worthwhile individual in her own right will not be addressed. Because StATuS QuO!

I just had a horrible thought that they’ll do the episode like--

Chloe treats Sabrina terribly like usual, Sabrina ditches Chloe and Chloe is miserable + takes it out on everyone else for it, then Chloe gets akumatized over it and Sabrina gets the dog (for “loyalty”), which leads to Sabrina going back to Chloe so that Chloe will direct the abuse more solely towards Sabrina because “she takes it out on others otherwise”/she’s “used to it”/”it’s her responsibility and this is the right thing to do.” This will also be presented as the “right choice” and Chloe and Sabrina’s relationship will basically not change for the sake of leaving Chloe the way she is.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Cat Noir is gonna throw a Syren-Sized fit if/when he finds out that Ladybug dares to have a support network through Alya (not a very GOOD support network, but one nonetheless).

Still waiting for the “lesson” where Ladybug is told she’s not allowed to have emotions/be vulnerable.

Oh wait, that’s the show.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir will angst and fish for sympathy points instead of apologizing for the 40th time in the series.

Every time.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Luka is gonna say that Adrien and Marinette are made for each other. This is the last appearance that he will make in the show (with exception to background/shipping fuel between him and somebody else w̶h̶o̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶b̶a̶b̶l̶y̶ ̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶Z̶o̶è̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶K̶a̶g̶a̶m̶i̶).

Considering the ““““parellel”“““ episodes of “Truth” and “Lies,” I’m just ready for the same thing that happened with Kagami in “Mr. Pigeon 72.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Trixx plays pranks on Alya's family and is a little troll; he particularly loves teasing the twins, since any claims they might make about seeing a 'magical flying fox' will be passed  off as childish imaginings.  Alya blames Marinette for this more than she does Trixx.

Marineeeette, raise your “children” better!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya will wind up spilling Ladybug's secret identity to Nino because 'she needs to talk to SOMEONE about this!' (and Mari CLEARLY doesn't count for anything) and trusts her boyfriend.

I would also imagine Alya going on about Marinette’s secret to Nino without explicitly telling him.

Also, this will be an episode in this season because Alya couldn’t even keep it in for ONE SEASON (”Animan” all over again).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Ladybug will be seriously injured during an akuma battle, with circumstances preventing them from winning the fight/repairing the damage with Miraculous Cure right away.  Adrien/Chat Noir attempts to exploit the situation to learn 'his lady's' secret identity.  The narrative REFUSES to call him out on this; it's entirely on Marinette to protect herself by hiding the truth despite her injuries.

Bonus because “Ladybug” seemed to imply that their almost invincible in their suits, though I imagine if they get hurt, it’ll be Chat Noir and used for angst (like in “Miraculer”).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette will combine Miraculi more often to cut down on having to track down others all the time and put them in danger.  (And also because the merch guys want more stuff to base toys off of.)  She gets condemned for being a 'glory hound' and 'taught' that she needs to rely upon others more often, no matter what sort of risks that might entail (she'll get blamed for that anyway) or how they might let her down (again, always her fault).

Marinette: *tries not to burden others and instead does what the narrative has convinced her of; bearing the world’s weight alone until she breaks*

show: gOd, mArIneTtE--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chat Noir's tendency to screw around, flirt, and not read or work with his allies at all gets Rena Rouge, Vesperia or one of the other heroes hurt.  Naturally, this is played for Sadrien above all else -- if Ladybug or anyone else DARES to show any anger towards him for it, it's depicted as completely unjustified and unfair.  Bonus if the injured party insists that it's okay.

They neeeed Chat Noir to lighten the mood! He’s worth the risk!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: RLBS is kicked off by Marinette being utterly HUMILIATED by Adrien publicly rejecting her once he can't ignore her crush anymore, spurring her to give up on him 'for good'.  Adrien decides that he misses her chasing after him and starts pursuing her, with Alya and others encouraging her to accept his advances/telling her that she's crazy to reject him even after what he did.  Marinette's utter misery over the whole ordeal is treated as HILARIOUS.

It’s not like he mEaNt to embarrass you, Marinette!!!

Marinette didn’t meant to do a lot of things too but you don’t see the show giving her any slack.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir starts treating Alya/Rena Rouge with exactly as much 'respect' as he gives Ladybug -- which is to say, nothing but lip service paired with stunts like refusing to help unless she spills Ladybug's secrets.  Alya naturally blames Marinette for this.

I’m torn on whether he’d “””respect her””” as much as Ladybug or give her even more respect, probably on the premise that “Ladybug chose her,” and that somehow proves that Chat Noir is a good guy in all this (while, again, disrespecting/not trusting Ladybug/making his own decisions at every corner).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir attempts to charm Alya/Rena Rouge into sharing Ladybug's secrets with him, possibly making Nino jealous in the process.

*sees “Rocketear” trailer*

oh no...

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: We get another 'Bad Future' episode centered on Sadrien; this time around, it features him losing the Ring, painting this popular plotline as a horrible idea because Adrien is Perfect and Never Does Anything Wrong, and should never be punished for his actions.  No matter how it happens, Marinette is blamed for it; bonus if somebody angrily tells her that SHE should have lost HER Miraculous instead.

Wouldn’t be surprised, but that would also mean making a new model of a cat hero.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: It's revealed that part of the reason Alix/Bunnix refuses to share any 'Spoilers' about how the future is 'meant to go' is because Marinette Suffers Incredibly in the process, and Alix knows that she'd try to find some other way... and assumes that she'd fail in the process.  This is treated as entirely valid and Marinette, if she learns that this is part why Bunnix won't tell her shit, has to accept that she's just doomed to be Fate's personal punching bag.  Sucks to be her!

It’s “meant to be.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette/Ladybug is told outright that she's a horrible person for not respecting Chat Noir's feelings for her.  Bonus points if it's Alya, citing Mari's crush on Adrien as proof that she should know how it feels to constantly fail at getting your crush's attention.  (Alternately, Adrien venting to her about how *unfair* it is that Ladybug's so cruel to her partner, unaware of the dramatic irony.)  Triple-7 Jackpot of Shit if this contributes to the RLBS becoming a thing.

UGGGGGH.

And of course Chat Noir wouldn’t get the same treament and it’ll be like, “WELL ADRIEN DOESN’T kNoW sO--”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Instead of Lila, Chloe is revealed to be the next holder of the Butterfly Miraculous. This shows Chloe as "irredeemable" while successfully writing Lila out of the show.

Meanwhile, the writers’ script is frantically scribbled on with red marker.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Reveal that post about Lila being future Hawkmoth was Red Herring (or in this case orange herring)

Dumb herring.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need a burrow;

By the end of the series, Gabriel will have a redemption arc to feel sympathy for him :o

guys he’s so sad don’t you see--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien's inability to choose between the 'love of his life' and the abusive shitbag excuse of a sire who'd just smacked him like a ping-pong ball foreshadows that he will ultimate choose Gabriel after learning that he's Hawk/Shadowmoth.  This will be entirely blamed on Marinette not being able to keep him by her side because 'she didn't love/cherish/appreciate him enough'!

After “Guiltrip” and the whole, “I don’t say this enough--” line, I’d buy it and now I’m sad.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: The RLBS is kicked off by Chat Noir switching sides and joining Hawk/Shadowmoth.  Ladybug is forced to appeal to Chat's 'love' for her, with Alya, Tikki, and various other 'friends'/allies blaming her for his defection.  Meanwhile, Sadrien starts pursuing Marinette as an outlet for his mangst, 'unintentionally' making her more miserably conflicted in the process.

She rejected him and therefore he’s in his right to switch sides. She never even gave him a chance!!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien is a Sentimonster/was created by other Miraculous magic by the Agrestes, who desired a 'perfect/model son'.  This is used to further the narrative that his entitlement is actually a Good Thing: Adrien was not MEANT to have any wants/needs/desires of his own, but mysteriously developed them anyway.  Thus Marinette NEEDS to cater to his every whim because it's sO mIrAcUlOuS that he HAS them in the first place.  Hooray...?

His very EXISTENCE is MIRACULOUS, Marinette!!!

Also, Astruc will act like this was amazingly foreshadowed in “Ladybug” where Ladybug comments on Sentibug’s perfection.and with Astruc always called Adrien perfect (either on his own or through other characters).

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Another Shocking Familial Connection is revealed: Felix is not Adrien's cousin, but Gabriel and Emilie's original son, whom they shunted off on her sister and replaced with the 'perfect' Adrien.  50-50 split on whether this is used to excuse all of Felix's shitty behavior or if he's demonized further -- 'See, THIS is why they replaced him!  ANYONE would choose the Perfect Adrien over someone like THAT!'

Why not both????

It’s like the Chloe-Zoe situation but male.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: After learning that Rena Rouge has become Ladybug's confidant, Chat Noir outright REFUSES to help at a critical moment, sneering about how 'you ladies CLEARLY don't need me'.  As with everything else, the blame for his latest stunt is laid neatly at Marinette's feet, because Adrien is never EVER responsible for his own actions.

They’ll probably blame Marinette because Ladybug “didn’t tell him right away.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Circumstances force Adrien to be Mr. Bug again (since they already have the models).  Much is milked from how HAAAAAAAARRRRD his temporary responsibilities are on him, and he reiterates afterwards how happy he is that he doesn't have to deal with that all the time.  No actual sympathy for Ladybug's situation is displayed, though stans treat it as such; what we're actually SHOWN is that Adrien only cares about the burden when HE'S the one stuck carrying it.

As per usual, no one cares about Marinette’s problems until it directly affects THEM, and then they’ll go back to not caring.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: With all of the other abusive behavior Adrien has shown towards Ladybug, it's only a matter of time before we get a 'Why did you make me hit you?' moment.  No akuma influence; just him physically lashing out at her because he's an entitled little shit upset over not getting his way, followed by the inevitable bleating about how bad HE feels and how he'll 'never do it again'.  Naturally, this is presented as though Marinette 'deserved it' and must accept his apology.

Show, don’t do this to me, I swear--

I’d be surprised if this did happen, but more because it’s like wow the lack of self-awareness is even worse than I thought.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: We get a Very Special Episode about sexual harassment... which not only refuses to acknowledge Adrien's behavior as such, but asserts that he would NEVER touch 'his lady' in any kind of inappropriate fashion.  Bonus: he harasses her in that very same episode to 'prove' that his behavior isn't inappropriate.

So “Felix” but worse...

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: The reason why ML Writers made Zoe an actress is to justify why she managed to recognize that Lila is "Liar that lies" instantly after meeting her.

Waiting for the moment where Zoe talks to Marinette to address Marinette “acting like she’s not in love with Adrien.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Lila steals the Fox Pendant from Alya/does something that affects her *personally*.  Alya then reads Marinette the riot act, demanding to know "Why didn't you WARN ME about her?!"  (None of the times that she DID count because Alya dismissed them as her 'just being jealous', which is, of course, entirely Mari's fault.)  Bonus if we allude back to her claiming that 'good reporters do their research' and how she expected MARI to provide her her with proof of her claims.

Marinette: *thousand yard stare*

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: When Lila is exposed, Marinette gets blamed for all the harm she caused with her various deceptions, since she tried to warn others and couldn't convince anyone of the truth.  Adrien 'taking the high road' is largely glossed over; if anyone finds out that HE knew too and never did anything to warn anyone, he's quickly forgiven for 'not knowing any better'.

See, Marinette, if you just hadn’t tRiEd--

And Adrien was just trying to “be nice to everyone equally” so he’s forgiven.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir outright admits that he dislikes Rena/the other heroes being around since they make him feel unnecessary.  This is treated as a perfectly reasonable and valid complaint rather than a slacker piss-moaning about being shown up by others making actual EFFORT.

*flashbacks to “You’re not trying to replace me with a turtle, are you?” after Carapace shows up LITERALLY ONCE*

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: We get a retread of the NYC Special's Angstrian when he accidentally ('accidentally?') Cataclysms Rena/somebody else.  Bonus if the victim once again argues that THEIR experiences/trauma are FAR less important than his.  (Especially if it's Alya, Nino, Max... somebody who ALSO happens to be a character of color temporarily killed off to make the spoiled white rich brat feel sorry for himself.)

It’s an accident and also probably “Ladybug’s fault.”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien/Chat Noir skips an akuma attack/shows up late to find it was resolved without him, and mopes about how 'his lady doesn't need him anymore', requiring somebody else to massage his ego.  Bonus points if somebody (likely Ladybug) is demonized for getting annoyed at him for being late/a no-show, because HOW DARE they take defending Paris seriously?!

Well excuse us, Chat, next time we’ll just awkwardly stall for twenty minutes.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chat Noir will 'accidentally' Cataclysm one of the protective Charms so that its holder can be akumatized again.  Bonus if he does this to Alya/one of the other heroes.

Probably Chloe.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: The protective charms are ultimately rendered effectively pointless when Adrien switches sides and starts using his powers to destroy them.  Naturally, Marinette is held completely responsible for his actions, because God FORBID he ever be called to account for himself.  Not when his 'partner' is around to absorb all the blame.

You didn’t make him feel loVeD, Marinette.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien pulls a Chloe with his own attempt at engineered heroics, putting the lives of others on the line to 'prove his value'.  Ladybug is completely blamed for the stunt; bonus if someone accuses her of 'not learning anything' from what happened with Chloe.

Hate it. Hate it a lot.

We already got him trying to cause/hoping for akuma, so this isn’t too far off.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien gives Zoe better advice for dealing with her bullies.  His policy for handling Chloe and Lila remains the same as ever.  (In other words, only Marinette has to 'be the better person' and keep suffering at the hands of her abusers, since it maintains his preferred status quo.  But it's no skin off his nose if Zoe's situation changes/improves.)

I also imagine that Adrien would give this advice without Marinette onscreen, so Adrien won’t be called out on it.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Alya will reveal Marinette’s identity to someone (possibly Nino) and the show will then punish Marinette for trusting Alya in the first place. Bonus point if the show then says she should have trusted Adrien/Chat Noir because he would never have betrayed her trust.

I’m just remembering the fandom’s complaints and wow I hate it.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Ladybug Miraculous basically change into Poor man's version of Green Lantern's Ring

*stares at the phone in “Optigami” that somehow picks up on the kwamis’ voices* hm

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: Marinette will look through the future and see one where she and Luka get together, except it’s portrayed as bad and abusive, more so if he knows her secret identity, and the only way for her to escape it is by getting with Chat Noir(and not...you know, anybody else. Or being single. Or MAKING THE RELATIONSHIP WORK!!!). Chat Noir sees it too, and gloat about in her face, since it proved that they were “meant for each other, m’lady!” Bonus points if someone calls Thomas Ass Truck out on this shit, and he either replies that it was the best thing to do, claims it doesn’t matter how Lukanette is treated/the love square ends up together because they’re “made for each other” anyway, or even tries to pass it off as “girl power”, because how could we let the female lead get with the respe—oops, I mean abusive guy over the one who treats her te—oops, I mean respectfully and like a “gentleman” would?! And then he’ll follow up by blocking them for daring to question the Ridiculous Relationship Rhombus and respect the “non-endgame” ship. Even wor—oops! I mean, better, if love square shippers use this opportunity to gloat about how “I always knew Adrien and Marinette(notice how they always place his name first?!) were perfect for each other, Luka wasn’t good enough for Marinette, take that, Lukanette shippers!” declaring it “anti-salt”.

bfgkdjfgdfg god

Also, the only problem with this idea is that it would mean making an adult model for Luka.

Bonus if another “disadvantage” to Marinette dating Luka is that Luka isn’t high class.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette will be told outright to 'Get over yourself' and stop bringing up valid complaints about Chat Noir's shitty behavior, as the series becomes increasingly overt with its subtext about how one of Marinette's Biggest Mistakes is having STANDARDS.

Ignoring that Luka exists, of course, and if it’s mentioned that Luka exists then cue, “OH BUT SHE DOESN’T AAAACTUALLY LOVE LUKA.”

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need Burrow: SentiWiFi (Lady WiFi Sentimonster)

SentiEveryone at this point...

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Nino is again robbed of screentime by Sentimonster based on him.

*sees “Sentibubbler” title and trailer*

Did--did you predict the future??

...I mean, we’ve been doing that the whole time, but damn.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya will continue shoving Marinette towards Adrien, then mockingly ask 'Didn't you want to give romance a break?' or something along those lines.  Showing that not only is she fully aware of Marinette's wishes and doesn't give a damn, but implicitly blaming Marinette for her inability to stick to them, despite how SHE is the one forcing the issue.

“We all know that you WANT HIM, Marinette! Stop denying yourself!!!”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: When Marinette gets a spot of hope regarding her relationship woes, Alya leaps in to take all the credit for the apparent success.  Once the light turns out to be an incoming Drama Train that blindsides Marinette and leaves her humiliated and heartbroken, Alya insists that it's entirely MARI's fault that things went off the rails.

Waiting for a line from Alya about how she’s doing everything right and Marinette must be really hopeless if Alya’s schemes aren’t working...

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya and Nino will get into a bit of Relationship Drama in order to further reinforce the series' double standards.  (Such as 'It's OK for boys to lie, but girls shouldn't have any secrets.'  Or 'Boys can hold grudges, but girls must forgive every trespass.'  Or 'Girls shouldn't told boys to impossible standards like expecting to be treated with basic human decency.')  Bonus points if Marinette gets blamed for it.

Yup.

Yup.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: The subtext about Marinette not deserving a GOOD love interest is further emphasized by Kagami and Luka getting together.  Kagami comments on how she can trust Luka not to lie to her; this is the closest she gets to explaining to Marinette WHY she broke things off with Adrien in the first place.  After all, it doesn't matter if Adrien lies to Marinette; they're 'meant for each other'.

I’m still not over Kagami saying that the guy who lied to her is “made for” her only friend????

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Zoe learns a valuable lesson about the importance of Being Herself with Luka's help, teasing the idea of the two of them getting together.

“Bonus” for Marinette saying that Zoe and Luka are made for each other.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chat Noir deliberately strings Vesperia along in a ploy to make Ladybug jealous.  Zoe is naturally heartbroken when she learns the truth.  Her pain is blamed entirely on Marinette, since Adrien can NEVER be held accountable for his own actions.

Ladybug, you should’ve seen this coming!!

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow (kinda?), Astruc apparently is aware that his perfect Adrien is flawed as Chat Noir (he said so on twitter), and I fear that if anyone ever asks him why the two sides of Adrien so different, he'll reveal that the cat miraculous changes the holder's personality or some shit, which will cause "Anti Adrien Salt" to explode, screaming "the salter's claims aren't valid anymore, it's not Adrien's fault, it's the miraculous!!!1!!111!!!!¡¡!¡¡¡!!!"

I feel like he denied that back when he still had a Tumblr but gosh I’m just waiting for it to be confirmed because FANON THEORIES.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien gets a taste of what Marinette goes through constantly when he/Chat Noir suffers a bit of minor humiliation over his crush.  His pain and angst over this is played DEAD SERIOUS, treated as though he's suffering through the WORST THING EVER even though whatever happened pales in comparison to what Marinette has endured.  Anyone who dares so much as chuckle at what happened is villainized, since only a MONSTER would find his suffering funny.

I’m seething.

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need a Burrow: Return of Sentibug (for fanservice)

Bonus if they kill her off again. Something something “only one Ladybug” something.

neyla9 asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: So if Zoe gets sent to a new boarding school after being in Paris for a few months (there is a chance the writers will just completely ignore that this was established in Sole Crusher, in which case this probably won't happen), I predict that Zoe was brought in specifically to redeem Chloe, rubbing it in Marinette's face that she failed at redeeming Chloe, and force Marinette to give Chloe the bee miraculous back

Most likely. Apparently needed to bring someone else in to make Marinette feel worse.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien abandons/ditches his responsibilities as a hero because he's too busy sulking over his ego being bruised by some slight (real or imagined).  Marinette is naturally blamed for this.

Oh, of course!

Marinette probably had to be late for patrol so he was intentionally late for something, and then was like well you did it to me, so--

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chloe will get another tiresome 'Will she or won't she be redeemed?' arc, only to backstab/betray everyone again.  Astruc will preen and croon on social media about how gullible anyone that thinks she could ever be redeemable is.  Bonus points if Chloe's damning act that proves she's unsalvageable is something ADRIEN has done.

Meanwhile, Nino is back here absolutely collecting DUST!!!

I guess you gotta be a horrible person/make Marinette suffer to get screen time.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Chloe will discover Vesperia's secret identity and steal the Bee Miraculous, then spitefully out Zoe so that SHE can't be a heroine anymore.

Marinette is running out of teens at this point but finding new ones would mean more models.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Zoe is used to teach Marinette that she's too harsh on others for lying, and should accept that they can be dishonest sometimes.  (Especially Adrien.)  As a natural follow-up, Marinette is blamed/punished for falling for a friend's lies -- because CLEARLY it's not Alya/Adrien/anyone else's fault if she believes their bullshit!

No one’s perfect, Marinette! People are human!!

...Except you, of course.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Despite the incident with SentiNino, Shadow Moth will *successfully* obtain a miraculous by using the same trick.  Bonus points if it's Marinette/Ladybug who falls for it... though really, she'll be blamed regardless.

Double bonus if she doesn’t fall for it but it still goes through.

Anonymous asked:

DNB: The 'Shocking Twist' of Adrien/Chat Noir betraying Team Miraculous and joining his father will be presented as though it's entirely Marinette/Ladybug's fault, with Adrien acting as though he Had No Choice and angsting about being 'forced' to betray his lady and friends.  The series never acknowledges how self-serving his motives actually are, and any call-outs he gets are treated as Wrong and Awful and Blaming Poor Innocent Victim Adrien.

“hE’s jUsT tRyinG tO sAvE hIs mOm”

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: 'Borrowing' from many a Salt Fic, Marinette will thank her for 'proving who my *real* friends are'.  This entails giving Adrien, Alya and possibly others credit for always standing by her, believing in her, and various other things that they never actually did.

I’m presuming “her” means “everyone”/”the girl squad” and yup.

Better tell than show I guess.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Alya will be retconned into having 'never believed anything Lila said'.  Or at least, she will CLAIM that she never believed her.

I WILL BE SO UPSET

Also prepared for them to handwave it, like, “oh whatever, now I’m helping you since I know so it’s all good!”

Anonymous asked:

Don't Need Burrow: Similarities between Luka and Zoe were only red herring. Zoe will become Kagami's new love interest (and Kagami and Zoe's dynamic will be suspiciously similar do Fanon!Marigami)

But that would imply they care enough about LGBT rep.

Though they could always pull a Voltron and slip it in at the very end.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Marinette will suffer the toll/backlash from using multiple Miraculi ONLY for the sake of making that her Latest Mistake. Her past successes are only acknowledged as a way of painting her as arrogant for assuming she could continue doing so safely.

She’ll probably be yelled at and told not to “keep doing everything herself” even though that’s what the narrative keeps telling her to do.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow: Adrien discovers his father's secret identity and hides it... and this is painted as an act of incredible self-sacrifice rather than selfishness.  Rather than treating it as a betrayal of Ladybug/Team Miraculous, the series focuses on his angst and 'inner struggle', pretending there's something heroic about him refusing to expose Hawkmoth and potentially put an end to his terrorizing Paris.

:|

Deep breaths, Clarity.

Anonymous asked:

Didn't need burrow: Alya will get to keep her boyfriend despite her being involved with the miraculous box n stuff, unlike Marinette. Why, you ask? Easy, the bond between Luka and Mari just isn't sTrOnG eNoUgH for them to last through difficult times, like Alya and Nino do so easily.

Ignoring that Marinette and Luka only just got together and also that Marinette has it WAY different than Alya.

But no I guess. Adrien and Marinette are “made for each other” so gotta discredit Lukanette whenever. Marinette isn’t allowed to be happy, we know.

Anonymous asked:

Didn’t Need Burrow: The one time Marinette gets a break from akumas and her responsibilities all hell breaks loose and the lesson for that episode will be that Marinette and Marinette alone must carry the burden of being Ladybug and Guardian.

Marinette: *gets five minutes of sleep*

Paris: *catches on fire*

Anonymous asked:

Didn't Need Burrow (Can I do two at once?): "Crocoduel" will not acknowledge the Lukanette breakup at all, and the titular Akuma will just be Guitar Villain and Captain Hardrock again.

(You’re allowed two, absolutely!)

I’d like to add as well that, even if they do acknowledge the Lukanette breakup, Marinette will talk to Luka about it but then be like, “I’m not focusing on love right now and I’m too busy so I’m sorry for everything that happened,” even as everyone keeps pushing for the love square.

[jade-marie]

I didn't watch episode 4 but I saw gifs of Beth yelling at Jane and it got me thinking, what's your view on the Boland kids not being parented?

Lmao you love getting me in trouble🤣

Sorry. It got long but I could rant about this for weeks.

Pre canon and S1

Obviously, we don’t see anything pre canon when it comes to the Boland kids, but you can put together an idea of what their situation was like from the first few episodes. Beth was a SAHM - she made them fancy packed lunches for school, had them enrolled in extra curricular activities, dropped them off/picked them up from school, put them to bed, got them ready etc. She was the main caregiver and Dean was at work. When he came home, he got to be the fun dad.

It seems like they had a decent amount of structure, as far as schedules go, but they’ve never been given any responsibility and didn’t appear to be well disciplined. We had Kenny telling Beth she sucked at math in s1 - something I certainly wouldn’t have gotten away with. Anyway, they had a decent amount of structure and stability, they were used to things being a certain way and that was all disrupted when Dean was kicked out of the house. Then suddenly, Dean was back, but he was sharing a bedroom with Kenny. It doesn’t seem like any of this was really explained to the kids properly or that they were helped through the process, which can have some knock-on effects. 

Throughout Season 2

First episode of S2, Dean was shot. The kids were told that he was mugged and were, understandably, shaken up by the whole thing. Once again, nobody truly comforted or helped them through this process and we started to see the fallout of that. Kenny essentially developed an eating disorder and started bingeing, Jane “ran away from home”. But again, nothing is done about it. Beth says they need to be more present, no phones at dinner, they look into a child therapist, but we don’t ever hear about the kids actually getting therapy even though they desperately need it.

Throughout the season, the structure that they still had in S1 rapidly disappears. It goes from Beth being the main caregiver to her handing the reigns over to Dean in 2.05 and he doesn’t do a good job of it. The house becomes a mess, the kids run wild. This would be a perfect opportunity to start giving the older children some chores, helping to re-introduce structure, but it doesn’t happen. From the kids perspectives, they would notice their mother becoming more and more absent from their lives, missing dance recitals, coming home late, missing dinner, missing bedtime and so Dean is becoming the consistent parent (important for later).

Dean decides to weaponise the children, taking them away from Beth and going to stay with his mother for a while, before going back home. Beth and Dean tell the kids that they’re going to be getting a divorce, obviously that doesn’t happen, again creating quite an unstable environment for them. Effectively, they have a roof over their heads and they’re being fed/clothed, but nobody is actually parenting them. 

Throughout Season 3

At the beginning of S3, with the dealership gone and Beth no longer working for Rio, they have significantly less money. It’s not clear how much of a knock-on effect this had on their extra curricular activities because Jane still has her piano lessons and Kenny has hockey. Beth’s taking them to the park a lot, it’s also not clear whether this is simply because she’s stalking Rhea and Marcus or genuinely because the park is a free activity for them. Regardless, they’ve been going to the park enough that it’s no longer fun. The kids really don’t seem to have any structure anymore and, once again, it doesn’t seem like they’ve been receiving any emotional support during what would be a challenging time for any child. 

Dean has gone back to work, Beth is now also working, so Judith steps in to help take care of the kids. She takes things a little bit far, which pisses off Beth, so Judith is quickly removed from the equation. Again - instability. Then we have the fallout between Rhea and Beth, which means Jane can no longer play with her best friend Marcus for (at least from her perspective) absolutely no reason. Again – instability. Fast forward a few weeks, the entire house is emptied so the kids have to go and stay with Judith for an unspecified amount of time. Again – instability. We can play the blame game to decide who is the cause of this instability, but it’s pretty irrelevant. The fact is, the kids lives are being shaken up and nobody is helping them through it.

Beth buys new furniture, the kids come home, it all seems great, and then Dean gets arrested. So now their dad ,who has been the more consistent parent in their lives for the last year, is out of the picture. Once again, nobody is really offering them support during this time. We see Jane asking for her dad, we see the kids talking about how Dean lets them eat by the TV, because they’re missing things which have been consistent for them, and then we finally get to Janes little stand-off with Beth over the remote control.

That is quite clearly the result of her emotional needs going unmet for God knows how long, so she’s acting like a brat. Instead of taking care of and supporting her child, Beth lashes out. I find the editing choice to mute the yelling and playing music over the scene annoying, because it lightens it quite a bit. It’s pretty obvious that Beth was wildly over reacting to the situation, because she was lashing out at a child over things that had nothing to do with Jane. She was stressed about Dean, she was stressed about Fitzpatrick‘s upcoming murder and taking that out on a kid. Yeah, she felt bad and gave her a hug after, but you’ve still got 3/4 kids (is Kenny coming back??) who’ve been emotionally neglected for at least a year. 

Beth’s kids compared to Annie/Ben

We don’t really see a lot of Ben‘s relationship with Greg, it doesn’t seem like he’s a particularly bad parent in any way, Nancy is probably a bit neurotic, but nothing major. Annie, is pretty emotionally stunted and immature, she puts way too much responsibility on Ben, so it’s the complete opposite of Beth. Ben is effectively the grown-up in their relationship, he leaves reminders for his mother to make sure shit gets dealt with and any structure Ben has is structure he’s created for himself.

But at the same time, he trusts his mother and when something is bothering him he actually talks to her. We saw him come out to Annie before Greg and Nancy, he told Annie when he was being bullied. As he gets older, you can see him growing tired of parenting his mother, but I think she’s learning from her mistakes by recognising the way they’ve impacted her son.  I think it’s also important to remember that Ben has been largely unaffected by Annies criminal activities, this is predominantly because she has a shitload of baggage to deal with. 

Beth’s kids compared to Ruby and her kids

As a whole, Ruby‘s kids have been relatively unaffected by her criminal activities. It doesn’t look like they ever had a rigourous schedule of extracurricular activities, but they’ve always had a stable home life. Not financially well off, but happy. We’ve always seen them be respectful, they have boundaries with their parents, they don’t particularly misbehave etc. They just appear to be good kids with good parents. They witnessed Stan being arrested and Sara especially took that quite hard, but she was supported through it. It’s also quite clear that she’s had a good emotional support system throughout her illness and kidney transplant. When she found out that Ruby was up to something shady in S3 and their relationship became strained as a result, she spoke to her mother in a way which was disrespectful, eventually that behaviour was checked. Because Ruby and Stan parent their children.

Beth’s kids compared to Rio/Marcus

From the very first time we were introduced to Marcus, we’ve seen that he’s very polite, very well-balanced and has a good relationship with his dad. We’ve seen Rio patiently instil important lessons in his son, such as cleaning up his messes, being patient and waiting his turn - things which Beth’s kids still don’t understand.

For the most part, Marcus seems to be pretty well shielded from Rio’s criminal activities, which is why I think Marcus was so heavily affected by his dads absence in S3. But, unlike the Boland children, he was emotionally supported through the process by his mother. He went to her for comfort and he received it. When Rio isn’t around, Rhea appears to pick up the slack and ensure Marcus still has some stability.

I think they’ve deliberately contrasted Beth’s kids with the other children on the show. Her children are the only ones who seem to be truly feeling the effects of choices she’s made during the course of the series. She claims to be doing all of this for her kids, but is completely ignorant to the fact that her choices are hurting them. This isn’t me bashing her character or saying she’s a shitty mom because I don’t like her, this is just stating what’s happening on the screen and right now, whether or not it’s deliberate, she’s being a shitty parent. Dean has always been a shitty parent. So now those kids don’t have anyone😕

[refriedweeb]

YOU CAN PUSH TO START (BAKUGO + URARAKA)

A/N: refriedweeb here again. not much to say but to those of you who just followed me you’re all awesome and if you get followed back by @pomegranatedaydreams that’s my main blog! it took me a while to find the voices of these two since I’m used to writing with characters x readers HAPPY KACCHAKO WEEK

Prompt: After the UA Sport’s Festival and the student interns, Bakugo and Ochako are sparring once more. Only this time, Ochako has some experience under her belt and only confirms Bakugo’s thoughts that she’s far from fragile

tags: tension, angst, sparring, fighting

word count: 3,374

It’s been a couple of months since the UA Sport’s Festival and since class 1-A had gotten to go on their Hero Agency internships. It’s safe to say that there’s been a rejuvenated sense of purpose in the young heroes of 1-A, and it’s showing in their efforts to get back to training and learning the most they can out of their time at UA. One person this has certainly affected visibly is Ochako Uraraka, who has returned from her internships a seemingly different person. She carries herself differently, more confidently. Her internship with Gunhead has seemingly lit a new fire in her, and she’s ready to go. After the Sport’s Festival where she’d taken on Katsuki Bakugo and been defeated after what she thought was a false representation of what she could really do, she wants to prove herself as worthy of being in the hero course more than ever.

Someone who has definitely been paying attention to that is none other than the resident hothead himself, Katsuki Bakugo. He knew back then after she kept coming at him with everything she had at the UA Sport’s Festival, that Ochako was far from weak. Inexperienced and perhaps not as aggressive of a quirk as his was, but by no means weak. He’s stood by his comment from the festival when his classmates had given him slack for going at her with all he had. What part of her was frail? 

That particular fight hadn’t been a victory that Bakugo had been proud of winning. The look on Ochako’s face when she’d fallen to the ground, beaten so badly that she hadn't been able to get back hadn’t felt right to him. Normally one to celebrate his opponent’s defeat, he’d been left speechless when Midnight had declared him the winner. There was no celebrating in that victory, and though it had been months ago, it still didn’t make him feel good. It’d been hard to look at pink cheeks for the following weeks, not quite sure if he should say sorry. Bakugo felt that he was one of the few people that understood what it was that Ochako’s quirk was, and how dangerous it could be. Taking away something’s gravity? If she’d gotten a hand on him at the sport’s festival he might have very well had no choice but to surrender in the fight. And there was no way in hell he was getting beaten in the first round. He had to be the best, he had to go all out, and there was nothing that suggested that Ochako wouldn’t have been able to hold out on him. Frankly, she’d done better than he thought she would. Tch. And somehow he was the bad guy for fighting back instead of just letting her get a hit on him.

And while cheeks had a great Hero Internship, Bakugo was hard pressed to call his internship with Best Jeanist that. His hair was still falling in a weird way compared to what it usually did with all that combing and gel that it’d been put through. He hadn’t even got to see any damn action! It’d been about manners, about how to make him a more approachable hero. Meanwhile everyone else had an exciting internship, even froggy! It was bullshit and Bakugo was still pretty bitter over it, which was why he was headed to the gym on school grounds. There was some aggression that he wanted to work out, and he had a feeling that the gym would be empty. And if it wasn’t, then it wouldn’t take a whole lot of attitude on his end to get them to fuck off to somewhere far away from him.

With his hands shoved into the pockets of his shorts, that was where Bakugo headed. He still couldn’t believe the shit hand he’d gotten with his internship, and kicked a spare can just as he pushed into the gym. Only to find that he wasn’t alone. Katsuki blinked in surprise to see none other than Ochako in there, working at a punching bag with effort and determination. He stood there, mouth hanging open. 

“Pink cheeks?”

Ochako jumped, clapping her hands over her mouth as she whirled around, sweat dripping down her forehead. A physical marker of just how hard she’d been working before Bakugo had come and interrupted her one on one session. But to see him standing there, watching her like she was doing something weird only sparked a little fear in her heart. Ochako slapped her hands down against her thighs, and then stilled the swinging punching bag behind her, eyes dancing frantically as she tried to come up with some idea as to why she was in the gym rather than the very obvious reason that she was in the gym.

“Oh, hey, uh, Bakugo!” she chirped, doing her best to give a smile that didn’t look half as nervous as she felt. He saw right through it. Bakugo exhaled through his nose as she continued on. “I didn’t know you’d be here, or anything, I was just...training on my own! Practicing some of the moves that Gunhead taught me during the-”

He cut you off. “Yeah, tch, we all know how special your internship was.” Ochako’s blush deepened and she leaned back on her hip.

“Sorry...” she looked down at her feet, swallowing the knot of nerves in her throat. She’d picked Gunhead as her internship option because he could teach her things that she didn’t know, he could help her get stronger so that she’d be able to keep pace with the rest of the top students in her class. The last thing Uraraka wanted to be looked at as was one of the students who didn’t belong in 1-A because they weren’t that great of a hero. She needed to be able to support her family, to help them out in the way of finances. Ochako couldn’t fail at this, and she refused to give up. It’d been why she pushed herself so hard against her and Bakugo’s fight back at the Sport’s Festival. She was tired of people looking at her like she needed saving...or that she was weak. “I can go...if you want, I didn’t mean to...” Ochako paused, giving a weak chuckle as she ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll just go.”

Bakugo watched as she bent down to pick up the water bottle she’d brought with her, the sweat towel. And the look of what he was well aware was the emotion of fear. Was she scared of him? Because of what had happened at the sport’s festival? He let out a sharp exhale through his nose, rolling his eyes. “Don’t. Gunhead taught you some cool tricks, sure. But that doesn’t mean you’re any better of a hero than you were before.”

Ochako snapped up at him, her brows defined and making the angry expression on her round face look...cute. He blinked at the thought, shaking it out of his head because it had no reason being there, at least not one that he was willing to acknowledge. Hell, he had respect for her because she kept getting back up when he kept beating her down but...it didn’t go outside of that, did it?

“You know Bakugo, you don’t have to be so mean all the time to people who have never done anything to you in your life. You should try making some friends outside of Kirishima.” The blush on her cheeks had deepened as she stood up for herself, but Ochako was tired of being looked down, seen as weak by her classmates. Especially Bakugo. 

“Then spar with me.”

The statement was so simple, so quiet that Uraraka wasn’t even sure she’d heard him right. “What?”

“Spar with me, round cheeks.”

She blinked, looking at him for a period of time without saying anything. It was likely that Bakugo was just going to beat her all over again and she’d feel worse about his statement turning out true, that she hadn’t grown during her internship. But Uraraka knew that wasn’t true. She just knew. She opened and closed her mouth several times, internally debating on what to do while Bakugo just stood there, scowling at her as he grew more and more impatient. 

“Fine,” Katsuki’s eyebrows lifted, a little surprised that she’d even said yes. But when the burgundy eyes met that of Uraraka’s honey (why was he thinking of her eyes like honey?) he found there was nothing but determination there. She really wanted to do this. “We’ll do it in the open gym so we don’t ruin any of the equipment here.”

Which was perfectly fine with him. The two of them made their way across the training grounds, finding that open gym empty. Good. Despite Ochako’s nerves, she was excited. This was a chance for her to prove to not only Bakugo, but most importantly herself, how far she’d come. When she compared herself against her teammates, Momo, Todoroki, Deku, and Bakugo, she felt that she was falling behind. That she wouldn’t be able to keep up with their growth. This was her chance to build her confidence. 

The two came to stand across from one another, Ochako letting out a deep breath. Bakugo was watching her, waiting. “So we are allowed to use our quirks, or what? You need a handicap?” She shook her head, that same fixed look of determination coming back into her expression and causing Bakugo to swallow against the tightness in his throat. It was a look different from the festival, and he had to admit...he kind of liked it.

A moment of pause came as they both settled into fighting stances, Bakugo knowing he had to steer clear of her hands unless he wanted to meet the ceiling. Ochako needed to be smarter than the last time they’d fought, using Bakugo’s weakness to her advantage. She moved first, running at him full speed. A grin stretched over Bakugo’s features, opening up his palms as they started to glisten with the same sweat that allowed him to make explosions. “You’re starting with the same opening moves from the festival? You really haven’t changed!”

He fired off an explosion, his free hand supporting his firing hand. The smoke was heavy, and he was sure he’d gotten the first hit in their spar. Tch. Just like the festival. If this was still the best that she had... “Huh?” Bakugo’s eyes jumped forward and there she was, Ochako holding her breath and turning pinker in the face as she floated above him. Same approach...different tactic. His eyes widened as she dropped closer to him, holding a palm out towards his head. One touch and he’d be gravity free. “Like hell!” he yelled, reaching up to aim at her again, Uraraka bringing her hands together to release her from her float. Bakugo’s eyes widened as she came down towards him, and he fired off another round. It hit her, sending Uraraka bouncing to the side. Bakugo turned his attention to her again, frowning as she came to rest on her elbows, letting out a small moan of pain.

And then...

Something came down on his head, hard. He swore, rubbing his head as he turned around to look at what it was. A shoe... Ochako’s shoe... Already too late, Katsuki whipped around to see her within inches of him, hand outstretched again. He grimaced, noting that she was indeed only wearing one shoe. Not wanting to fire on her at such close range, Bakugo swung a fist, grazing Ochako’s cheeks as she dropped down, swiping his legs out from underneath him. When had she gotten so fast? This was from just her internship? Just another affirmation that Bakugo had picked the wrong hero to intern with...

His back hit the ground hard, and Ochako was lunging at him. If she could get him in the air, she’d definitely have an advantage. At least she felt like she would. Her moves were confident, more sure of herself as she moved after Bakugo, aiming to hit him in the chest to get him to float. Her jaw was set in a determined line, only for Bakugo to defend himself again. A blast caught her in the stomach, sending her flying backwards against the concrete ground. She was pretty sure that it singed her hair too. She winced, noting at how hard that one hurt. Good. She didn’t want Bakugo to hold back. She didn’t want to be seen as weak. “Stop holding back!” She called, holding her side as she got back to her feet. Though this time, she didn’t wobble when she took a step forward. She didn’t crumble to the ground, defeated. “I’m not weak!”

Katsuki’s eyes widened as the imagery of the sport’s festival and what he was seeing in front of him merged together. He smirked, chuckled, wiped the back of his hand across his mouth as he got back up too. “I never thought you were, cheeks.”

Bakugo came at her, palms open and ready to send her head flying off. Ochako leaned into her defensive stance, fists raised in front of her. Bakugo was someone who could fight close range and from far away, whereas Ochako’s strength had been support and long distance. But now..after her internship...she smiled, it hidden behind her fists as Bakugo charged at her.  She wouldn’t give in that easily! She had people to make proud! A blast of smoke set off, Bakugo lifted into the air by his own quirk seconds later. If that was how he wanted to do it...

She waited until he was closer to her, Ochako jumping into the air as well. She saw the surprise on his face as he set another explosive fist off behind him, bringing him to her faster. Ochako held her breath, floating into the air at a much slower pace. Bakugo yelled, Ochako unable to do the same unless she wanted to throw her whole plan off. She balled herself up as she floated closer to the hurtling projectile that was Katsuki Bakugo, closing her eyes as she felt the heat of the explosion drawing closer on her skin. She was moving suddenly, shot to the sky as they came within inches of each other. All she needed...

Her hand stretched out, not aiming for Bakugo’s chest as she had been earlier. He was shooting to the side to come at her from the left, which was all Ochako needed to get...his shoe. She wrapped her fingers around it, eyes widening. She did it. Yes!

“Hey!” Bakugo shouted, his momentum changed as he started to wobble around in the air, not able to do much about controlling his direction. He couldn’t believe it. She’d tagged him.  The feeling of being weightless wasn't one that he could say that he liked, unable to do much but just bob around. Uraraka on the other hand, “Tch!” he exclaimed as she who had much more control over her body in zero-gravity, came towards him. Her cheeks were bright pink now, and her hand was in a fist. 

At that point it became a game of explosive keep away. There was only so much Bakugo could do, each explosion he set off to keep Ochako away from him only sent him closer to the ceiling. Damn it. His hands were coated in sweat, his breathing labored. No matter how much he pushed at the space between them, in zero gravity Ochako was faster. He could see that look of triumph in her eyes, and it almost made him smile to see how proud of herself she was. Almost, because he was still pissed that he was at the disadvantage now. She was coming towards him again, cheeks starting to turn purple, and he held out his hand to fire off at her again. It hit her, sending Uraraka rolling away from her. A little bit of blood dribbling from her nose when she turned upright again. But that look was still there in her eyes, the look of wanting to win. Well then...

Ochako watched as Bakugo tried to right himself, tried to fight the lack of gravity around him to keep fighting. She had him, she was so sure.  She just needed to do one thing. Uraraka floated higher up against Bakugo, leaving space between them. And then...she pressed her fingers together, releasing Bakugo from the anti-gravity spell she’d had him in. Red eyes widened as the force of gravity came racing back to him, sending him plummeting. Only to follow it with... “Yes!” she cried, dropping her own anti-gravity force as she went falling after him. 

Bakugo tried to buffer his plummet with his explosions, which only did so much. He still hit the ground hard, letting out a grunt of pain as he bounced back up before settling on the ground. There wasn’t much time for him to react to see where he was hurting the most, however, because Ochako was coming right at him with feet pointed. Was she going to step on him? Bakugo sat up, aiming an open palmed blast at her again. It fired off, smoke pluming around his hand and the space between them. But her feet came first, showing no sign of giving up. 

Plan B. 

Katsuki reached out, grabbing at Ochako’s feet and yanking them to the side. In the blink of an eye he had her pinned underneath him, the closeness of their bodies causing him to clench his jaw. He was, after all, an angsty teenager who had never had a girlfriend before and had a set bed time of 8:30. To say he was really popular with the ladies was an understatement. But being that close to Ochako to see the different shades of yellow and brown in her eyes...it tugged at something in his chest. With the same open palm above his head and aimed towards her face, Bakugo smirked. “Nice try, cheeks.”

And then the world was moving and it was he that was pinned under her. Her legs were pressed down against either of his arms, closing off his ability to blast his way out of her grip. Ochako’s palm was pressed down on his chest, her breathing labored, the red coming from her nose a little darker with fresh blood. Hair a mess from the explosions that had buffeted her and injured her. She looked almost feral, beyond the definition of determined to win. “I think...” she breathed, smiling in victory. “You mean nice try, Bakugo.”

A blush - a blush - broke out over his face. There were ways that he could get out of this, and they’d run rampant through his head. This wasn’t a loss for Bakugo by far, because he hadn’t been out of options to victory. But seeing that look on Ochako’s face, how happy she looked. “Tch,” he sneered, rolling his eyes. “So you leaned a few fancy tricks with Gunhead, so what?” But on the inside he was in awe at how far she’d come from the sport’s festival. That same determination she’d had to give it her all only amplified since then. It was something that...Bakugo had come to respect anymore. The look of happiness on her face, in her sparkling eyes, it made him feel something. “Now get off of me, Pink Cheeks.”

Ochako was more than happy to, even extending a hand to help him up from the ground. A hand that he took. “We should spar more often, Bakugo! That was fun!” Ochako wiped away the blood from her nose with the back of her hand, smiling at him widely. 

He hung back a couple paces as they walked back, eyes on the back of her head. Amazed. Confused, at his own feelings. Mesmerized by the newfound confidence that Cheeks had. Bakugo took a deep breath in, feeling a rush of something that wasn't adrenaline and wasn’t from the fight that had just happened. The blush crept back his neck and onto his cheeks, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. Nothing. He wasn’t feeling anything.

It wasn’t a lie he believed for one second. 

[juliandev0rak]

Earl Grey 

She makes him tea, he lends her his coat, and it’s all a bit too domestic for Beatrice to handle. 

Beatrice is forced to confront the truth, and she doesn’t think she’ll ever tire of earl grey tea. 

a continuation of the Vianan series because I couldn’t help myself 🦉🐰

characters: Beatrice Viano my apprentice, Lysander Lonan, and Leila Lonan (@leila-of-ravens’ ocs)

pairing: Beatrice Viano x Lysander Lonan / Vianan

words: 2094

warnings: more nerds pining 

read about their first meeting written by the lovely @leila-of-ravens 

and part 2 here

Beatrice wakes up in a haze, noticing that it’s much brighter outside than it usually is when she wakes up. The clock on her bedside table tells her that it's nearly 11:30, and she’s very late to the library. She hadn’t meant to oversleep, but it had taken her hours to get to sleep last night, her thoughts plagued by a dark haired man with chalk on his face.

On her way to the library she stops by the kitchen, deciding that working on an empty stomach isn’t a good idea. She asks Hestion the cook if there are any leftovers from breakfast and is handed an entire tray of pastries, somehow still warm despite the late hour. On her way out she eyes an empty teapot and decides to ask for tea as well, her brain reminding her that a certain research partner is fond of earl grey. 

She manages not to drop anything on the walk to the library but has to knock on the door to be let in because her hands are too full. A few seconds pass and the door opens a crack. Lysander’s face appears in the crack and he opens the door further when he realizes it’s just her. 

“Good morning, Beatrice.” He says, his face pulling into the tiniest smile. Beatrice is quiet for a minute, taking in the familiar face she’d been trying not to think about all night. Finally she clears her throat and steps into the door he’s holding open.

“Good morning, Lysander. I’m sorry I’m late, but I brought tea!” She says, managing an only slightly altered tone of voice as she brushes past him. He shuts the door and they walk to the work table together where Beatrice sets down the tray of pastries and tea.

“I was wondering where you were, you’re usually very punctual.” Lysander says, taking his usual seat across from her. 

“Yes, I overslept.” She explains, grabbing a tea cup for something to do with her hands. “Would you like some tea?” 

“I can make it.” He reaches to grab the cup from her but she shakes her head, causing his hand to falter in mid air. 

“It’s no trouble, I’ll pour.” She doesn’t know where the urge came from, but she’s determined to make this cup of tea for him. It’s the least she can do for being two hours late to their planning meeting. He watches her silently as she pours the tea and carefully adds a splash of milk. She hopes he doesn’t notice the way her hands shake slightly as she hands the cup to him

“Thank you.” He says, accepting the cup. He takes a curious sip and finds it perfect, just how he would have made it. 

“You’re welcome. Have you found anything interesting yet this morning?” Beatrice asks, reaching for a croissant from the tray.

“Yes, actually. I was just reading about attempts to start a school in Vesuvia nearly two hundred years ago.” Lysander replies, his voice rising in volume as it always does when he’s about to explain something.

“Really? I wonder why they were never successful? There’s been plenty of interest in a school, I can’t imagine it’s only a recent development.” Beatrice ponders, now busy preparing her own cup of tea. She plops in three sugar cubes and a large splash of milk, turning her tea the color of parchment.

“Do you always take your tea with so much sugar?” Lysander asks, his eyes trained to her as she takes a sip and then adds yet another sugar cube. She deems it good enough and takes another sip before answering.

“Yes, I like things to be quite sweet.” She explains. “It’s a bad habit, perhaps, but I can’t stand bitter drinks.” 

“You must dislike coffee then.” He says, perhaps not even aware that he’s smiling at her more widely than he usually does. “Somehow I suppose I should have known you would like overly sweet drinks.” 

“Hey, it’s not overly sweet, just sweet enough.” She laughs, taking in his expression with a matching grin. “I think maybe I need sweet drinks in order to be sweet.”

“I think you do that on your own.” Lysander takes a sip of his own tea, his facial expression and tone of voice betray nothing of his emotions. He seems wholly unaware of his offhand comment’s effect on Beatrice whose face has turned bright pink in response.

“So uh.” Beatrice stutters, not sure what to say now. Lysander seems completely unabashed as he continues to sip his tea. “What else did you find in that book?” 

“Oh yes, it detailed the first Count of Vesuvia’s attempts to start a school, but it seems there were always more pressing matters. Vesuvia was busy at war for many years, and there wasn’t much time to think about infrastructure such as public education.” He explains. “Or a proper sewage disposal system.” 

“Hey! Don’t insult Vesuvia just because Umbra is the pinnacle of modernity.” Beatrice teases.

“You’d be surprised how far Umbra is from modern.” Lysander says quietly, and although his tone hasn’t changed, Beatrice can sense that it's a sensitive topic and decides to drop it.

“Well, I suppose I’d better get to work then, we wouldn’t want people to think that Vesuvia’s headteacher is slacking off.” She smiles, reaching for the stack of books she’d been going through the night before. The two of them lapse into their usual routine of silent, focused research.

“We should finalize a list of subjects so we can assign teachers.” Lysander says after an hour or so has passed. Beatrice looks up, slightly startled by the break in silence and nods. He walks over to the chalkboard in the corner and Beatrice stands to join him. 

“We’ve already decided on reading, writing, literature, and history.” Beatrice says and Lysander nods and writes them on the board. His handwriting is neat and somehow very like him and she can’t help but remark “You have very lovely handwriting.” 

He turns to look at her but doesn’t reply, just half smiles and turns to continue the list. She chides herself for always making things awkward with her weird compliments, but she can’t seem to help the words from bubbling out of her. They finish their list and soon enough return to their respective book piles. 

She finds it difficult to focus, however, because the library is cold. Beatrice reaches to put her hands in her cloak, only to find she isn’t wearing it, she’d been in such a rush to get to the library that she’d forgotten it. She suppresses a shiver and tries to cast a warming charm on her thin blouse and trousers. It does the trick for a few minutes but she’s quickly shivering again and decides she should probably just run back to her room to get her cloak. Just as she’s considering standing up she looks up to see Lysander watching her intently. 

“Are you cold?” He asks. 

“Oh, I- uh, yes a little.” Beatrice replies, crossing her arms to keep a bit more body heat in. “I forgot my cloak, I think I’ll head back to get it.” 

“No need, you can wear my coat. I’m not cold.” Lysander says, already shrugging out of the sleeves. She watches in surprise as he hands the dark fabric coat over.

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to get cold, it’s not a far walk to my room.” She protests, face already turning an embarrassing shade of pink again. 

“I’m not cold, honestly.” Lysander insists, still holding the coat out. “It’s more efficient than going to get your cloak.” 

“Well alright, if you’re sure.” She says, grabbing the coat from him. “If you need it back let me know.” 

He simply nods and turns back to his book. Beatrice gives him a smile that he can’t see and pulls the coat on, trying not to notice how it smells like him, earl grey and fresh parchment. The coat sleeves are a bit too long for her and she rolls them up, trying to focus on her book rather than her swirling thoughts. 

A few hours later she remembers that she’d agreed to visit Leila today, and it's already getting late. 

“Lysander, shall we take a break to see Leila? We said we’d visit her at the shop today.” Beatrice says, shutting the heavy history book she’s been reading.

“Oh yes, I’d almost forgotten. We’d better leave now before she’s left waiting too long.” Lysander’s voice is laced with affection like it always is when he talks about his younger sister. 

“Oh, here let me give you your coat back.” Beatrice stands up, pulling the coat off.

“You’ll be too cold outside.” Lysander says,“You can just give it back to me later.” 

“Oh, alright, if you’re sure then, thank you!” Beatrice smiles, trying not to stammer through her words. She usually prides herself on being quite eloquent, but of course it goes away around the one person she’d most like to be eloquent around. 

They leave the library and hail a carriage to the shop. Beatrice would’ve normally preferred to walk but she remembers that Lysander isn’t fond of crowds and decides not to suggest it. When they arrive Leila is already standing outside waving at them.

“I was wondering when you two would show up.” Leila smiles, pulling first Lysander then Beatrice into a hug. After the greetings have been exchanged she guides them inside and to the corner booth Beatrice always sits in when she visits her friend. 

“Lysander, why don’t you look over the menu while I show Beatrice something.” Leila suggests, pulling Beatrice up from her seat. Beatrice looks at her in question but Leila just gives her a knowing look and turns back to look at her brother

“We both already know I’ll order earl grey.” Lysander says, sounding slightly confused.

“Yes, well, check over the menu for grammar errors then.” Leila replies. He looks at her blankly but decides to humor her, dutifully picking up a menu. “Come along then, Beatrice.”

“Will Lysander be ok alone? I feel bad leaving him, what did you need to show me that you couldn't show him?” Beatrice questions once they’re out of earshot. 

“He’ll be fine, the shop’s nearly empty.” Leila smiles, continuing to pull her friend into the back of the shop where nobody can hear them. “And I just needed an excuse to talk to you alone, Beatrice.”

“About what?” Beatrice asked, still confused as to why she's been towed away. She fiddles with the sleeves of Lysander’s coat and the always observant Leila immediately notices.

“Is that Lysander’s coat?” She laughs. “Oh Beatrice, you’re in deep.” 

“What? He lent me his coat because I was cold, there’s nothing to it.” Beatrice says defensively, burrowing her hands into the coat’s pockets. She finds a piece of chalk and pulls it out to look at it, a smile growing on her face before she can contain it. 

“See, this is what I’m talking about. You like him!” Leila grins, pointing a finger at Beatrice’s face.

“What? Who?” Beatrice sputters in confusion.

“Now you sound like Brigit.” Leila jokes. “Who else, silly? Lysander!” 

“I do not like Lysander!” She argues, “I mean of course I like him, just not in.. that way.” 

“Oh come on, Beatrice, don’t make me get Lysander to use his veritomancy on you. You like him, admit it!” Leila pokes another finger at her in the air and Beatrice sighs, she knows she’s been beaten. 

“Well... maybe a little.” She concedes. It’s probably about time she admits that fact to herself, though she wishes she didn’t have to.

“I knew it!” Leila says happily, almost in a screech.

“You knew what?” A voice says behind them. Both girls whirl around to see Lysander standing there, still holding a menu.

“Lyse I thought I told you to wait at the table!” Leila frowns, but there’s an undercurrent of affection in her tone that matches Lysander’s.

“I could still see you from the booth,” He laughs, and it’s a sound Beatrice really hopes she’ll get to hear more of, “Can I order my tea yet?”  

“Oh fine, one earl grey coming up, sir.” Leila says in faux exasperation, her smile giving away her real feelings, “Anything for you, Beatrice?”

“I’ll have what he’s having.” She replies, looking up to find that Lysander is once again staring back at her.

“Yeah.” Leila says, still grinning smugly. “I bet you will.”

[sachiwrites]

do i like bread?? on god gonna bake some brioche tomorrow watch me! anyways 👀 who are your fav HQ bois to write for? (if Atsumu happens to be one of them hello yes I’d like a 17. Kiss to hide from the bad guys please)

ahhhh, that sounds so good. raisins bread, melon bread, banana bread. i love all the breads. hope your brioche turned out great!

sakusa was really the first one i really get into but im always a sucker for the underappreciated bbs so send any and ill shoot my shot.

it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to you in the slightest. your former high school classmate seemed to have an irksome personality that managed to rub anyone the wrong way. in school, he’d been more respected as essential player on the team and by the time people noticed it was an issue, he was already a third year and ready for graduation. now as a university student, the totem rankings have reset and not particularly always in atsumu’s favor.

the fact that you’d even been accepted into the same school felt more like a curse than a blessing. stacking on the unfortunate luck of hanging in the same circle of friends. in a way you supposed it had its benefits. like having front row seats to the blonde setter finally getting what’s coming for him.

you’d noticed him lingering near one girl all night. friendly proximity lessening by the hour as more alcohol were introduced into the situation. honestly you couldn’t blame the girl, the giggly flush so familiar that it caused an ache in a part of your body that you chose willingly to ignore. despite his ugly personality, there was no denying that atsumu was an attractive guy.

it was a shame that his pretty face was about to get a very aggressive makeover.

the crowds almost parted willingly as star of the men’s basketball-team, and conviently the boyfriend of the said girl trapped under atsumu’s spell. from under the rim of your cup, you couldn’t help but smile because finally, just maybe atsumu would get some sense knocked in him.

but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, even noticeable from a cross the room as he seemed to come to terms with his impending doom. it didn’t, however, seem to deter him from brushing a kiss over the back of the girl’s hand before he managed to disappear into the crowds. a disappointed sigh escaped your lips as the fuming male made it to the scene only a moment too late, his frustration now directed towards his girlfriend. not the kind of drama you were interested in, you decided as you backed towards the kitchen for a refill.

this would be the last one, you promised yourself. most of your invited friends had decided to call the night quits a little over an hour ago. you weren’t sure what urged you to linger a bit longer. you had no intention on bringing anyone home but a good night out seemed too infrequent to waste.

twisting your wrist, the clink of ice against the side of the cup served as a brief distraction from your thoughts.

-and subquentally you from the figure approaching your from behind.

“ah, so alone? that’s no way to party.”

suddenly you mood all but soured, your fresh drink already feeling stale in your hands as you rose your gaze to meet atsumu’s. his grin was as wide as ever, no less winded by his unexpected escape. which didn’t feel like much of one at all given how close he still was to the scene of the crime.

against your will, you eyes flicked back to the corner once occupied by himself in the girl, finding not even the so called boyfriend present. maybe they’d called it a night?

“so rude. i figured it was just class that you wanted to ignore me in. now my feelings are hurt.”

rolling your eyes, you set your drink down and turned to fully face the pouting man. “hardly, i was just planning on leaving actually. it’s late.”

you were outnumbered and one cup was already too much alcohol in your system to be hanging out with miya atsumu alone. while your stance wasn’t swayed, you couldn’t say the same for your resolve if he continued to stand so close. subconsciously, you already counted seven times that your gaze had dropped to his lips. even three years later, apparently past crushes still made them look so inviting.

whether he picked up on your obvious dilemma or innately just that confident in his own ability, his usual smile adopted a new curl that didn’t sit quite right with you. the said smile, however, had a short lifespan as his attention flickered behind you and dropped all together. instinct taught you that if someone like atsumu was tense in a situation that you likely should have fled a long time ago.

the ideology only becoming immedialty more true as the said man quickly encroach on your space with an unreadable expression. you’re thankful for your forethought to set down your drink prior, freeing up your hands to push against his chest before it could meet your own.

“w-what are you doing? back off miya.” without his brother around, you could comfortably use his surename without sounding too familiar.

there was a clench in his jaw as attention remained behind you instead, almost as if he’d planned to step over you the whole time and you’d just been in the way. had he not initially greeted you, it would have felt too much like your high school experiences. but you were older now, aged out of a futile crush.

strengthening your voice, you gave him a firm shove that didn’t nothing whatsoever in your favor. “im serious, back off.” touching him served to be your second mistake of the night as his fingers curled around your offered wrist and pulled it behind his head.

grasping wildly, your managed to snag the short of his hair in retaliation. the hiss he gave in return was well earned. “what the hell are you doing?” quickly losing patience, you slapped at his chest with your free hand. “atsumu! if you don’t-“

you hadn’t been a wallflower in your coming of age, but you hadn’t particularly stood out among your peers. your close group of friends being all you needed to survive three years of high school. they were enough, allowing you to gain all the social skills needed for any situation in life. or so you thought.

nothing prepared you for sudden pressure of lips against yours. miya atsumu was relentless as he licked firmly into your mouth, opening you up for his onslaught of experienced tongue. the sudden shift tilted your world upside down, giving him more than enough pliancy to mold your mouth how he wanted. too bad it made more for a hostage situation with your comically wide eyes. you could easily see the confusion reflected in atsumu’s as he grimaced.

yet rather than be deterred, he only closed his eyes to you completely and pulled you closer. you would blame how easily you kissed him back on the alcohol later as you went slack in his hold. he’s kissing you like he’d been doing so for months, like his lips belonged slanted against your own. it was almost too overwhelming to keep up with. yet feeling so right as you slowly matched his rhythm.

then reality bled into the fantasy.

you weren’t sure how long the figures at your back had been standing there, the harsh words jarring your consciousness as if they’d just appeared out of thin air. rather than letting you investigate, atsumu kept you close, unrelenting as his swept you into another series of kisses.

“you sure that’s him?”

“i think id know that asshole that was all up on my girlfriend, asshole.”

“ just saying, man, looks like he’s got one of his own.”

“forget it. let’s go.”

it’s not the voice that’s familiar, rather the context as a particular scene become too vivid all too quickly. the disruption drawing you away from the kiss with more strength than you’d had at the beginning. that had been the basketball player (i.e the boyfriend of the girl atsumu had just had charmed in the corner of the room. you’d just been used, as a distraction to avoid conflict. suddenly the kiss tastes more bitter than sweet.

an overwhelming wave of conflicting emotions was enough to dam your tears as you rounded on the newly relaxed male. however, the easy going expression sharpens in time to catch your errant palm. miya atsumu looks down at you with all the arrogance of a man that had yet to learn his lesson. and you weren’t sure if you were qualified to teach it. the choice taken from you as he restricted the control of your hand by intertwining his fingers.

dark eyes, viscous like honey, peered over your joined hands pressed against his lips.

“so girlfriend, why don’t i walk you home now? this party is getting a bit old.”

[apl-unknown]

 Oikawa Tooru x Manager Reader

Word Count: 1,435

_______________________________________________

   “Kageyama!” You shout as you run towards the black haired boy in the convenience store.

    “Oi.” He simply replies.

    “Oh, hey Hinata.” You say as you spot the orange haired boy following Kageyama from behind. 

    “H-Hello!” He bows towards you, pushing Kageyama in the process. Causing him to drop a milk carton.

    “Hinata you dumbass!” The two give each other jarring glares as you watch and laugh.

“(y/n)-chan~! What are you doin-” Oikawa's face turns sour as soon as he sees the two Karasuno first years.

    “Oikawa-san.” “Grand King!” The two say at the same time.

    “What are you two doing here?” Oikawa asks with a mocking tone in his voice.

    “You don’t live in this area.”

    “We came to get milk.” Kageyama blatantly answers.

    “They don’t have any at the stores close to you?”

    “They didn’t have Kageyama’s favorite.” Hinata points to the blue milk cartons that Kageyama has stacked in his arms.

“Ah, have you tried the banana flavored one? It’s actually really good.” You peep in.

“I haven’t yet.” Before you can say something, Oikawa puts his arm around your shoulders and bids the duo goodbye.

“Goodbye. Hope I don’t have to see you two again soon.” He turns you both around and heads for the exit.

“Hold on a second. I need to talk to Kageyama.” You break free and head back to Kageyama, leaving Oikawa speechless.

“Hey Kageyama, do you still have those volleyball books at your house.” You ask as he hands Hinata his cartons to grab a banana one.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Do you mind if I borrow them? I wanna get some more info on things and I thought they would come in handy.”

“Okay.”

“Great. I’ll come to your house later to pick them up.” You then leave the store with Oikawa following.

“How do you know Seijoh’s manager again?” Hinata asks after they leave the store with a bag of milk cartons.

“We went to the same middle school.” Kageyama takes a sip of the banana milk.

“Not bad.” He thought to himself.

    Oikawa was quiet for the rest of your walk together. You thought nothing of it, and actually enjoyed it. It was the first time he wasn’t telling you all the events of his day. Iwaizumi would normally walk home with you guys as well but left earlier, not stopping at the convenience store. You said bye at the intersection where you split up and headed up your respected roads.

    Once you made it home, you changed into more comfortable clothes and left to go to Kagayama’s. You knocked on the door and he answered. 

    “Yo.” You said. He opened the door wider for you to enter and left to go get the books. He then came back and handed them to you.

    “Thanks.” You said with a smile.

    “No problem.”

    “I'll return them once I’m finished.” You left the Kageyama residence and went back home. That night you read through a few pages of the first book and took notes in your journal before going to sleep.

   

    The next week or two after school you were watching the boys practice, when Oikawa came up to you.

“(y/n).”

“Yes?” You answered, focusing on Kindaichi as he spiked a ball.

“Why are you talking to Kageyama?”

“What?” You whip your head towards him with a confused look on your face.

“The other day. You were acting as if you were friends with him.” 

“Because I am friends with him.” You emphasised the “am”

“I can’t let you be friends with the enemy.”

You let out a small awkward laugh.

“You’re joking right?”

Oikawa was not joking. Infact, Oikawa was 100% serious. At this point the team had stopped practicing and were now watching.

“You’re upset that I’m friends with Kageyama?”

“Not only that, but you asked him for his volleyball books. You manage a volleyball team, if you need information then you can ask us.” His voice raised as he kept talking.

“Can I not have friends?”

“Not if it’s Kageyama. You know how much trouble Karasuno has given us these past few months.”

“But it’s just his boo-”

“Also, I didn’t wanna mention this but you’ve been slacking as manager.” Your eyes widen.

“Managers are supposed to give us information on how we can improve, not just write down our skills and tell us things we already know.” Oikawa’s brain was now off as he let his emotions overcome him.

“You’ve been sluggish and slow for the past week. You’ve also been late to plenty of morning practices. I’m starting to think that you don’t care about volleyball or us. Maybe you should just quit the club-”

“Oi shut up!” He was cut off by Iwaizumi. Hanamaki and Mattsunkawa came to your side and were about to try and cheer you up before you snapped.

“Fine! Maybe I will quit!” You threw your journal on the floor and ran out of the gym, fighting the tears in your eyes. Iwaizumi left to chase after you and the gym was dead silent.

    Iwaizumi came back after failing to catch up to you and grabbed Oikawa by the collar.

“Why the fuck did you say that?!” He shouted before throwing him on the ground. Hanamaki and Mattsunkawa had to hold Iwaizumi back before he could do anything else. Oikawa stayed on the ground, realizing his horrible mistake. 

You hadn’t been to practice for a week and ignored or hid from the team whenever a member was near. 

“Guys.” Silence

“Guys.” Silence

    “Look I said I was sorry.” Silence.

    “Please just answer me.” Oikawa begged his teammates as they ate their lunch.

"Do you hear that?" Mattsun asked. 

"Hear what?" Makki answered. 

"Us not giving a shit." He eyed Oikawa who pouted. 

"But I've apologized like ten-thousand times already."

"It's not us you need to apologize to. It's (y/n) you need to apologize to." Iwaizumi said. 

"I know." Oikawa ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. 

"Every time I try to approach her she dodges me. Plus she hasn't been at school for the past two days." He put his index finger on his chin and thought for a moment. 

"Maybe I should go check up on her."

Later that day, after-school, Oikawa went over to your house. 

"Who are you?" Your mother after she had opened the door. 

"I'm Tooru Oikawa. A friend of (y/n). Pleased to meet you. Is (y/n) here? She hasn't been at school so I wanted to see if she was okay." Your mother smiled at the boy. 

"She had been feeling sick but she's better now. Unfortunately she's not here right now. She went to a friends house to return a few books. "

"I see. Thank you very much." Oikawa bowed and said goodbye to your mother, and then returned home. 

"(Y/n)!" Oikawa shouted through the hallway, running to catch up to you. You were about to run when he suddenly stopped running and sat on his knees, with his forehead touching the ground. Was he bowing? 

"Oi! What do you think you're doin-"

"Please (y/n)! Don't leave the club! I know I said some horrible things to you and I am so sorry. The truth is that we need you. So will you please come back!" You frantically looked around and saw the stares from all the other students. You quickly pull Oikawa up and drag him to a secluded area. 

"Are you stupid?! Of course I'm not quitting the club." He looked at you with a blank face. You sighed and pulled out a journal. 

"I probably should have told you but I stayed up those past nights taking notes from Kageyama's books and thinking of ways to incorporate the info into actual plays." You handed him the journal and he flipped through it. Admiring your well-taken notes and strategies. 

"I was gonna show you all but you kinda blew up on me. But it's my fault for not telling-" Oikawa cut you off by pulling you into a hug. 

"It's my fault. I was being selfish. I shouldn't have said all those things. Do you forgive me?" You pulled away and looked up at him. 

"I forgive you." He smiled and embraced you once more, only for you to push away again. 

"But you have to do 100 diving drills."

"Ugh. Really?" Oikawa asked as he could already for the pain in his body. 

"I could still leave the club."

"Okay okay okay. I get it." The two of you shared a laugh before returning heading to the gym. 

[virryth]

Doctor!AU Jihoon

a hbd to Jihoon;; love him so much can’t wait to see him in Jan

tw// mentions of wound, blood, mild violence

Read Doctor!AU Junhui | More Jihoon au | More SVT au

1.7k | Fluff | Bullet | Not proofread

Vice-head chief doctor for the ER (trauma unit)

Famous for his quick, spot-on judgement for emergency care and his blunt personality

Can be reckless at times and gets scolded so many times for jumping the fence on hospital protocols

Did he maybe hit the patient with his fist in an ambulance to get their heart moving because they wouldn’t make it to the ER? Sure.

Performed emergency surgeries at the scene of the incident? A few times.

but hey his methods worked and he saved countless of patients in the end so really who’s losing

Rumored to have a criminal record

Not many people know but Jihoon has a pretty strong sense of justice, he once punched the daylight out of a guy when he found out the dude sexually assaulted his patient

Actually spent a day in jail and had to get bailed out by Wonwoo, but the other guy ended up in jail too so it’s worth it in his book

Honestly looks so good in the scrub, fills it all up, hair slicked back, clear translucent skin with the face of an angel 

Possesses such a cute smile and the most pleasant laughter, one of the reasons the nurses and his fellow colleagues adore him (also very popular with the elderly)

Except when there’s an unusually busy night, catch Dr. Lee looking like hell, hair is either disheveled and messy from running his hands through them when he’s frustrated or just plainly under a rubber headband and kept out of his face

Scrubs either has specks of blood or some sort of dirt from wrestling restraining rowdy troublemaker visitors in the ER

Usually spotted resuscitating a patient while kneeling on top of a moving crash cart, or running around giving consultations for other trauma on-call attendants

Do not even breath the wrong way around him when he’s busy trying to figure out the cause of a patient’s symptoms

Dr. Lee will sit there and think until he’s found a solution

Will sometimes venture to other wards to consult with the other doctors if he has time. Jihoon can be stubborn, but he knows how valuable the experiences of his colleagues can be, especially when it’s as important as accurately diagnosing and treating patients

Both new and long-time interns are terrified of Dr. Lee from trauma unit, they all avoid him like the plague because those who worked with him have only claimed it to be one of the most stressful nights of their medical career

Some came out so shocked they ended up transferring

But;;; it’s not all bad, he’s hard on the interns because residency is the only time period where mistakes are allowed, he has to make sure they know that lives are at stake if they’re going to become good doctors in the future

The very small few who survived his supervisions all ended up learning a LOT from him because scary or not, everybody and their grannies have the utmost respect for Jihoon

The ER is the most hectic and traumatizing place in the hospital, on top of the physical strains there’s also a lot of emotional stressors that get him down once in a while

And those moments are when his true personality shine through, boy is sweet and so soft, but only to you and his close friends though, anyone else see that and he’s all hardass hauling the interns again

“He was worse in med school,” pediatric surgeon Junhui spilled at a team dinner, “one semester during exam season, he wouldn’t come back for three days and we find him passed out in the library with textbooks under his head.”

“We thought he had fainted or something, turned out he was just hungry,” medic Soonyoung chimed in, nudging Wonwoo to continue spilling the tea.

“He woke up so angry because he missed hours of study, we had to deal with that attitude for a week. He was such a d*ck.”

“Yeah, that’s my reason. What’s yours?” Jihoon countered, taking a shot.

(am i saying ‘96 line went to med school and spent their residency together yes I am)

You know the boys from way back when you were interns during your residency

In fact, on his first day of work, Jihoon was admitted to the hospital due to an explosion injury

He wasn’t even directly involved, he was just a bystander rushing in to help when he spotted multiple MVCs (motor vehicle collisions) on the highway on the way to work, and while working on the injured patients, one of the cars had exploded nearby

Still has a decent-size burnt scar on his back to this day, but doesn’t regret it one bit

Jihoon does anything and everything in his power to save people, even if he has to put his life on the line

Patient bleeding out during transit and there’s not enough blood in the ambulance? Here, take his if it matches.

Need a hand shouldering debriefs from a collapsing structure to rescue a patient? On it.

Vernon from ortho came by once, “hey dude your wrist is bleeding.”

Jihoon: cut myself pulling an earring out of someone’s throat, what’s up?”

Vernon: yikes,,, anyway still up for lunch? :D

That’s kind of his main philosophy, and yours, because you didn’t hesitate one bit when you head straight into the fire to save him

It’s because of this mild case of recklessness that you both often get sent to dispatch on evac copters to save people at extremely remote locations 

And you’re amazing at it, but more often than not you both usually end up in Junhui’s pediatric ward getting bandaged up while looking at babies

Really popular with the kids by the way, everyone loves getting a piggy-back ride from Dr. Lee when he comes by

Knows all of the the long-term patients by names and is so loved by the kids it’s honestly not fair

Medic Soonyoung knows Jihoon the longest and apparently he was even more reckless way back then as an EMT, but he’s mellowed down a lot since he became a doctor

As head chief, you cut him waaaay too many slacks and all the residents know it

But they also know he’s the best in the field so they just let him do whatever 

But that doesn’t mean he gets away all the time, you still scold him when needed, and Jihoon has actually toned it down a lot since you became head chief because he knows ultimately you’re the one shouldering the responsibilities for his actions

He knows you would stick up for him no matter what because of how much you value his skills, and he doesn’t want to disappoint you in any way

“You know they’re not doing this just for your skills, right?” 

“Don’t do that shrink thing on me, Wonwoo, it gives me the creeps.”

“He’s right and you know it,” Junhui teased.

“Shut up.”

Jihoon is so shy about his feelings for you, hence he speaks more with his actions 

Often takes you out for dinner, or brunch, or home, after your shift when you’re too tired to drive

Brings you breakfast in the morning after a night shift and tries to shoulder most of the traumatizing cases when he can

Honestly he’s still doing his job, but during breaks, he makes sure to hang around and is always ready to come in three seconds max if you ever call his name 

And sure, although he puts himself in danger way too many times, you know he only wants to help

But that doesn’t stop you from worrying, his mindset of giving his all to save others is what’s gonna get him killed one day

On your day off, you often meet up and hand out, running errands and going to the movies to catch up on whatever pop-culture content you missed during the busy on-call shifts 

And it’s so platonic, or at least that’s what you keep telling yourself because you honestly never know sometimes

One moment he’s resting his arm over your shoulder, softly speaking to you about what to order from the fast food menu. It’s so intimate you could hear your own heartbeats in your ears

Then suddenly he’s getting shy and conscious of how close you are

But then he holds you much a little too close to shield you from the rain as you share an umbrella

And you thought maybe that’s just who he is, he’s protective and skinship may come unexpectedly and unconsciously when he feels comfortable around people

Jihoon would say you were starting to sound like Wonwoo if he knew what you were thinking

It wasn’t until half the movie that you caught him staring

You had thought he had something to say, so you leaned in and waited 

Truly, you didn’t expect to be kissed

And brief as it came, Jihoon had diverted his attention back to the big screen, picking up popcorn and chuckling when he saw the expression on your face

True to his profession, Wonwoo was the first to notice, he had been making jokes about how you two would end up together one day–a common topic among your circle of friends–and Jihoon choked on his coffee

They had kept it on the down low since the both of you had decided to keep it out of work

But things have definitely changed with the glances you noticed whenever he’s in the same room

There was so much affection in his gaze that you start to think maybe he’s been doing this for some time, it just took you this long to notice

You also find out that Jihoon is a lot more daring than you’d pegged him to be, and oh so subtle with his touches

Hand hovering on the lower part of your back to catch you in case you stumble, stolen kisses in the elevator, head touches and comforting hugs in the break room when you had time to take a breath

And yet you never got caught, it’s amazing how quick he turns back to strict Dr. Lee around the intern the moment he parts way with you

Occasionally Jihoon would join you in the empty corner near the supply’s closet, cooling your heads and leaning on each other to regain a sense of comfort and familiarity when things didn’t go well in the ER

He would hold your hand, leaning in to you and softly whispering into your hair about the gains and losses in life, sometimes about the future, where you would travel on your next vacation and what you would do together

The ER is a tricky placement, sometimes you witness the miracle of life, sometimes the end of it. It’s a battlefield almost every single day, but you wouldn’t trade it for the world

Not with Jihoon by your side.

–V

Read Doctor!AU Junhui | More Jihoon au | More SVT au

[megalony]

Come here

My second Warren Worthington imagine which I hope everyone will like.

Taglist: @marshmallowmae  @langdonzvoid  @butlegendsneverdie  @jennyggggrrr  @luvborhap

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Warren had been hesitant at first to come to the school for gifted youngsters, even though there were people like him a lot of them were younger and just beginning to learn about their mutations. None of them had wings like he did, and none of them were as battered as Warren was. He felt out of place as soon as he walked through the doors until his eyes landed on one girl in particular who seemed to steal all of his attention without meaning to. (Y/n) had seemed so captivating to Warren, and she hadn't treated him like he was different or vulnerable like others did. Nor was she wary or scared of him like so many others were, and he wondered if that was because so many kids were hesitant to be around her too. They both seemed to keep to themselves until she plucked up the courage to talk to him, and they had become joined at the hip since.

Considering how everyone at the school was mutant Warren found it weird how they could still act like some mutants were bad or frightening when they were all the same. (Y/n)'s mutation was what warded some of the students away from her, she was telepathic but also had the ability to cause people mental pain making them think that they were actually hurt.

Looking up to Raven who was stood in front of the room Warren felt his jaw tightening at the notion that she was going to randomly partner them up for this defence class which he saw no reason for her to do. Everyone had their respective partners for this class and no one kicked up a fuss, why was she deciding to change everything? Especially when everyone was clearly comfortable with who they were partnered with.

Warren wanted to be with (Y/n) because he knew she hated this class. Due to her kind of mutation Raven and the professor had decided that it would be in her best interests if she learnt hand to hand combat without using her mutation when everyone else was encouraged to use theirs. Learning this Warren immediately partnered with her because he taught her how to do hand to hand combat but he didn't try and fight her. He didn't use his mutation to his advantage or push her because she didn't feel confident in this class. As long as he taught her the basics he saw no reason to move her from her comfort zone to actually fight her. He knew what he was doing, he had been fighting when he was in the cage, that was his life he knew how to fight to stay alive he didn't need this class.

Jean looked to (Y/n) in sympathy at the partner she had gotten paired up with, noticing how Warren's thoughts got a lot louder and his wings seemed to tense as if he was getting into a fighting stance.

"I'll be right over there. Anything happens send me a message." Warren mumbled before his lips pressed to the top of her head, his arm tightening around her middle. Send a message was just a little thing between them meaning telepathically call out to him if she felt she couldn't do this class anymore or needed help or anything at all. Unwinding his arm from around her Warren placed a lasting kiss to her temple, his eyes showing he didn't really want to go. But he knew it was more trouble than it was worth to kick up a fuss so he made his way over to Jean.

(Y/n) didn't say anything when Vince walked over to her, wishing for once that she was able to use her mutation in this class so then this would be over before it had even begun. Vince was good at defence he knew exactly what he was doing and he wasn't about to go easy on her or let her practice without trying to fight back like Warren did. (Y/n) just wasn't good at defence, she didn't see the point when her mutation rendered her enemies useless in a matter of seconds even if it did put a strain on her mentally. She had no need for combat due to her powers and yet Raven and Charles still wanted to put her through this on the off chance her powers simply disappeared.

She could see the tired look on Vince's face as his anger rose. She wasn't fighting him, all she was doing was dodging his punches and kicks without throwing any back at him. Warren watched her in pain as she scuttled around the mat, throwing about one punch in the twenty minutes they had been practising.

"For God's sake (Y/n) can you actually do anything but run?" He sighed in aspiration as her shoulders slumped and she shook her head, unsure if he was telling her or asking her but either way she couldn't do combat. Sighing he motioned his hand for them to start again, not wanting to stop because there was no one else he could partner with and if Raven saw them switching partners she wouldn't be best pleased.

Leaning to the right (Y/n) managed to dodge a punch Vince threw her way, her right leg quickly kicking out in an attempt to catch him off guard since she hadn't really done combat with him today. A gasp leaving her lips when Vince seemed unfazed her foot connecting to his stomach as he simply grabbed her foot instead. Twisting her around and roughly pulling on her leg until she fell forwards onto her stomach, landing on the mat with a huff. The wind was effectively knocked out of her system as Vince suddenly dragged her backwards making her fear levels increase dramatically.

Just when she thought he was stopping and her head turned around he let out such a malicious laugh. Seeing how defenceless she was when she couldn't use her powers to protect her seemed rather funny to him. (Y/n) knew she was horrible at this class but at least with Warren, he never tried to push her limits and he never once thought of making fun of her. Not everyone was good at every class and this simply wasn't one of (Y/n)'s best classes.

"You really are useless aren't you?" Vince stated more of a joke than a question. Reaching out Jean grabbed Warren's arm, her mind quickly halting his actions so he didn't rush over and start a fight. Seeing how his wings suddenly stretched out as they tensed in a fighting stance once again, his hands curling into fists as his shoulders raised at the comment when it reached his ears. Warren couldn't see how someone could talk to her like that, (Y/n) couldn't do combat, not everyone could and that wasn't a bad thing. She didn't ask to be paired with him just like he didn't want to be paired with her.

"He can't fucking talk to her like that." Warren stated in a low voice, knowing Jean felt the same because she was one of (Y/n)'s good friends. He didn't want to stand and watch someone insult his girlfriend and pick on her like that when they clearly saw she was struggling. It wasn't fair and it was grating on Warren's nerves very much.

"Don't start a fight, that won't help her. Now come on." Shrugging off her hand Warren glanced back to his girlfriend one more time before sighing and nodding. All he wanted to do was go over there and give Vince a piece of his mind or to knock some sense into him but at the same time, he couldn't really cause a scene either. Raven was doing her rounds around the room and she would reach (Y/n) and Vince soon enough, he wouldn't dare say or do anything wrong when Raven was within earshot.

"Stop it." (Y/n) stated quietly, her eyes darkening in their colour as she watched Vince suddenly press a hand to his stomach before falling to his knees. Giving her the chance to stand up as she made him think that he had been winded. Using her powers wasn't strictly allowed but they weren't actually fighting right now, Vince was trying to take advantage of her inability to fight and she wasn't having it.

"Fight me then, and don't cheat." He spat back, taking a moment to catch his breath back before they both pushed themselves to their feet.

Glancing her eyes around the room, (Y/n) wondered if she could find the courage to leave the room. Simply walking out would put Raven in a bad mood and get herself into trouble but there wasn't any other option because she couldn't carry on doing this anymore. Vince had the upper hand by a mile and if (Y/n) couldn't use her powers than Raven was rendering her defenceless and she knew it. Everyone knew that when paired with Warren he didn't fight her, he simply tried to help her learn how to punch and kick properly.

Everyone also knew that they couldn't say anything about it or dare tell Raven that Warren was taking it very easy on his girlfriend because he would start a fight with whoever said anything. He wasn't letting them both slack off in class, he was taking a different approach to help (Y/n) and there was nothing wrong with that.

Right now (Y/n)'s rather weak kicks and punches were making no impact to Vince and it was making him more riled up and ready for a proper combat fight. He was starting to get joy out of her weak punches and constant dodges because he had a very big upper hand which was giving him a thrill. Finding it funny that he was put with someone who had no defences who he could quite literally push around without getting told off.

"Vince stop, I've had enough." She growled, anger fueling her words though she didn't sound very convincing or like she was making any kind of impact on his decision making. He was enjoying this too much.

"Oh come on, you haven't done anything but run around like a headless chicken." Her body began to shake when he knocked her onto her back on the mat, lurking over her getting ready to throw another kick to her whilst she was down which was against the rules. "Your little birdie isn't here to save you now." His words sent a new wave of fear washing over (Y/n) like never before, the tidal wave of emotions so harsh that she couldn't find the ability to breathe anymore when she never had to think twice about it before.

(Y/n) didn't know what came over her.

The anxiety that she put up with every day seemed to overload and short circuit her system. Her limbs pulling close to her middle as her eyes burned into the boy leering over her frame. Watching in shock as he suddenly seemed to contort as if trying to morph into a different shape or person altogether. His limbs jerking as he doubled over before pulling back, feeling every punch and kick her mutation was supplying him with without her having to do anything but strain her mind.

When a particularly harsh blow to the nose was impacted on Vince he stumbled backwards until he hit the floor, his hand clutching his face as he shrieked like a banshee. Her mind finally letting go of the hold she had put him under when she saw he was no longer a threat to her anymore.

His sudden shriek caught the attention of a few others around them who stopped to see what was happening. Everyone knowing this was practise, they shouldn't be hurting one another but (Y/n) had no choice, if she didn't hurt him first then he would have hurt her and that wasn't fair. Considering how he had tormented her for over half an hour now with training.

Turning her head to the right (Y/n) locked eyes with Warren who had taken one step closer after hearing what Vince had sneered before he stopped. His expression showing he was conflicted between being proud that she had stood up for herself and pissed with the boy now incapacitated for a moment on the floor. His eyes narrowed when he noticed how (Y/n) was trembling when she finally stood up, her arms wrapping around her middle tightly which he knew she did when she was anxious or upset.

"I- I'm sorry." She mumbled, unsure why she was apologising to him when he deserved to be at the end of her mutation which she only used to stop herself from getting hurt.

"Fucking bitch."

(Y/n) didn't see his advance until it was too late. His hand balled up into a fist and hit her right in the side of her face catching her nose which caused her head to snap to the left. She didn't have time to recover from the shock before his hands were on her to shove her roughly to the ground, watching her land on the wooden floor with a bang.

Warren had had enough.

Seeing how (Y/n) simply curled up on the floor made Warren's heart completely shatter in his chest like a broken mirror. The anger that had been pent up inside of him suddenly exploded like a pipe that had burst in his system. With a rather heavy breath, Warren suddenly barrelled over to Vince, his hands fisting the boy's shirt to yank him closer until Warren's height was towering over him. Without saying one word, he sent his forehead bashing into Vince's nose before letting him drop to the floor like a rag doll. Watching the blood pour from his nose like someone had turned on a tap in his head.

He didn't think twice before sending his foot right into Vince's stomach, winding him for real as opposed to his mind simply being tricked to let all the air out of his lungs. Warren's eyes were burning like they were holding a fire within them. "Don't fucking touch her again." His voice was lower than usual as he bent down to sneer the words at the boy currently bleeding in front of him, trying to catch his breath but it was coming as a struggle.

"Warren!"

Pulling back up Warren pushed past Raven who should have seen something like this coming. She was the teacher, she was meant to look out for them all and understand but every time (Y/n) said that she couldn't do combat and she didn't like this class Raven pushed her to continue. It wasn't fair to push her and not let her use her powers and it wasn't fair to push her out of her comfort zone and put her with someone who had a very clear advantage over her.

"Come here." Warren's voice changed drastically in less than a minute. Going from an intimidating threatening tone to a caring and rather quiet voice as he bent down beside (Y/n). His arms slipped under her frame as he helped to sit her up, their eyes locking before (Y/n) burrowed herself into his chest. Relaxing when she felt Warren's wings suddenly enveloping around her on instinct without him having to think about the action. "I've got you."

[aoimitsu]

Falling For You

Characters: Tanuma & Natsume

Rating: General

Series: Natsume Yuujinchou @natsumeweek

Cross posted on Ao3

~

Day 7 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

1.

When people say things like. “You fell into my life,” it’s not meant to be taken seriously. When Tanuma says it about Natsume, he means exactly that.

“Are you alright, Natsume?”

The fair haired boy groaned and shifted to stare into Tanuma’s face.

“I should be asking you that. Are you hurt?”

Tanuma fought against the heat that tried to set his face ablaze. With Natsume so close, and him giving Tanuma a once over for injuries, it was quickly a losing battle. Natsume finally seemed to realise the predicament they were in as he looked into his friend’s eyes. They stared at one another for a long moment, Natsume’s cheeks flushing before Tanuma’s did as well.

Natsume sheepishly got up, offering the dark haired boy a hand as he did.

“What were you doing up in a tree?” Tanuma looked around the area, squinting his eyes to see if he could see what would have possibly led the other boy to do such a thing.

When he looked back, Natsume wouldn’t meet his eyes. A blossom of worry and anxiousness grew inside him. He grabbed Natsume’s shoulders with a bit of urgency. Natsume only grew more sheepish.

“What’s wrong, Natsume? It’s a spirit isn’t it?”

“Well…”

“I knew it. Did it hurt you?”

“No. ...No. That’s not it.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Natsume’s cheeks grew redder as Tanuma showed his concern. He was truly starting to panic over what could’ve happened. Knowing that there was a chance that Natsume would not tell him. No matter how much he asked.

Natsume expelled a large breath, and Tanuma was about to count his losses when he finally got a response.

“It’s just-. There was a spirit, but they weren’t bad!” He added quickly when Tanuma’s grip on his shoulder tightened. “I helped him look for a stone he lost. I found it in the tree.”

Tanuma glanced at the tree puzzling out where the story was going.

“The view was nice- so when he left I stayed there a while longer.” A vibrant pink shot up along Natsume’s neck, spread across his face and coloured the tips of his ears.”I guess I fell asleep...”

That was not what Tanuma had in mind.

He snorted and tried to cover up the laugh that tried to erupt. Natsume’s skin only burned brighter.

“Hey! Don’t laugh.” Natsume sulked.

“I’m not laughing.” But the words came out shakey as he tried to suppress his chuckles.

“You are.”

But the truth was, Tanuma couldn’t help it. It was just like Natsume to fall asleep in the strangest places. He was like a cat that way.

And Tanuma, not for the first time, found himself falling. Who knew two people could fall at the same time in such different ways.

2.

“Ah! I don’t want break to end!” Nishimura complained. His arms stretched high above his head.

Kitamoto shook his head at his friend. “If you stay out of school any longer, you’ll forget everything you learnt.”

“That’s fine, isn’t it, Natsume?”

“Don’t lump Natsume in with you.” Kitamoto reprimanded, as the friends laughed at Nishimura’s plight.

“We should have a study session. That way, Natsume and I can finally catch up with you two.”

Tanuma’s gaze fell on Natsume at that moment. He couldn’t help but think about all the times that Natsume had been absent from school because of being sick, or fainting. That was in part because of his delicate constitution. But he also knew it was because of the spirits that Natsume could see. More times than not when he showed up at school he looked exhausted, and Tanuma knew that he sometimes dozed in class and missed lessons.

“I’m okay with that.” He spoke up, and gained the group’s attention.

“You don’t have to listen to Nishimura’s whims, Tanuma.”

“What’s wrong with helping friends, right?”

The group continued to laugh and talk as they hung out in the city. As they neared a building Natsume, leading in front alongside Tanuma, caught sight of a building screen. Before he could think about it, he stopped to look at the advertisement. It caused Nishimura and Kitamoto to stop as well. It didn’t take long before Nishimura launched a spiel about the details of the movie on display. Kitamoto didn’t even have a chance, before Nishimura was trying to invite them all out to go see the film when it released.

As the other two were distracted, Tanuma leaned in closer to whisper. “You know him don’t you, Natsume?”

Maybe it was a silly thing to ask. He had met the actor before, who also worked as an exorcist. That was how Natsume and him had known each other. Natsume had someone that he could talk to about the things he could see, and the things that he experienced. And he didn’t have to hold anything back…

Tanuma’s heart clenched.

“Hmm, I guess so.” But the way Natsume looked at the photo, it wasn’t the same way that Nishimura did- admiration for a celebrity you liked. Natsume’s face was an odd mixture of emotions that tended to be his character. But Tanuma could pick out contentment, and respect, and an annoyance that probably stemmed from little things he knew about the actor-exorcist that others didn’t. It was only reaffirmed when Natsume spoke. “I wonder what he would say if he knew he had fans like Nishimura. Or what Nishimura would do if he knew Natori-san’s true character.” That made Natsume laugh to himself. And Tanuma’s heart clenched tighter. It felt like another piece of a world that Tanuma couldn’t fit in to.

“Eh! Are you laughing at me for liking Natori Shuuichi’s movies too, Natsume?” Nishimura threw his arm around Natsume’s shoulder. He whined to Natsume about all the things Kitamoto had said but it only made Natsume laugh louder. More free.

And Tanuma didn’t like the way his heart pinched tighter at that.

He only wished he could say he was under the possession of a spirit in order to explain his feelings of jealousy.

3.

With their last culture festival fast approaching, the third year class was busy cleaning out the classrooms, trading ideas, and making props for what was already decided.

Nishimura sighed. “I can’t believe this is our last festival.”

“That’s right,” Sasada sauntered over, her hands on her hips, inspecting the cleaning that he was doing. “So you best not slack off.”

“Why are you only telling me?” He whined as he leant against the broom.

Sasada waved him off and turned her attention to Natsume. “What do you think of our class doing a haunted house, Natsume? Wouldn’t that be fun?”

Natsume laughed nervously. “I thought our class already decided?”

“Yes, but that can always change. I’m sure you have all sorts of ideas for how we can have a really great haunted attraction.”

“What? Do you think Natsume just has his little circle of ghosts lingering around?” Nishimura tried to defend his friend. Though the words caused anxiety to flare up within him instead.

“I’ll go help with the sign….” Natsume excused himself to go over to their other classmates by the window. Sasada called after him.

“I have my eyes on you today, Natsume. You can’t just run away from culture festival duties.”

“You all are really lively, huh?”

Nishimura jumped, and Sasada turned to see Kitamoto standing outside their class door. Behind him, Tanuma peeked in at the scene as well.

“Help me convince Natsume that a haunted house would suit our class.”

“But, our class is already doing a haunted house.” Kitamoto eyed the girl with a raised brow.

Tanuma looked over to Natsume in the moment. He found him by the window. Natsume’s hair highlighted by the fading sun sinking into the distant horizon.

It was because he had been staring that he quickly saw the change in Natsume’s face. Eyes wide as he looked outside. Tanuma tried looking in the direction as well. But he could see nothing.

Not even a second later, a strong gust blew into the class. Some of the students yelled as their props and signs blew from their hands or tumbled over. It was only then that Tanuma saw a faint black shadow right outside the window frame.

Natsume turned and broke into a run. Before he safely got through the classroom door, Sasada stepped in his way, efficiently blocking his path.

“Sorry, Sasada but I actually have to go.”

“Nice try. But you can’t leave that easily.” Her eyes got a slight sparkle to it. “Unless...is it you-know-what ?”

Kitamoto and Nishimura eyed each other at a loss. Another gust of wind blasted the classroom, and a student screamed for someone to shut the window.

In that moment Natsume looked behind him- the gesture not seeming out of place amongst the chaos. If not for the panic in his eyes.

Tanuma stepped forward. “That’s why I came over. Didn’t you mention needing to run an errand for Fujiwara-san?”

At that, Sasada wanted to say something. Possibly call it out as behind an excuse. But there was no real way of knowing, and she kept silent.

“Ah, that’s right! I really need to go.”

“Fine.” The word barely escaped Sasada’s lips before Natsume was dashing passed her. As he ran by Tanuma, his lips moved.

And Tanuma remembered. He worked hard to be where he was in Natsume’s life. For someone who was so used to keeping to himself, he needed people who forced themselves in. People who wanted to make his life as bright as they could in anyway they could. Natsume’s situation invited all sorts of people in his life. Invites from people who weren’t even always human. And because of that, he needed people who could help him in all those different parts. Tanuma had his part as well.

“Oh, I actually have something to do. I’ll see you all later.”

Sasada opened her mouth to complain before she remembered that they were in different classes. And Tanuma ran off to where he’d seen Natsume go.

“Thank you, Tanuma.”

[memescomicswriting]

In the Pursuit of Happiness Ch.6

Fandom: Marvel

Pairing: Reader x Bucky, Reader x Steve

Warnings/genre: Very Angsty Chapter, a few bad words

Summary: Singer!Avenger. Raised by Sheild since the age of ten, Y/N grew up without everyday examples. She only saw how to be an agent. Though as a grown woman she has surpassed that mindset, she still faces challenges from her upbringing- like how to handle feelings, unrequited love, and interpersonal challenges. Set after similar plot points in Civil War, Y/N must face returning home after leaving during an uncomfortable time in her life and facing the consequences

A/N: This is my first series in the Marvel fandom. I hope you enjoy it. I always welcome feedback. It is appreciated. This story does not follow the traditional Marvel timeline. I mess with it to make the story work, so roll with me.

This is the start of phase 2!!! I’m so excited to share this chapter and the next with y’all. I really enjoyed writing it. This is a bit shorter than the other chapters, but it’s the set up for those to come. 

Story Masterlist

When Bucky returned to the apartment after his training session with Natasha, he found Steve pacing and on the phone. "Yes, sir." His voice was firm and resolved. "Yes, sir. I understand." He nodded along to the conversation. "I'll see you at o-four hundred." Steve clicked the phone off and placed it down on the table. Then, he turned to Bucky. Bucky was too familiar with look glimmering through Steve's eyes. He'd either done something painful or stupid, basically regretful.

Bucky dropped his gym bag in its usual spot by the door. "What'd you do?" This was all too familiar to Bucky. Steve does something noble but idiotic, Bucky drags the truth out of him, they resolve it together. Steve shook his head. It wasn't in defeat but towards Bucky, like he couldn't understand. "Furry contacted me a while back about an undercover mission. The files Y/N recovered on her previous mission revealed fraction formally belonging to Hydra branching off and becoming something new." "Oh," Bucky shrugged nonchalantly and brushed past Steve to the kitchenette they shared. However, he still eyed him with suspicion. "Is that all?" "It's deep undercover Buck." Steve's voice was treading on heavily. He was gaging Bucky's response. "You won't see me for a while. Anywhere from a couple of months to almost a year." Bucky's jaw went slack. He knew Steve was off lately, but he thought the moping about was from being doll dizzy over Y/N. But to leave, just like that? "Why would you do that? What about Y/N? You just got started and you're going to up and leave her?" And him. Despite his strides in recuperation, Bucky still needed Steve. Steve was abandoning the arguably two most important people in his life for a mission. "I broke it off with her." The reply was hastened and harsh. "You were right Buck, I persisted her into the wrong decision." With a set jaw, Steve trucked off to his room to begin packing. Bucky followed. Bucky caught his friend's door before it could slam shut. "What happened?" Steve ignored him, but Bucky pressed on. "Come on you punk." "She'll never share the feelings I have for her, alright!" Bucky had reached out to place a hand on Steve's shoulder, but he slung it off. "No, the words she shared with you were true. She doesn't know how to love me as more than a friend." "Is that what this is about?" Bucky's eyes narrowed. "The fears she had a month ago? Steve, that girl's done nothing but shown you affection since your first date. You said things were going well-" "Well they weren't, okay?" Steve snapped. "It's been wrong since the start. What she could give wasn't enough." Bucky's eyes widened. He realized what Steve he was dealing with. This was the Steve that would follow his decision off a cliff if no one stopped him. "Fucking hell Steve! Did you tell her that?" Steve's anger melted a bit, and he turned his head in shame. "No," He said lowly. "I just said what I gave wasn't enough, and that we deserved more." Bucky scoffed at how ridiculous his best friend could be. He waited so long for Y/N to give him a shot, and then he blew it up. "You're a fucking moron. You know that's the one thing she was afraid of. She couldn't handle disappointing you, so she hesitated, and then you go and tell her that's all she did." "Yeah, well, you were the one that said I shouldn't push her into a decision so now I'm setting her free." Steve was aggressively shoving his belongings into a duffle bag. "No, you're just running away from her." He wanted to knock Steve over the head, throw his bag out the window, tie him down until he saw what a huge mistake he was making. "Yes, I am." Steve was pointed, eyeing Bucky down. "I'm running from my feelings for her in the hope that distance will enable me to get over her; 'cause I can't do that here." Bucky was taken aback. For once, Steve was doing something knowingly selfish. Again it was stupid, and that was nothing new, but it was selfish. Bucky couldn't argue with him any longer. If Steve was so hurt that he was actively making a selfish choice, there was no changing his mind. Bucky quietly asked the next question after minutes of being mute. "You at least going to tell her." "No," Steve's voice was broken and shaky. "I couldn't face her to tell her." The room developed a defeated silence and painful understanding. Bucky helped Steve pack his things up. Without having to say it, Bucky knew. He'd have to tell Y/N. --- Bucky didn't sleep that night. He heard Steve leave around three-thirty in the morning. Around five Bucky gave up on sleep and left for the gym. When the others began their routines at 8, Bucky left. He didn't want to socialize this morning. That was most mornings, but this morning he refused to. He decided to shower, and then go talk to Y/N. When he knocked on her apartment door, the spider kid, Peter, answered. "She's not here. If that's what you want." The kid checked and Bucky nodded. "She'll disappear sometimes. It's always in or near the compound, but none of us know where." After asking Stark's A.I. where Y/N was, he was informed that she left the building just before sunrise and headed for the woods. Bucky changed from sneakers into boots and took up his search outside. Bucky knew the woods surrounding the compound well. His understanding of them began out of fearful habit. He needed to know what was around, escape routes, entry points, situational awareness. Then, they became a place of calm for him. When Steve and Sam kept pestering him to do things, or the gym was too crowded, he'd seek the emptiness of the woods. Y/N could be anywhere, but Bucky would start with his favorite spots. She wasn't in the large oak he liked to climb, nor the ridged cliff, the field of wildflowers was empty aswell. Lastly, he made his way along the creek, uphill, to the waterfalls that covered one of the many foothills like steps of water. It was clear at the top. There was a wide enough gap in the trees that you could see the wooded valleys below. That's where he found her. She looked so calm, almost happy there. Even with a night filled with heartache, she radiated serenity. She was at peace. Bucky kept a respectful distance. He felt like an ancient hunter sneaking up on an unsuspecting nymph. However, she was well aware of his presence. "You're flawless at masking your presence. If I was ordinary, I wouldn't know you were here." Her voice was startling after the countless time of silence. "But I'm not ordinary, and I'm not all human." Her body finally twisted to his direction. She pinpointed him through the foliage. "You can join me." Bucky emerged from his not so camouflaged spot. Yet, he kept his steps light and breathing shallow. Steadily, he took to the ground next to her. His legs dangled off the fall's edge with hers. They continued their unnerved silence further into the day. Bucky didn't feel compelled to stay with her. He simply wanted to. Her inner peace settled into him. His eyes were closed as he was bathing in the sun's rays that made their way through the treeline. Momentarily, he'd forgotten about Steve and the rest of the world. The only thing left was Y/N, himself, and the woods. When she spoke again, he was surprised but not startled. "He's gone isn't he?" Her gaze settled on him. Though her eyes could've bore into him, they remained soft and glassed over from something he knew well. She'd run out of tears to cry, too numb for emotions, and accepted defeat. Bucky's face, despite his best efforts, gave subtle hints of confusion she picked up on. "You're not someone who'd willingly seek a distressed person to comfort. I know you care, but it's out of your comfort zone. You wouldn't be here unless you had to be." He wanted to protest, but she hit the nail on the head. That's exactly what he'd do and what he was doing. "Yeah," Bucky sighed. "He left early this morning for a mission. Said he needed some distance." Y/N hummed in agreement. She understood Steve, but she was too hurt to fight him. Bucky could see that in the way her body slumped and her head hung low. He abruptly started the conversation this time. "He's a punk, yah know? He's set in his ways and when he sees a problem he sticks to the way he thinks he'll solve it. So he ran because he's a little punk." The unspoken but understood 'it's not your fault, it's him' loomed in the air. Her head whipped back to enjoy more of the sun. Wind that picked up from the water hitting hard rocks bellow, blew her hair back. She was back to looking like a nature spirit. A bit of her spark returned. "Fuck Steve Rogers." It wasn't loud, or angry, or bitter, but casual and held an air of acceptance to it. Y/N half-lidded glanced over at Bucky who was wide-eyed. Bucky erupted in a deep chuckle that boomed throughout the forest. Lord knows how many woodland animals he chased away with it, but god was she something else. "Fuck Steve Rogers." He repeated through his laughs. Y/N followed him in rolling with laughter. She was dry heaving from her fit of giggles. It took them a while to calm down because every time they glanced in each other's direction the laughter picked back up. Half an hour later, they were calm. "Wanna go for a swim?" Her question surprised Bucky who honestly doubted fun with him would be the last thing she wanted. "Come on, this is a good place to dive from." Bucky looked down the waterfall to the rocky edges and the pool of water below. "I've made some risky moves, but that's just crazy." He surmised. She shrugged. "Not if you hit the water just right." And with that, she pushed herself off the ledge and cascaded into the pool of water. She lived on the edge of the moment. That was clear enough. Bucky just floated around the present, fearful of his past and his future. Tentatively, he let that slip and not to seem like a chicken, he had no choice but to follow her down the waterfall. You called Steve that night. He didn't answer. You weren't disappointed it went to voicemail; it was anticipated. "Hello Steve, it's me, but you already knew that from the caller id." You chuckled at yourself for being so ridiculous. "I hope you'll receive this, and you're not too far embedded yet that you'll be able to listen." You sighed, pausing for what you were about to say. "I love you Steve. I know it's not in the way you love me, but I want to. I want you to be the one I want and I'm sorry I don't already. I-I hope you can see the light in that and make your way back to me." You clicked end call and placed your phone on the nightstand. You were tuckered out from your day at the falls with Bucky. You had a few quizzical pairs of eyes follow you in, but you didn't pay them much mind. You needed today for your own sanity. After a lavender-infused bath to calm your nerves you collapsed into bed. You tried not to think of Steve and the heartache that followed. So, your mind drifted to Bucky and the surprising amount of fun you had today. You'd listened to Steve's tales of Bucky's trouble-making before his fall and the reserved man he was post-recovery. Yet you'd never seen that reserve. Today he was a kind and jovial friend, symbiotically avoiding the downcast thoughts with you. It was nice to have that kind of companionship again. You thought of that as you drifted to sleep.

---

A/N: And that was Chapter 6! What did you think? Reblog if you liked it. 

How will things change with Steve gone? Will he answer the phone calls? What’s next for the team? Bucky’s definitely said “Fuck Steve Rogers” before.

My messages and asks are open for any questions, comments, or requests!

[astarryon]

Hard Feelings Part 6

Pairings: Bucky x reader

Warnings: Light angst from bucket at the beginning, mentions of alcohol consumption at the end

A/N: Here’s update 6! I’m so amazed with the love and support you guys have been sending my way, and I’m so incredibly thankful for all of the kind words! This chapter’s a bit different because it’s mainly from Bucky’s perspective, but I felt it was important to get inside his head and see what was going on in there. I should also mention the majority of this was written while listening to Total Eclipse of the Heart, which is probably why Bucky’s so emo. Hope you all enjoy!

Part 5

—

Bucky Barnes was a fan of routine. He liked the structure it brought, the concrete knowledge of where he was going and who he would be seeing and what he would be doing. He liked that he had a routine or, more accurately, that he got to pick its details. By no means would he consider himself a control freak, but seven decades spent having basic human rights and needs stripped away could really do a fucking number on somebody, and he was living proof of the fact.

It was why he hated when Fury or Steve or anyone else tried to saddle him with therapists and psychologists. All of them always wanted to talk about everything that had happened, which Bucky hated and thought made them pretty stupid. Nobody wanted to talk repeatedly about a trauma they had already been through; it just made all of the feelings from the event bubble up to the surface, forcing him to relive everything. He got enough of that shit in his dreams, so he definitely didn’t need it in his waking moments. Acting up and displaying poor behavior towards the individuals seemed to do the trick in getting them all to resign, though, so each time Fury sent the alert that another therapist would be on their way, Bucky made sure not to bother with holding anything back. He got many disapproving looks from Steve over it, but it was nothing that couldn’t be shrugged off. Bucky didn’t think help should be forced on him if he didn’t want it, and he had thought Fury was beginning to get the message when the vacancy hadn’t been filled for a solid two months.

And then you’d been assigned to him, restarting the cycle all over again. Bucky had almost wanted to laugh when Steve had presented you to him, as you so clearly weren’t a professional, with your nervous tendencies and your twitchy mannerisms. Scaring you off should have been easy, but it had never worked out in his favor thanks largely in part to your stubborn resolve. The icier he was to you, the more compassionate you seemed to become. The harsher he snapped at you, the greater your patience and understanding. That had been more annoying than anything else, because Bucky hadn’t been faced with such an iron resolve to help someone in another person since Steve in the thirties. He hadn’t liked you at all but had respected your will to stick around, and once he’d found out that you’d been curing his dreams of darkness and agony while he slept, all the while taking the scathing commentary he aimed your way every day? Not only was Bucky displaying open admiration for you at that point, but he had decided that you could perhaps be something along the lines of his friend. You were just as miserable about your being in the tower as he was, after all.

Phrased in a much simpler manner, you had become a quintessential part of Bucky’s routine. In the mornings he woke up and dressed, and you were often already waiting by the elevator for him so that the two of you could go down to the training room. Later on in the days you would hold your unorthodox therapy sessions, which mainly consisted of you holding Bucky’s hand and unlocking all of his emotional turmoil. He liked this method best, because he didn’t have to tell you a damn thing for you to completely understand what he was going through. It was all the best parts of therapy, with the addition of you being able to tell him how to remedy the problem because you knew exactly what was causing him to feel the way he did, though the nightmares remained as a residual effect. Bucky had grown used to you, to expect you; he’d adapted you into his routine, and even looked forward to seeing you because it had become so normal over the past month and a half.

In addition to loving routine, Bucky hated change, as so many people tended to, and would do anything to avoid it. That had all gone completely out the window when he had self sabotaged himself in the name of a merry holiday, or cheer, or whatever. It had been for a good cause, and he was happy he’d helped you get to your family — in perfect honesty, Bucky would do anything to undermine Nick Fury — but it left him with the nasty taste of cotton in his mouth.

The first night without the knowledge of your presence had been his best; a bit fitful, but nothing to complain about, as it was all only going downhill from there.

“You’re sure you’re going to be okay without me?” you had turned to him to ask, looking up at him in genuine concern.

Bucky rounded to the back of the black SUV, opening the trunk and heaving your suitcase in. “Codependency isn’t my style, kid. I’m gonna be just fine.” He was pointedly ignoring the doe eyed look you were throwing his way as he shoved the trunk closed and walked back to stand beside you. “And just because you’re going on vacation doesn’t mean you get to slack. I expect you to be running two miles every morning and practicing your fights and stances. Believe me, I’ll know if you slack off when you come back.”

“Interesting way of saying you’ll miss me,” you teased, sending a sarcastic smile his way. That was something he appreciated; you weren’t nearly so skittish around him anymore. Had that persisted, he wasn’t sure he could stand to be constantly tip toeing around you. “But, really, Bucky. If you need anything at all, you can call me. Know I can’t do much from three hours away, but it’s still nice to have a friend.”

The horn of the car gave an impatient beep, signaling the driver was ready to take off. Shaking his head, Bucky shrugged a shoulder and placed a quick, hesitant pat on yours. “Have a good trip, Y/n. I’ll see you on New Year’s Eve.” You smiled and waved, and Bucky watched as you climbed into the car. Moments later it had disappeared down the street, and Bucky had returned to the top floors of the tower to continue on with his day, entering the kitchen in search of something to eat.

“Morning,” Steve greeted him immediately, adding to a massive stack of pancakes on the counter, which Wanda happened to be perched beside. Occasionally Bucky’s best friend took it upon himself to mother everyone in the tower, especially when he was bracing for a bad mood from someone, and the food made depended on who he was expecting would be aggravated. Considering Bucky was unabashedly open with the fact that his favorite breakfast food of all time was pancakes, that meant Steve was bracing for a blow up from him. “Grab a plate and eat up, man.”

“Hey, Buck man!” That had come from Sam, who was sat upon a bar stool set in front of the kitchen island, happily shoveling pancakes and eggs into his mouth. Between bites, he continued his words with, “What, no morning scowl? You’re usually out for everyone’s blood when you get up this early.”

“I’m always up this early,” Bucky pointed out, crinkling a brow in confusion as he meandered over to Wanda and Steve to grab a plate and acquire his breakfast.

“Explains a lot,” Wanda joked, playfully nudging Bucky as he came to stand beside her.

Dropping his jaw in mock affront, Bucky pressed a hand to his chest, feigning hurt. “You wound me, Maximoff. Hand me the syrup, would you?” She offered him a gentle smile, then did as he asked. Huh. That was the same smile both Steve and Sam had offered him as well. Bucky wasn’t in possession of your powers, but it didn’t take a genius to notice the differences in his friends’ behaviors. He may as well get to the bottom of it. “Why’s everyone acting like I got broken up with?”

Steve and Wanda shared a startled look between them, unsure of what to say. That didn’t stop Sam from casually offering, “Because Y/n left?”

Bucky squinted his eyes as he looked at his friend, still wearing his pajamas but seemingly wide awake enough to give Bucky grief. “Okay, and?”

This time it was Steve who answered Bucky’s inquiry. “It’s just that, we just wanna make sure you’re gonna be good.” He sounded hesitant, but an encouraging nod from Wanda prompted him to solidify his tone. “You two have been hanging out pretty often and we figured you would miss her, since, you know... you’re friends?”

Oh, Bucky’s ridiculous friends. “Only barely,” he scoffed, grabbing his now full plate and moving to sit on the empty barstool besides Sam. The way all three of them were staring at him made Bucky feel like he was the focus of some kind of intervention. “All of you are her friends, too. Are you telling me you aren’t going to miss her?”

“Of course we’ll miss her,” Wanda responded, taking a bite of her breakfast. “But you’re the one who’s around her every moment of every day. Wherever you are, Y/n seems to follow.”

Damn, they were really doing this, weren’t they? It would be years before Bucky could roll his eyes enough to express just how misguided this whole thing was. “Because we’re each other’s assignments. I have to train her to be a successful agent. Have any of you ever done that with someone who barely knows how to fight? It’s like baking a cake from scratch.”

“That’s... baking a cake from scratch is really easy,” Steve whispered, eyes trained down at the floor so as to avoid the sharp glare Bucky threw his way. He chose to ignore it to continue to make his point, but Bucky had tried to make a cake from scratch before and had nearly lit the kitchen up in flames.

“Plus she’s my floormate, so obviously we would be seeing a lot of each other.”

Sam arched a playful brow. “Sounds like a whole lot of excuses to me, but whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Bucky shook his head and ate his breakfast, electing to ignore the bait being laid before him, but not before saying, “I’ll be fine, guys. And even if I did care all that much, she’ll be back by New Year’s Eve.”

They’d dropped the subject after that, and Bucky had been left to go about the rest of his day in peace. He spent time with Steve, took a visit up to Tony’s lab for an adjustment on his arm, reviewed and answered business emails and mission reports from SHIELD. Just before dinner he’d gone up to the training room to work out with Thor and get his mind off of things, and dodged an attempt at an impromptu therapy session from Bruce, who Bucky was sure you had put up to the task. He’d actually managed some decent sleep that night, surprisingly.

The second day of your absence had been slightly more disorienting. Bucky had woken up and waited by the elevator so that the two of you could go down to the training room together for a good five minutes before he realized you weren’t going to be showing up. Off putting, but easy enough to write off in order to continue on with his day. Lunch time rolled around eventually, and he kept expecting for you to come collect him for his mandated daily therapy before realizing, once again, that you weren’t currently in the tower. At that point his mood began declining, partly out of annoyance and partly out of resentment at the interruption of his daily routine. Sleep that night had been fitful and restless; Bucky hated to admit it, but he knew this was directly related to your absence.

Night three was when his nightmares had begun acting up. He’d been pretty snappy, so the other tenants of the tower had mainly left him to his known devices, though he hadn’t missed the knowing looks being shared between Wanda and Sam. The day dragged on and by the time night fell Bucky was ready to sleep and be done with it, though his mind seemed to have other plans. As soon as he lost consciousness, he was pulled into graphic memories of the torture he’d previously been subjected to. The electrocutions, the mind wipes, the physical and verbal abuse. Visions of people, dead bodies, voices screaming and begging for mercy, agonizing wailing and sobbing. Then, underlining all of this, a totally hopeless cold completely enveloping him, kissing and caressing every inch of his skin.

He’d woken up screaming at the voices and asking for the same mercy they’d begged of him, tears spilling down his cheeks when he realized he was daring to ask for sympathy from ghosts.

“Jarvis,” he called, heart still racing from the adrenaline rolling through his body. It’s fine, he told himself. Everything is fine. You aren’t that person anymore. “What time is it? Is anyone awake?”

“It’s half passed three in the morning, sir. All other agents have retired to their rooms.” Damn. He’d been hoping Tony would at least still be awake. “Would you like me to wake Captain Rogers?”

“No, don’t... don’t bother him.” Bucky needed to calm down, and preferably before his heart beat clear through his chest. Just his luck that the one time he would have even considered taking you up on your offer for a good dream you were out of town, and at his doing no less. But... well, he would never admit it out loud, but the sound of your voice was something he found calming, more than likely due to your ability, and you had gifted him an entire album of it. “Could you just hit play on the Christmas gift I received, please?”

Jarvis wordlessly complies, and the sound of soft melodies accompanying your voice began to fill the room. Bucky hated how quickly it calmed him down because that meant he was dependent, but he was ultimately grateful.

“Can you keep it playing until I fall asleep?” Bucky inquired, adjusting to a more comfortable position on his side. It felt childish, seeking out lullabies in pursuit of sweet dreams, but he was way passed the point of humility.

“Of course, sir.”

As the songs played, Bucky found himself calming down exponentially, his heart slowing as his adrenaline rush fully ebbed away. The idea of falling asleep to music had seemed ridiculous when you had proposed it; Bucky liked complete silence when he was trying to fall asleep and found noise painfully distracting. The relaxing qualities your power lent your voice, though, allowed the music you’d recorded to put his mind at ease, and it wasn’t long before he was teetering on the edge of consciousness. All of this meant he’d been wrong, something he despised. It all meant that your help wasn’t something to shy away from, no matter how he felt about you reaching into his head. He’d need to come to terms with that, which he supposed he could — he was just thankful he had a few more days to swallow that before you came back.

And god, how secretly excited he was to wake up the morning of December 31st and finally have you home.

There was... something in his chest, something he would forget he’d felt when he woke up the next morning. It had been small, fleeting, hadn’t much managed to grow into more than a passing thought. As he drifted to sleep with a small smile on his face, though, your voice crooning to him in the background, the last few lines of the song your voice had been singing infiltrated his thoughts, softening his resolve and planting a small seed, one which would grow into something he would not be willing to acknowledge until much further down the line, if ever.

Is your heart filled with pain?

Shall I come back again?

Tell me darling, are you lonesome tonight?

—

“Y/n!”

You smiled as you stepped off the elevator and onto the main floor, Clint’s excitement filling your senses long before his words reached your ears. Though you had been sad to leave your family and wished your visit could have been prolonged, you were actually fairly excited to return back to the tower and your assignment. These people were your friends, and you’d grown attached to them a great deal in the nearly two months that you’d resided there. You had hardly known a moment’s peace from your prying relatives, everyone wanting to know just how the infamous Avengers liked to spend their down time. They’d all groaned when you had nothing much exciting to report, though you weren’t at all sure what they’d been hoping to hear. Everyone in the tower was normal, more or less. Thor really liked Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, Tony was a caffeine addict, Clint had an unfortunate habit of leaving his shoes in the middle of the floor. Those weren’t the sort of things your siblings had been hoping you would report by any means.

Clint wrapped you in a tight bear hug, Natasha following suit as soon as he had let go. They were both clad in pajamas despite the fact that it was nearing noon; the tower staff would be setting up for Tony’s New Year’s Eve party, and you knew Tony would be throwing a fit if he saw they weren’t preparing for the evening.

“How are you?” Natasha questioned, looking you up and down and nodding to herself once she found everything satisfactory. It was probably force of habit and something she did for the others each time they returned from missions, but it was a bit odd where you were concerned. Had she been under the impression you would come back injured?

“I’m great,” you answered, offering her a smile and inconspicuously extending your aura towards her, just so she could recognize that you were completely fine, even if at a subconscious level. “Really, really good. How have you guys been? Is everything—”

“Oh, thank Christ you’re back,” you heard — and felt — Tony’s expression of relief as the elevator doors opened behind you suddenly. His arms had automatically reached out on sight and you found yourself suddenly engulfed in a friendly hug. “Barnes isn’t in a great mood and I would really appreciate it if—” He cut himself off, catching a glimpse of Clint and Natasha, and pulled back from you to address them. This gave you the chance to take in his appearance, and you found that he was dressed to impress in a dark suit and shiny dress shoes, his bow tie left undone around his throat. Tony looked as charmingly disheveled as ever. “Hey, why the fuck are you two still in pajamas? You’re supposed to be getting ready!”

Clint threw a disbelieving hand out to the side, narrowly avoiding accidentally thudding it against Natasha’s chest. “The party doesn’t start for another six hours, dude, relax. We have plenty of time.”

“We’ve been over this,” Tony sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger before shaking his head and raising his eyes to the ceiling. “Just, be dressed by three, okay? Believe it or not, journalists do cover my parties and I can’t have you all running around in penguin socks when they get here.” Clint gave an affronted gasp, but Tony ignored it in favor of turning back to you. “Listen, I have to go and take care of catering coordination, but I wanted to let you know that I wasn’t sure if you had anything to wear tonight, so I had Wanda pick you up an outfit because the girl loves to shop. And while you’re upstairs, would you please talk some sense into Barnes? Would help me out a ton.” Tony began walking away, then paused, adding, “Glad you made it home safe, by the way! You’ll have to give me all the details of suburbia later.” He made quick work of disappearing after that.

Shaking you head, you chuckled in amusement. “Guess I’d better go and see what’s wrong with Bucky.”

“He’s… actually been okay for the last few days,” Natasha offered. “Well, there was one where he wasn’t so great, but other than that he wasn’t any grumpier than usual.”

“You weren’t the one sparring with him,” muttered Clint. “I have three new bruises.”

You chuckled and bid the pair farewell until the party, making your way to the elevator after  hugging each of them one last time, having the sense to worry about just what sort of outfit Wanda had picked for you in your absence. Her sense of style was amazing, but it was also just a bit more edgy than you were comfortable with; god only knew what sort of outfit she’d deemed appropriate for a Stark New Year’s Eve party, especially when you knew she liked to give you a hard time about that kind of stuff. You weren’t much of a partier, really; the amount of emotions raging around them liable to throw your ability into chaos. But you couldn’t lie; you were more than a little excited to be in attendance, and you’d have something wicked cool to hold over the heads of your colleagues once you got back to SHIELD HQ.

The elevator deposited you on your and Bucky’s floor, and as soon as you stepped out you could hear voices carrying down the hall from Bucky’s open bedroom door. The conversation became clearer as you neared.

“You guys know I don’t like parties.”

“Come on, man, it’s New Year’s Eve!”

“And?”

“And you could stand to let loose and have some fun, you big bitch baby.”

“Name calling, Sam? Really?”

“Well, it’s true.”

“I’m not gonna call you a name, but I do think Sam is right. You should let loose a little, have some fun.”

The voices paused when you neared and knocked on the door frame, sticking your head through to see what was going on. Steve, Sam, and Bucky all stared back at you, the former of the three standing with their arms crossed as Bucky perched on the edge of his bed. The whole thing looked like two parents staging an intervention for their troubled son.

“Y/n!” Steve whooped, rushing over to wrap you in a hug. “I didn’t know you were getting back so early! Figured we wouldn’t see you until the party.”

“Wanted to get a jump on traffic,” you explained, a friendly smile aimed Sam’s way. The emotional shift of the room had become significantly brighter, though it hadn’t been overly dreary before. They really were happy to see you. You hadn’t doubted they would be, it just made it all that much more genuine. “Nice to see you’ve all been getting along.”

“Hey,” Bucky greeted, raising a hand and offering you a small smile. You couldn’t pinpoint what it was at the moment, but something felt… different, coming from him. Not significant enough to cause worry, but enough to prompt your curiosity. He seemed relaxed, more genuine. Happier. “You didn’t say you were on your way.”

“Wanted to surprise you all,” you answered simply, beaming at him. These three you had missed a great deal, particularly Bucky. Spending each day with him had gotten you used to seeing him and speaking to him on the daily, and you had admittedly been a bit mopey when he hadn’t bothered to even text you. Common sense, though, told you that Bucky wasn’t really the type for casual texting, something you’d known, but you couldn’t help overthinking the  matter while you’d been gone; it was just something that your mind had done. “How are you?”

“Fantastic, really,” Sam interjected, a sly look on his face as he intercepted the conversation. “Y/n, you’re going to the party tonight, aren’t you?”

You furrowed a brow, but answered with, “Yeah, it’s supposed to be really fun, isn’t it? And I’ve always loved watching the ball drop. Wanda picked me an outfit and everything, so I don’t think I’m allowed to say no.” After a pause, you continued with, “Actually, I think I’m supposed to be getting ready now, but Tony said I should come make sure Bucky was all good?”

When you looked back to Bucky you caught him glaring at Sam, which only served to confuse you further. His face immediately softened when he looked to you, though, which you were sure was a testament to how far your relationship had come since you’d first been assigned to him. “I’m fine. No worries here. I was just… having an issue deciding on what outfit to wear.” Sam opened his mouth to comment, but Bucky gave him a stern one handed shove. A lie, but a small one. You chose to let it slide. “You can go ahead and get ready; don’t let us keep you. You can tell me all about your trip at the party.”

You knew better than to press for information, so you simply nodded and waved at each of the men in turn, offering them all a temporary goodbye as you turned and began to walk out the door. You were no more than a few steps out of the room before you heard a very serious, “I swear to god—” followed by a thump and a loud protest from Sam.

—

“I’m not sure I should be wearing this. Maybe I should change.”

“Come on, Y/n! You look hot!”

“I look like someone who’s gonna break her fucking ankles the moment she gets a little too tipsy.”

“I mean, you can change your shoes if you want, but they tie the whole thing together. Otherwise you’re just wearing another black dress.”

In truth, you knew Wanda was right. The dress she’d picked up for you could be considered along the lines of the classic ‘little black dress’ style. It was short and cute, the skirt hitting your mid thigh, and the v neckline of the dress was low enough to be flirty, but high enough to give you some illusion of modesty. That all went out the window once you turned around, though, your back having been left completely bare by the dress’s design. Wanda wouldn’t even listen when you’d requested to keep your hair down, stating that there was no point in even wearing the dress if you were just going to try to hide the best part of it. She’d accessorised you with small touches of gold, making up for the lack of color. A golden bow, small and glittering in the light, was arranged with the curls which had carefully been pinned atop your head. Around your throat was a simple, golden chained necklace, little white diamonds studding it here and there. In the place of the bracelet Wanda had given you for Christmas was one matching your necklace; she’d appreciated the sentiment of wanting to keep it on, but had insisted it threw the entire color scheme off. The best part of the outfit, though, had to be your heels. They were six whole inches of glistening gold beauty, and showed off the black nail polish Wanda had placed upon your toes, the height of them forcing you to stand taller and straighter.

Yeah, there would be no getting rid of those heels, even if you were bound to break your legs by the end of the night.

“Don’t worry,” Wanda reassured you as the two of you waited for the elevator to take you up to the roof, where Tony’s party was being held. You were thankful all of the guests who didn’t reside in the tower were made to use the guest elevator. It made for a lot less crowding and offered you more privacy to be mildly insecure. “You look great, and even if you didn’t, this is a New Year’s Eve party. Half the guests are going to be too wasted to remember or care.” Easy for her to say. Wanda was an absolute vision in a dress made of satin the color of red wine. She stood just as tall as you did in shoes which matched the color of her strapless dress, glossy and bright in the light of the elevator, and the black shadow dusted upon her lids with the razor sharp eyeliner made her look somewhere between a prom queen and a witch of the night. She looked just as at ease as she would if she were wearing sweatpants and an oversized sleeping shirt.

“Fair point,” you sighed. You guessed you were complaining to the wrong person. Bucky might be more sympathetic, if the conversation you’d interrupted earlier had been anything to go off of.

Though it was just half an hour since the party had begun, everything seemed to be in full swing as the doors to the elevator slid open, revealing a large mass of people milling about. Half of them were already drunk, told to you by your ability as you picked up multiple emotional readings which were distorted and exponentially louder than normal. Drunk people, though always so wildly entertaining, were extremely emotionally draining to you; you would either need to keep an extra careful handle on your power tonight, or join them in their intoxication.

Not that you’d known it at the time, but that had been the line of thinking which would lead to a lot of embarrassment and blushing later down the line.

“You guys made it!” you heard Tony’s voice call immediately, a swarm of guests directing their eyes to you at his words. “Thanks for coming!”

“We live here,” Wanda pointed out, arching a brow in amusement. “We couldn’t miss it if we wanted to.”

“You’re damn skippy,” Tony responded, raising his champagne glass in a mock toast to the two of you. “Mingle and drink up, okay? It’s five hours to midnight and no one is allowed to be boring!”

Well, you couldn’t argue with that. Linking arms with Wanda to prevent from getting separated from one another, you wandered around the rooftop, watching as the sun began to sink down the horizon, setting the skyline of New York City aglow with a wonderful orange light. The snowfall had mercifully ended the night before, but the air was still a bit chilly. It would have been worse if there weren’t so many people at this party, though, so you guessed that was one of the few positives of having a large crowd. So many people’s emotions at your fingertips was already beginning to make you anxious, though, and once you realized this after about twenty minutes of meandering, you turned to Wanda. “I’m gonna get a drink,” you told her, leaning in close so she could hear you. “I think I saw Thor at the bar. Did you want one too?”

“No thanks,” she responded. “I haven’t eaten anything yet, and this whole party is gonna go down in flames if I drink on an empty stomach. I’ll pick us up some snacks from the catering table while you get your drink from Thor, okay?”

With that you had separated from your friend, and made your first mistake of the night.

“Hello there, Y/n,” Thor greeted from the bar upon seeing you wander towards him, resting his large hand on your shoulder in a friendly gesture, his left one holding a red cup which was sure to be filled with alcohol. “Are you enjoying the party?”

You nodded your head, smiling brightly. Thor was another of the Avengers you had missed greatly; he was never not in a jovial mood. “I am, thanks. A little anxious, though; do you think you could pour me a drink? I need something to take the edge off my nerves.”

“Absolutely! If you’ll just hold this?” You nodded in thanks and took his cup from him, watching him ignore the dirty look from the actual bartender as he leaned over the bar to grab a bottle of clear liquid; tequila, the label said. You hadn’t had that shit in years on account of a bad experience at a college party, but you were game if it was going to help you settle down. “Shall we toast?”

“Sure thing,” you responded, bumping the plastic cup in Thor’s hand with the one in yours and knocking the liquid back. It burned something foul as it slid down your throat, and tasted closer to seriously burnt cinnamon and sugar than alcohol.

That had been your second and largest mistake of the evening, and it hadn’t even passed seven o’clock.

“That shit’s disgusting,” you coughed, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand. “What kind of tequila is that?”

Thor stared at you with a look that could only be described as abject horror, and you felt a sudden sense of worry extend from him and towards you. “That… that wasn’t your drink.”

“What?” you asked, stifling a hiccup.

“You didn’t switch cups with me,” Thor pressed, eyes wide as dinner plates. “We were supposed to switch cups and then toast. You drank my drink.”

Seemed like a silly thing to be upset over. “I’m sorry,” you told him, shrugging a shoulder. Was it just you, or was he getting a bit blurry around the edges? “Want me to pour you more? I’m sure they have plenty tequila back there.”

“I don’t think you quite understand,” Thor told you, panic in his eyes. You couldn’t feel it; your powers had been shrouded by the intoxication which was readily settling over your mind. That wasn’t right; how could you possibly be drunk after only one drink? “I wasn’t drinking tequila, I was drinking the alcohol of my people. That was… You just chugged a cup of Asgardian liquor.”

Oh.

Oh, shit.

—

Part 7

Tag List:

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[alpaca-writes]

Mystics, Chapter 29

When Arch becomes hired on at Mystics by the strange shopkeeper Lyrem Nomadus, everything seems to be going well- in fact, their life nearly becomes perfection. Soon enough, however, Arch realizes that perhaps not everything is as perfect as it seems….

Read Chapters 1-28 and more HERE

Taglist: @myst-in-the-mirror, @livingforthewhump

CW: depression mention, violence, swearing, food gore

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

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: ROSANNA

        “Lyrem!”

        He had just appeared there. Out of nowhere, on the floor and... sleeping? The old man rolled over, and began to snore loudly like someone had given a kid an airhorn. How did he not wake himself with a sound like that?

        “Lyrem!”

        Nothing would rouse him.

        “Classical guitar is a boring and overrated musical genre”-

        There was a snort, and Lyrem lurched up. He looked around, and then grimaced as his eyes found Arthur who had been strung up to the wall by a set of chains.

        “Thought so,” Arthur grunted against the chains. “So, what’s the plan then? Are we close enough to Apollo? Can he help us get out?”

        Lyrem winced as he rose to his feet, and rubbed the side of his head where he had fell.

        “I don’t think that is all we will have to do, Arthur. Paimon’s signed agreement with Arch gives him complete power over them,” Lyrem brushed himself off.

        “Which means…”

        “It means that the only way Arch can leave here freely is if they fail to tear your heart out in five minutes or less- as per the deal you had made earlier.”

        “… Oh.”

        “Oh, is right.” Lyrem stretched out his neck. “And now I’m on Paimon’s shit-list just as much as anyone else, and even Arch has a bone to pick with me…”

        He breathed out a long gulp of air as his hands perched at his hips. They rose to meet the top of his head as he smoothed his grey hair back in deep thought.

        “We need to…” We are fucked, he thought. “We need to devise a way to release Arch from their deal, while also releasing Apollo at the same time. Even if we were to bring him down, I don’t know that he’d be capable of much. He looked in a bad way.”

        “Well, can you at least release me?” Arthur grunted. “Since Paimon’s not around”-

        “Oh, no… No… You need to stay there so that Paimon can serve you up. Arch will try to carve out your heart, and if we are lucky, will be too distracted to do it well”- Lyrem stepped to him and proceeded to dig through the man’s pockets, making him uncomfortable, but unable to do anything about it.

        “What the hell are you looking for?”

        “The lynx urine.”

        “Why?” Arthur seethed.

        “Why? Because you are going to drink it.”

        “Excuse me?”

        “Ah, there it is.”

        “Lyrem, I am not drinking lynx urine.” Arthur pleaded with him as the jar was pulled from his right pocket and was popped open.

        “Yes, you are. And I’ll tell you why”-

        The door to the hall opened, and Lyrem panicked. Stretching himself to the proper height, he raised the opened jar to Arthur’s lips.

        “No time! Open up!”

        Arthur did as he was commanded, and grimaced as the liquid poured down his throat. A second later, he was coughing up ammonia as Lyrem was thrown onto his back by Paimon. He watched him hit the stone floor like a rag doll. The jar was thrown across the room, shattering against one of the walls.

        “Doesn’t help does it?” Paimon asked his former friend as he recovered slowly. Conjuring up new chains, he carried them over as he spoke. “Being dead in the Underworld feels no different than being alive on Earth. All the pain and all the misery just carry forward like credit card debt. Follows you everywhere.”

        Lyrem lifted his head, grunting in aching pain as it persevered its way through his astral body.  

        “How… how did…”

        He spoke of the sudden force that threw him across the room. Paimon raised an eyebrow almost feeling pity for the old man.

        “You silly goose, you,” he tutted. “I own you. I always have. Therefore, I control you.”

        “You don’t own me, and you can’t control me,” he argued like a brat with their parent.

        “Ownership, friendship… It’s all the same.” Paimon replied crunching his nose. “Fine, you’re right, I never really controlled you. It was much more fun to convince you to do what I wanted, instead of forcing you to do what I wanted. Maria caught on sooner than you ever did, but then, she was of a different… calibre than you. She was the one who gave me the strength to sweep Hades’ realm right out from under him! … Come to think of it, I never thanked her before you sent her off to Cuba...”

        Lyrem wasn’t sure if he was hearing him correctly. Maria and Paimon? They had hardly known each other. They were practically strangers. Paimon stayed away from his home… out of respect for Lyrem’s homelife. He never wanted to bring work back home with him.

        Paimon pulled one of his wrists into a shackle, and locked it tightly. Then, he did the same to the other. Lyrem’s arms were raised, much like Arthur who was across from him, though he had more slack.

        “Come on, Lyre…” Paimon stood in front of his frail form. Tauntingly, he stuck out a knuckle, playfully knocking at his chin. Lyrem continued to look away. “Don’t you want to know what she did for me? The most corruptible offense that ushered me to a new tier of godliness? What she did to free herself from the pains of womanhood and what inevitably became of a passionless marriage?”

        Lyrem couldn’t help but snarl at the implication. Paimon found it rather amusing.

        “Oh, don’t worry. I wouldn’t dream of cuckolding you- I stopped doing such things after I had my fun with the Tsarina of Russia,” he smiled charmingly. “Can’t exactly top that”-

        “Rosanna.”

        Paimon’s smiling face fell into an annoyed frown, and turned around to trace the source of the voice. Lyrem furrowed his brows and finally looked ahead.

        “Now…” Paimon started. “How, in the bloody blistering cosmos do you know about Rosanna?”

        Arthur blinked, steeling himself. Suddenly, he regretted speaking up as Paimon began to advance on him.

        “I… uhh…” he stammered. Looking from Paimon to Lyrem, he swallowed hard. Lyrem was a worm- a monstrous human being- but he didn’t deserve to have Paimon be the one to tell him the truth. Not about his daughter. If he didn’t remember her, then it wasn’t him who tossed her in.

        He wasn’t innocent of a lot, but he was innocent of- at the very least- this.

        “In the Labyrinth,” he managed. “I found Rosanna in the Labyrinth. In a room with sunflowers”-

        Paimon tried to silence him, but found himself unable to do so by any magical means. Lyrem lost focus.

        “My mother’s not in the”-

        “Not your mother,” Arthur corrected, knowing that it wouldn’t be long before Paimon found a different way of keeping him quiet. “Your daughter.”

        “My what?”

        Sure enough, a square foot of terry cloth was stuffed into Arthur’s mouth and he was stuck, muffling out what he wanted to say, incoherently.

        Paimon raised a finger to his lips to signal his disapproval.

        “Please, allow me,” Paimon advised, patting one bloody and dirt-filled cheek. He turned around again.

        “You see, Lyrem… Maria was suffering. Looong before she ever was diagnosed with cancer, she was suffering at home. You were gone I think to… Oh goodness… where were we in ’92? Belize? Roma? Constantinople? It’s hard to remember… You had left Maria home with young Rosanna for probably a month or more… missed Christmas, again.” Paimon chuckled lightly. “You certainly developed a habit there…”

        “What the fuck are you talking about?” Lyrem’s more midwestern accent bled through with his shaking anxiety that was soon growing into an unrecognizable rage. “I never had… I never had a daughter… Maria never wanted children. I respected that. I respected her! More than anything in the world!”

        “Well, you would never know now, would you? I helped her repaint the nursery. We threw as much evidence of her existence into the Labyrinth that we could”-

        Arthur had managed to spit out the wad of fabric.

        “Lyrem, it’s true; and she’s fine, Rosanna was fine. She was with”-

        His rags returned to his mouth with much more force- this time causing him to gag as Paimon pushed them deeper into his mouth.

        “But Maria’s problem with Rosanna was that she just ‘never stopped crying!’” Paimon announced gladly. “Oh, that poor woman! Left on her own with a child she never wanted with a man who was never there!”

        Lyrem felt nauseous- sick. Even the thought… the possibility of what he said being true was unfathomable.

        “S-stop… No…”

        “It’s too bad there wasn’t more medical treatment for post-partum at the time, but then I don’t think any of that would have helped”-

        “Stop!”

        “If only you had been around more- maybe you wouldn’t have forgotten her completely, but ‘duty calls!’ as you would say!”-

        “No… no…”

        “I found Maria at her wit’s end, Lyrem! Exhausted from her motherly duties and crying on the floor of the foyer! And wouldn’t you know it, she remembered me”-

        “I told you to stop”- he said weakly.

        “She told me about how she’d consider drowning that child, suffocating her, simply dropping her off a tall building”- Paimon flourished a hand for a rather nasty effect. “And so, I did what any good friend would do. I helped her. I led her to a doorway- a simple closet inside the house. In your bedroom, in fact… So, I set up the Labyrinth and then we waited until Rosanna was awake… and calm… and breathing…

        And then Maria… Dropped. Rosanna. In.”

        “YOU RAT BASTARD. I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL RIP OUT YOUR HEART MYSELF! I’LL TEAR YOU APART-LIMB FROM LIMB AND I’LL MAKE YOU SUFFER FOR AN ETERNITY”-

        Paimon backed off from the loudly rattling chains, dancing on his way to Arthur whose head hung low. He was tired from the emotional toll even more-so than the physical one.

        “Don’t look too glum, now, Champ!” Paimon encouraged Arthur giddily. “The worst of his pain is over now, and yours has only just begun!”

[searchingff-blog]

CHAPTER 5: PLAY YOUR PART

Voicemail @ 4:23 am: “Zeus you really need to check your fucking bitch! I haven't seen your dog ass since you been out of jail, and she had the nerve to approach me. Are you fucking serious! And then, she thought we wasn't about to jump on that ass. She got the game fucked up. Get her ass in check before I do, again.”

The Morning After

First off, this wasn't how Zeus wanted to start his morning off, a Sunday morning at that. He planned on getting up and taking his daughter out for breakfast with his mom. Instead he had to fly across town to check his baby mother on the stunt she pulled last night. It tickled him that Jasmine thought she was in any position to question anybody about him. She was just his baby mother that he fucked occasionally. The icing on the cake was that she approached Azure. The two of them hadn't seen each other yet, shockingly, and when they did the last thing he was expecting was to fall right back in that space with her. His baby mother was the only one who thought so. It irritated him that their first encounter was going to be awkward, because of this situation. He didn't even bother to text Azure back, because this gave him a reason to pull up on her. That was the only positive that came out of it.

Zeus made it to Jasmine’s house in fifteen minutes rather than the usual thirty. As he exited the car he tried to call himself down, because there was a good chance his daughter was up. Using his key, he let himself into the home.

”Yo! Jasmine bring ya stupid ass here.”

He stated sternly.

She appeared from the back of the house with a bruised face. It took everything in him not to laugh at her. She was the only one to blame for her predicament.

”Don't come in my shit yelling like you pay the fucking bills, and don't you come in here defending that trick.”

”First, fix your fucking tone when speaking to me. Second, who the fuck do you think you are? You getting jealous over an ex that I ain't talked to in years, out here fighting when you should be taking care of my daughter. What were you thinking?”

”I think I'm the mother of your child, and the bitch you been fucking. Well not since her ass got divorced so don't sit up here and act stupid nigga.” she stated as she rolled her neck.

He looked down at her with disgust. She was feeling herself, and it was irritating him. “Listen dummy you ain't who I been fucking, but who I fucked. We ain't together, and ain't ever gonna be together so cut the bullshit on some real shit.”

When the words left his mouth, she didn't think twice before slapping the fire out of him. It was the last thing he expected, and before he could think he acted. He gripped both of her arms, and slammed her against the wall. An old family portrait of hers fell to the ground, and shattered into a million pieces.

“Have you lost your fuckin mind!??!” He spat fire at her. Zeus had an arsenal of hateful words ready to take her out with, but from the corner of his eye Zariah was standing in the doorway. Once he realized it was her he dropped his hold on Jasmine.

His baby girl, first born, looked terrified and it was because of him. There was only a few things that could poke at his heart, and she was one of them.

Zariah ran over to her mother,  and hugged her leg. Jasmim picked her up, and was fighting the tears that had built up behind her eyes.

”I think you should go now.”

Zeus reached to hold his daughter's hand but she pulled it back, and turned her face the opposite way. He had let his anger get the best of him, and the consequence was that for now he was a monster in his daughter's eyes. As much as he wanted to let it break him he turned around, and exited the house. As a father, and man he felt like he failed.

He prides himself in being a great father, and doing better than his father could have ever did. Growing up without one taught him to never leave his kids behind, but did he just force his own hand? Zeus wasn't sure how to feel, and when he got in the car he sped off with the music blasting. He needed to clear his head.

-----------

Exhausted was an understatement, and Azure looked it. She dragged her body in the kitchen at noon to put something in her stomach. Her mother cooked before she went to her book club meeting. Her mom was always in the kitchen cooking for someone. If it wasn't for her kids it was for somebody at the church. In the microwave awaited a plate filled with eggs, bacon, and french toast. The food was still warm which meant her mom just left the house.

”AZ, where you at?” Hazel’s voice traveled through the house.

”I'm in the kitchen.”

Hazel texted her earlier to let her know she'd be by the house to check on her. Azure knew that all of NY had to know about the fight by now. The club was filled last night, and some considered her a low level celebrity.

”Girl, what the hell?”

Hazel needed all the juice, and details about what transpired last night. Out of the two of them she was always the one fighting, so when she got that call it surprised her. She sat down at the table next to to her.

”Zeus, I swear all my problems stem from me being involved with that man so many damn years ago.” She yawned.

First it was her divorce and now this. Secretly she wished he was still locked up.

”So, the girls took me out last night and at the beginning it was a good night. We were drinking, dancing, and I was even thinking about getting some dick from this random. Then while we at the bar Jasmine of all people walks up to me, and you already know what tip she was on.  She started talking about me and Zeus fucking. Like girl I haven't seen him or plan on it. But of course I was drunk, and feeling like how I am which is THAT BITCH,” The both of them started laughing. “I guess she couldn't handle the truth, and swung on me, so we got it poppin.” She shrugged her shoulders, and ate a piece of bacon.

All Hazel did was shake her head, because she knew how her sister was when she was drunk. Normally she had no problem telling people the truth, but under the influence all respect went out the window and she was cutthroat with it.

”My whole thing is why would she think you were fucking him. Girls like her kill me. You were the side bitch, became the baby momma, and get mad at other girls because he never cuffed ya ass. Did you call him?”

”Sure did. In the car last night, but it went to voicemail and I left him one. I hope he handled that because if not the next time we see each other she's getting dealt with again if she's on that same shit.” Azure took a forkful of eggs into her mouth, and then got up to get a glass of OJ.

”I'm going to definitely check his ass about it when I call about the dinner next Friday. He needs to get her together.”

Hazel mentioned the dinner and Zeus in the same sentence, and Azure turned up her nose. She had no idea that he was going to be in attendance, and in all honesty she didn't want him to be.

”You're real life going to invite him. Like why?” She went and took her seat again.

She knew that Azure wasn't going to be happy about Zeus attending, but that was her friend still. She understood that was her sister's ex, but the two of them had deeper ties than anybody knew. Anytime she had anything he was going to be invited.

”You know that's my nigga, and that he's also close with Roman. I couldn't invite him. Can you just push through for me?”

She poked her bottom lip out.

When they were younger that was the face she used to always get her way. It annoyed Azure back then more than it did right now, but in this situation she wanted to smack her with her french toast. However, she was the only one to blame about the two of them getting close.

”The first time I feel like he's on that bullshit, I'm telling you to kick him out. I'm not playing either.  I'm trying to be less stressed than i have been recently.”

Azure was serious. The only thing she wanted to hear from him was pass the salt. There was nothing for the two of them to discuss, and Hazel knew that. That's why she nodded her head in agreement.

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

Later That Night

”Ma, that's not what I'm saying.” Giselle paused, allowing her mother to continue to chew her out. “It’s not me though. He's the reason why we don't get along, and I'm done being the peacemaker.”

  Giselle walked into work with an attitude. Her mother wanted to have a family dinner, but Gigi and her brother didn't get along at all. Ever since she transitioned he never accepted her as her. It caused chaos in their family, and it was even worse because it was just the two of them.

“Fiiiiine ma, fine.” She rolled her eyes, and placed her bag on the barstool. “Aight, well I'm at work. Love you.” She hung up the phone.

Her family always expected her to be the one to come with a peace offering. It was draining, and started to feel like they agreed with his actions towards her. However, her therapist said that she should cut them some slack. She introduced the change to them, and couldn't rush their grieving process, because in a sense they lost a son and Roman lost a brother.

Giselle had to get that bad energy off her, and focus on work. A couple heavy hitters were supposed to come in the club tonight, but she was more excited to see Monty. The two of them started texting after the first night they met. Things were going good, and the conversations they had were entertaining and intellectual. Gigi wasn't going to get her hopes up, but she was feeling good about him.

”Guess who.” Montell crept up behind her, and covered her eyes. He'd just got to the club not that long ago.

Montell started to like her more than he was supposed to, but he had an end goal. Whatever he had to do to get the job done he was going to. Deep down he felt bad for playing with her emotions, but justice needed to be served. She was his way in.

”Let me guess, the butterfinger?” She laughed at the inside joke the two of them shared.”

”See you violating now.” He laughed, dropping his arms down to her waist, and hugging them tightly. “How you doing tonight?” He pecked her neck.

”I’m doing alright. Family mess I got to deal with that I really don't want to deal with.”

“What's going on?” He asked, turning her around to face him.

“It’s just that me and my brother don't get along at all, and me being the calmer one my mom always wants me to extend the olive branch. It’s draining.”

Even when she was younger her mother placed it on her to be the bigger person even though she was younger. Majority of the time she thought it was because of the life she lived. They denied it, but she couldn't think of anything else. It was sad, but the truth.

“Then don't do it.” Monty said plainly. “You a grown ass women that makes her own decisions. You tired of extending the olive branch then stop. Show them that you have feelings too, and it's time for the golden boy to hold his own weight.”

Gigi wasn't expecting him to give his opinion on the matter, because they hadn't been talking for that long, but everything he said was true. It was time she stood her ground, and showed her family that she had feelings too.

“You're right.” She smiled softly, placing her hands on his chest.

“I know I am.” He smirked, biting his bottom lip. “If you want me to come with you for support I can.” He needed to find a way to make a connection with her brother, and by the sound of of it that was going to be hard.

“You want to meet my family already?” She raised her eyebrow. It seemed too soon for that, and quite frankly it was. They hadn't even went on a formal date yet, had their first kiss, or even had sex. She didn't know how to feel about it.

“Not necessarily, but if you need somebody there that has your back one hundred percent then I want to be there for you.” He needed to reassure her that it had more to do with her other than her parents. He knew it was too soon, but he had a deadline to make.

“I'll think about it. I don't want to throw you into my family craziness, and scare you off so soon.”

“Sounds like you want to keep me around for a long time.” He grinned, loving the way that sounded.

“I was thinking about it that's for sure.” She brushed her hair behind her ear.

“Well that means you're going to have to let me see you outside of this club. Clear out next weekend for me.”

“The whole weekend?” She wanted to spend time with him, but the entire weekend was overdoing it.

“Yeah, because after Friday you aint gonna wanna leave.” He chuckled, letting his hands fall to her waist.

“I'll see what I can do, but let me get ready for my shift.” She giggled, Monty was cocky.

“Aight, I'll check you later.”

He pecked her cheek before walking off. Giselle’s mood did a 360, and she was ready for the night.

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

“Azure! Azure! Over here!”

The paparazzi called out her name. Across town there was a fashion show taking place, and even with what happened the other night she still was expected to attend. It took zero out of her to act like nothing happened. Once she finished blessing the red carpet she headed inside.

The layout of the was up to par, and she had high hopes as far as the fashion was considered.

Azure was escorted to her seat where she was seated next to a new face. It surprised her to see the fair-skinned hispanic girl sitting beside of her. She had a strong resting bitch face, and seemed as if she didn’t want to be here, though she greeted everyone who passed her with a blinding smile.

Selena wasn't new to the fashion show scene, and in fact she was used to being the girl stomping down the runway. Tonight she had a different job, and it was to make sure she left the show with Azure’s personal number. She was linked to a couple people she needed answers from, and going at them head on would make her motives visible.

Ever since her brother was gunned down her family wasn’t able to sleep the same. Then to make matters worse the killer was still breathing. The police had failed them, so it was time to take matters into her own hands.

“I live for a fierce thigh high boot.” Selena said, watching the model walk down the runway

.

“Me too. It helps us short girls get a little more length in our legs.” Azure chuckled, looking to the right of her at Selena. “I'm Azure.” She offered her hand to shake.

“Nice to meet you, I'm Carmen.” She shook her hand and looked in her eyes. Selena could tell this was going to be easier than she thought.

[shinigamikarinkurosaki-archive]

ur last text post piqued my interest, so headcanons on how karin's temper is (how she lets it out) depending on the person?

This post? I’m actually glad you asked!! I don’t get to explore this part of Karin often.

Largely shinigami!Karin.Just forewarning– this is about as long as a Doctoral thesis which is totally your fault, & the entire thing contains potentially triggering content. Warnings include alcoholism, implied BDSM, minor character hate, mentioned suicide, discussion of: dysfunctional family units, violence, racism, LGBT+ prejudice, misogyny, sexual harassment, & various manifestations of abusive situations. I would like to publicly apologize to mobile users.

Karin’s expression of her anger his highly dependent person to person. I’d first like to say that Karin rarely gets angry. Most of her anger is frustration. Of course, she does get angry, but that is caused by violation of her values which I’ll explore after her expression of frustration with specific relationships.

With her loved ones, her reaction to her frustration is a slider of violent to nonviolent highly dependent upon individual to individual, rather than offense. When Karin does become violent, it’s not to achieve an end like Aizen’s abuse, it’s because she’s legitimately reached the end of her rope & violence is her best method to get back at her slights, perceived or otherwise. Mostly.

With Toushirou, violence is a part of their sexuality. I won’t discuss this much because expression of sexuality in teenagers is Wrong™ which throws Me & literally every COCSA survivor under a fucking bus & promotes conservative sex ed which doesn’t work & I will get yelled at. I will say that any violence between Karin & Toushirou is perfectly consensual & performed after they’ve compromised in an argument to blow off steam & I will also say that aftercare is of utmost importance to them.

Karin will never be violent with Momo ever. Don’t get me wrong, Karin does get frustrated with Momo. Karin gets frustrated when any guardian figure won’t let her do something– namely dangerous, possibly fatal things. For instance, if Momo & Karin are on a senpai-kouhai day date & there’s a hollow, Momo will normally let Karin slay it herself if Momo thinks it’s in Karin’s capability. If Momo thinks Karin will get worse that little scratches, Momo will force Karin to sit on the sidelines while she takes care of it. Well, Momo isn’t around all the time, & Karin knows she can take anything up to a Menos Grande, so Momo denying her this is very frustrating to Karin because Karin knows she can take a lot on despite the injuries she may suffer. But like I said, Karin will never get violent with Momo. Momo is too important to Karin, as Momo is one of the few people whom would respect Karin’s autonomy so long as nobody is harmed, including Karin. Karin expresses her infrequent frustration with Momo by pouting, but Momo easily diffuses Karin’s frustration with affectionate gestures like baking Karin cookies or giving her a big ol’ wet senpai forehead kiss.

Yuzu is the person Karin gets frustrated with second most. Now, Yuzu doesn’t do anything to really trigger Karin’s frustration. Even Yuzu’s infatuation with their brother doesn’t really tick Karin off. Karin loves Ichigo just as much as Yuzu does, the only difference is Ichigo’s treatment of them. Ichigo’s favoritism of Yuzu– namely he giving Yuzu more freedom than Karin, such as not policing Yuzu’s friendships– isn’t Yuzu’s fault. That said, Yuzu is the only reason Karin doesn’t kill herself through junior high & high school. Yuzu is legitimately the other half of Karin’s soul. But keep in mind Karin isn’t fulfilled by a normal human life. It’s only a matter of time before Karin resents Yuzu for keeping her from living a happy life as a shinigami. Karin hates herself for feeling this resentment towards sweet Yuzu but never gets the resources to really soothe herself. Karin snaps at Yuzu a lot because of this resentment. As sweet as Yuzu is, Yuzu is still a Kurosaki & won’t roll over for Karin. Their frequent screaming matches eventually get as heated as Ichigo & Karin’s. Really, the only difference between them is that Karin has never struck Yuzu.

Karin has struck Izuru on occasion. They mostly fight about Izuru’s passive aggressive treatment of Toushirou. Toushirou was one of the most important support systems while Karin was still alive. While she doesn’t support Toushirou’s harassment of Izuru simply because of Izuru’s proximity to Momo, Izuru’s equally assholish behavior is offensive to all the things Toushirou has helped her through. When Karin & Izuru are fighting about Toushirou, Karin normally storms out. If Izuru follows her, regardless of his intent to apologize, Karin normally socks him. Thankfully, Toushirou & Izuru start getting along while Karin is in the academy so she & Izuru don’t actually fight much anymore. When they do, they’re mostly drunk, not sure what they’re fighting about, & end up just being petty & scathing & totally cool in the morning.

Karin isn’t infrequently frustrated with Ururu & Jinta. That said, she’s never been violent with either of them while she’s frustrated. Karin is mostly frustrated by their refusal to divulge much about shinigami for fear of retaliation from Ichigo. These are Karin’s battle partners. They’re her longest & most important friends. It’s offensive & demeaning that the two most important people in Karin’s life won’t be honest with her, just like Ichigo. Karin throws tantrums, she screams & bawls her eyes out, she begs for them to have the decency to love her like she loves them– with total trust & devotion, but to little avail. Karin may not speak to Jinta & Ururu for a few days after these tantrums, but that’s about all. Karin can’t stay away from them, they’re simply too important to her.

Ichigo is the person Karin is most often frustrated by. I won’t discuss this much since I already talk about Karin & Ichigo so much, but Karin hasn’t gone one argument with Ichigo without trying to hit him. She’s at the end of her rope the minute Ichigo walks in.

Where do I even start with Ichigo’s crew? I was originally going to do original sections for each of them but Karin’s reasons for her frustration with them & reactions to them are virtually the same. Karin does not like anybody in close proximity to Ichigo. At all. Karin thinks all of them are blindly loyal to Ichigo & agree with Ichigo’s treatment of Karin. This isn’t true, Yasutora & Rukia are especially offended by Ichigo stifling Karin’s potential so. Even so, neither of them do anything to put Ichigo in place which, in my opinion, is almost as bad as agreeing with Ichigo. The only person spared from Karin’s violence is Orihime, & only because Karin gets very soft, kind vibes from Orihime which reminds Karin too much of Yuzu to raise a hand against Orihime. Otherwise, everybody else is fair game. Byakuya is included in this category.

Renji is not included with them. Karin harbors complex feelings for Renji. On one hand, Renji reminds Karin strongly of her brother. Renji & Ichigo share similar body language, syntax, & “vibes,” & Renji’s proximity to Ichigo worries Karin. That said, Momo trusts Renji & Karin trusts Momo’s opinion. There’s not one thing that ticks Karin off with or about Renji, because her mixed feelings themselves trigger her frustration. Now, Karin doesn’t act on her frustration herself. Karin gets violent when she feels trapped her pestered by Renji. Her attacks rarely work since Renji is so much larger & stronger than Karin, but Renji is very respectful of Karin’s space for the most part so there aren’t a lot of altercations between them. The rare times Karin tries to beat the shit out of Renji normally result in Renji putting her in time out with Momo & Momo making Karin apologize for her behavior after Karin has cooled off. Karin’s never sure if she’s really sorry.

Isshin genuinely loves his children. Isshin doesn’t know how to be a father. That’s perfectly reasonable, it’s not like there’s a manual for raising children at all, let alone children with troubles such as the Kurosaki siblings. That said, Karin doesn’t feel like Isshin takes her seriously. This makes it hard for Karin to go to Isshin for any amount of help because he just makes a joke out of everything. Of course, nobody can bottle up the turmoil Karin experiences without it negatively impacting their behavior. When Karin feels mocked by Isshin, she gets violent with him. It’s mostly spontaneous violence, while Isshin is being a goofball.

Karin’s relationship with Shuuhei is hard to articulate. It’s pretty uncomplicated since Karin doesn’t hang out with Shuuhei as much as she hangs out with Izuru, Momo, & Toushirou. Karin has never been violent with Shuuhei, she hasn’t even really fought with him. I just want to touch on this though because Karin does get frustrated with Shuuhei on occasion. Shuuhei is still very loyal to Tousen despite Tousen manipulation & hypocrisy. THIS doesn’t anger Karin. Karin knows emotional abuse is extremely complex & takes time for the survivor to process their experience, heal, & relearn self-respect. Karin admires Shuuhei incredibly though as Momo admires him too, which is rare for Momo. Karin just wants Shuuhei to learn to give himself the respect he deserves, she just wants Shuuhei to see how wonderful he is. She mostly keeps this to herself though.

Karin generally loves Rangiku. Rangiku is fun & bright & is almost as good as Rose & Momo at cheering Karin up. Karin just has one complaint– Rangiku’s avoidance of work & Toushirou consequentially picking up her slack. Rangiku isn’t a bad person, but Toushirou is very overworked & a good partnership requires lifting one’s weight in & out of battle. Karin’s frustration with Rangiku slacker habits never escalates into a screaming match or a fight, but Karin can be quite venomous if she catches Rangiku slacking off somewhere. It never really hurts Rangiku’s feelings. Rangiku knows Karin loves her but loves Toushirou just as much, & Rangiku knows Karin is right, Rangiku’s just so sad that it’s hard to sit down & concentrate. Karin understands, she was disassociated her entire senior year & literally flunked out because she got nothing done, but being sad doesn’t excuse burdening loved ones.

Yukio rarely triggers Karin’s frustration. There’s this ease between them Karin doesn’t get with many individuals at all. I’m not even sure what they’d fight about, let alone either of their reactions. Yukio’s initial disdain for Toushirou would tick Karin off at first, but Yukio & Toushirou eventually develop a friendship of their own eliminating any reason for Karin to get upset over that, & Karin can easily see through Yukio’s aloof, sarcastic facade because it’s exactly like her own. I think any problems Karin & Yukio would have with each other would be resolved quickly & maturely.

Karin’s friends Ryohei, Heita, Kei, & Kazuya are people Karin considers “underdogs” like herself. I’ll make another post about my headcanons for Karin’s friends another time– probably reblog it from my roleplay blog– but Karin has only been violent with these four once. Like, with the intent to get back at them instead of just shut them up when they’re being obnoxious. It’s just after the five of them enter junior high. It’s weird for boys & girls to be friends now, & Ryohei, Heita, Kei, & Kazuya don’t like being teased for being friends with a girl. They try to just stop talking to Karin, “let her down easy” so to speak, but Karin’s having none of that. When Karin confronts them about their distant behavior, they really don’t have any choice but to tell Karin they don’t want to be friends with Karin anymore. Of course, Karin is broken-hearted. Kazuya, Ryohei, Kei, & Heita have given Karin a sense of normalcy throughout elementary school. She throws a fit, throwing two of them into the river, dislocating one’s arm, breaking another’s nose, & storms off. She never sees them again. Fine by her, she tells everybody, despite how her chest aches.

Karin is scarcely frustrated with Shinji to point of violence. His lax demeanor in the office gets on Karin’s nerves frequently, but she respects Shinji too greatly to throw a temper tantrum of any sort. This wasn’t always true. Oftentimes, Karin felt Shinji was comparing her to her brother, but Momo talked to Shinji about Karin’s disdain for her brother & Shinji respects that Ichigo hurt Karin very much, so even if Shinji still cares about Ichigo he & Karin just don’t talk about anything having to do with Ichigo.

Rose normally doesn’t irritate Karin in any capacity. Rose used to sound condescending, with his insistence to make the most of life & exploration & art, but after Rose & Karin converse about making oneself happy, pursuing the things that bring them joy instead of seething in misery, Karin likes him. It’s summarily what she did when she killed herself, however tragic. The most Rose does is irritate Karin when he’s being prissy & finicky. It doesn’t even elicit any smart comments from Karin, mostly just an eyeroll. Nothing ever escalates into violence.

Kensei, on the other hand, can make Karin go from 0 to 100 in a third of a second. Karin doesn’t totally despise Kensei. She actually doesn’t know Kensei very well as a person, but she knows how Kensei treats Shuuhei & it’s totally unacceptable. I’ll cover more about Karin’s reactions towards witnessing abusive situations in a couple of paragraphs. But the moment Kensei snaps at Shuuhei while Karin’s in the vicinity, she’s almost immediately up in Kensei’s face screaming at him how he’s a captain & should know better, how Shuuhei’s done jackshit to deserve being berated like Kensei sometimes does. I think Kensei would be ticked off that some kid is screaming at him like Karin is, but Karin has a lot of good points. I won’t explore my thoughts about the dynamic of Squad 9 in this post so I’ll stop there.

Karin doesn’t really know what she thinks about Mashiro overall. I do think Karin is sometimes annoyed by Mashiro’s immaturity but otherwise Karin doesn’t find a lot to get annoyed with Mashiro, nothing that warrants more than a couple of ticked off remarks at least.

That’s all for Karin’s individual relationships– 2.3k words of it…. Just real quick, I’d like to cover a little bit about Karin’s biases towards certain relationships.

Karin’s family relationships leave much to be desired. She doesn’t really care much for her family, since they’re so distant & Yuzu is the only one who hasn’t betrayed Karin in some fashion. She doesn’t think very highly of her family as a whole because of their dysfunction, however much she may love them. She responds to anger with them similarly to her friendships.

Karin is a very insecure person. There aren’t many people whom are forward with her, & she’s already ostracized from her classmates thanks to shit that went down with ghosts in her primary school years. When Karin gets a new friend, she is entirely loyal & loving of them. Anything she may view as wrong or as a betrayal Karin will react to with incredible hostility. Like her family, she thinks friendships are based in honesty & when that is violated she’s broken-hearted & volatile.

Boyfriends & girlfriends are a different matter altogether. Karin will forgive a lot more with them. You see, Karin is a very physical person. Her two primary expressions of love are physical affection & emotional support. It’s more normal for romantic partners to snuggle, so if Karin is ticked off or just finished throwing a tantrum, she’s going to forgive pretty much anything & everything. If her tantrum is interrupted however, Karin will immediately equate this action to Ichigo’s demeaning behavior & she will turn violent & terminate the relationship.

Moving onto violations of Karin’s values. Overall, if Karin even thinks something is amiss she’ll get ticked off & start screaming or beating the shit out of someone. Karin is intolerant of intolerance, even from her loved ones. Truthfully, if any of her loved ones violate her morals, she’ll react even more hostilely than she will a stranger because her loved ones know better. It’s not to say she’ll never forgive anyone for these, of course, but she believes that cruelty needs to be met threefold.

Karin’s biggest trigger to violent action is LGBT+ discrimination. Being bisexual herself, Karin is directly impacted by homophobia & biphobia. She doesn’t care who or where or when this occurs, she will destroy anyone who exhibits homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, aphobia, et cetera. However, Japan has a very repressed culture, & Karin is aware that some people aren’t malicious, simply ignorant. While she’s most likely to respond violently to LGBT+ prejudice, she’s also most likely to forgive it in the future.

Karin is also really ticked off by xenophobia. The Kurosaki kids are biracial– German/Japanese mix, Masaki being German/Japanese herself– so Karin & her family are impacted by this. Less so Karin since she looks more traditionally Japanese, but Yuzu gets a lot of unwarranted harassment because of Yuzu’s more Western appearance. Karin will react violently to any amount of racially or culturally centric discrimination, regardless if Yuzu is on the receiving end or not. This is an unforgivable offense to Karin & if she sees the same individual over & over again, still behaving xenophobically, Karin will beat the shit out of them until they totally disappear from Karakura.

Misogyny is a good way to elicit Karin’s wrath. It reminds Karin of Ichigo’s treatment of her, & seeing as how Karin & Ichigo can’t go a day without trying to rip out each other’s throats, of course Karin acts hostilely towards this behavior.

Abuse & rape apologism wasn’t high on Karin’s radar until she met Momo. Of course, it was on there, but it had more to do with misogyny than abuse itself. Karin’s violent streak is triggered by praise of known abusers & belittlement or harassment of survivors. This is an unforgivable offense & Karin will at least try to chase said offender out of town.

Any form of harassment or abuse of Karin’s loved ones will result in hostile reaction by Karin. Karin is incredibly protective over her “clan” & would risk her own life for anybody she cares about. While Karin won’t immediately resort to violence, an example being Kensei, if the situation is taking a turn Karin doesn’t like or the behavior against her loved ones continues, somebody’s gonna end up with a knife in their lung. This offense is rarely forgivable to Karin, but she’s not so black & white minded to think that everything is simple as it seems. Sometimes, abusive behavior really is just a mistake that can be remedied, but Karin never receives mistreatment of her loved ones peacefully.

Karin would react just as protectively over strangers. It’s the violation of her morals that triggers her violent behavior, not the person, it just so happens that her loved ones can trigger more volatile reaction.

I want to cover relationship violence specifically for one reason– Karin will plainly murder any romantic or sexual partner of her loved ones whom are mistreating them. No warning, no forgiveness. This is basically because of Toushirou. It’s hard for Karin to watch Toushirou be sad in any capacity, especially when Toushirou blames himself for Aizen’s abuse of Momo. That, & Momo has a huge influence over Karin. Momo talking about Aizen’s abuse make Karin’s blood boil. Between those two influences, Karin has no tolerance nor forgiveness for abusive spouses or partners.

Hm. I was revising this when I noticed Karin’s misandry. I want to specify something here too– Karin does not give preferential treatment to women because they’re women. Most of the offenses Karin has suffered have been via men, & most of Momo’s horror stories are of Aizen. Karin has a very skewed perspective of men therefore she more likely to react violently against men, not because women need to be protected.

[kentucky-the-fried]

Imperium: Chapter 1

Featuring: @aeviann ‘s Aeviann, @deltheor ‘s Scarlen, and @eienias20 ‘s Jaynix

Chapter 1: Et Non Sentiunt (And I Do Not Feel)

The mornings in the city are always busy. Lots of people are just waking up in the early hours, going about their daily routines - but unlike the other districts, the Administrative District is the place that never sleeps. BLADEs are always up and about, as every day provides new opportunities to get out into the field and help the city to grow and survive. I take pride in being a BLADE, in being one of the lucky ones who can explore the world and help people, regardless of their situation. It is the best feeling in the world, knowing that everything I do makes the life of someone else better.

And so I stand in front of the mission board now, my usual coffee in my hands, waiting for the right mission to pop up. Being an Interceptor, I specialize in defending other BLADEs on dangerous missions, and even though I am capable of taking other jobs, nothing else brings me as much joy. Protecting people is my ecstasy - I think that is the right word to describe it, anyways. Is that not the name of the Earth drug that produces emotional warmth and pleasure? Hmm, I wonder if it still exists. Maybe Frye will know something about it.

Regardless, I know something that makes me feel even happier: coffee. I take another sip of the one in my hands, my eyes closing as caramel hits my taste buds. Caramel macchiatos are the best, I say silently as my eyes open. The mission board looks like it has a new selection of missions available, so I scan over the new options to pick something out. I am itching to get out and do something productive - I cannot tell if I am energetic because of the thrill of adventure, or because I am having my sixth coffee for the day. Either way, I finally spot something on the bottom of the board that looks promising. The details are simple: hunt ten forfexes in Oblivia. I take the mission with no hesitation. BLADE would not post a mission like this if the forfexes had been peaceful as of late. Plus, missions like these are ones that I know I can handle on my own. If I take on one forfex at a time, I could complete the mission with lots of time to spare for other missions.

I switch my coffee to one hand as I pull out my comm device, which had been tucked neatly in the back pocket of my jeans. The details of the mission pop up and I refresh myself one last time. I hardly glance at the rewards for its completion. Sure, credits could be nice. But more tank tops? Definitely not. I do not even wear tank tops.

With a sigh, I place my comm device back in my pocket and turn to leave. Facing Division Drive, I start towards my Skell, parked neatly next to the tents lining the walls. As a Lailah Queen model, it is not classified as the strongest in the market, but I have optimized it to a point I am quite happy with. Plus, the paint job is not too shabby. Gotta love reds and blacks.

On my way there, I glance over at the device to my left, placed conveniently next to the mission board. I remember being introduced to the scouting console back when I first arrived in the city, but since then, I have not touched it. I mean, scouting sounds fun, but I enjoy having the company of the friends I made. Hiring complete strangers seems scary in its own way.

And, ah...it does not work for me.

I tried using it a few times in the past, out of curiosity. But for some reason all it told me is that I was “offline” and could not access the scouts. After that, I shrugged it off and never brought it up. Not like I cared about it, really. Why hire scouts when you can have Elma?

And just like that, as I glance away from the console, I notice her exit the barracks with Lin at her side. I think L would call this a “talk of the Satan” moment? He never explained that to me, but I think it is supposed to be in regards to something coincidental happening? Either way, I turn to give them both a bright smile. It has been a while since we worked together on a mission, with all three of us being busy in our respective lines of work.

But Elma looks different. Ever since she showed us her true form in the Lifehold Core, she has readjusted to walking around in her actual body. I cannot help but admire her new appearance, and as our eyes meet, I am faced with eyes brighter than the stars in the night sky. As they approach, Lin starts to jog, rushing past Elma to reach me first. But I realize that I still have my half full cup of coffee in my right hand, so as Lin calls out my name in excitement I start to slowly move my hand behind my back.

“Pongo!” Lin says with a cheerful smile, “I feel like it’s been ages since we’ve seen you!”

I chuckle. Her childish nature never ceases to amuse me. “I have been busy. Just because we won the war with the Ganglion does not give us the right to slack off, especially now.”

As Elma finally stops next to Lin, she gives a small nod. “Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” Her gaze moves downward just as my coffee slides out of vision, but the movement is too slow, and she returns her gaze upwards, scowling. “By any chance would that be coffee in your hand?”

“Whaaaaaaaat? No, of course not!” I try my best to lie, “I have not had coffee for a very long time! You said it yourself, having too much coffee is a very bad habit and it is no substitute for a good night of sleep -”

“He totally has a caramel macchiato.” Lin interrupts. “I can smell it from here.”

“Lin!” I hiss playfully, and she giggles.

Elma, however, is not amused. “I know you’re in a mimeosome, but even mims need sleep.” She holds her hand out, and by now I know the routine. Very slowly, I bring the cup back out from behind my back and give it to her. With a sigh, she continues, “I don’t think I’ve seen you rest ever since we got back from Oblivia, when you…”

“Lost my arm.” I finish slowly. I remember that day so vividly - the pain, the fear, only wondering if Tatsu was okay - but I cannot tell her that it is because of that day that I refuse to sleep. The nightmares were so surreal that I often questioned the difference between the dream and reality. I cannot have Elma worrying over me for something so small.

“Guess you can say I needed a hand after that.” I finish up, a cheeky grin forming on my face.

Lin points fingerguns my way, and I notice that Elma can’t hold back a smile of her own. Gods, her smile is beautiful.

“Anyways Lin, we have a mission to get to in Cauldros,” She informs her, “The White Whale debris won’t find itself.”

“Aww, I know,” Lin says, her shoulders slumping. “Do you think you can come with us Pongo? Just the three of us, like the old days!”

“I would love to,” I admit, “But I have already accepted a mission in Oblivia. Apparently some forfexes have been causing trouble for the operatives - but I can take them down, all on my own!”

That gets them both to frown. I wonder if I have said something wrong - maybe I sound too excited? No, why would that be it?

“You’re going alone?” Elma responds first,  “That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

“Maybe you can take some scouts, at least?” Lin suggests. “Even if you’re confident - which, um, big step forward for you if you are! - at least take them for the company!”

I shake my head. It is not confidence, I would say, but more of a caution. Forfexes are quite powerful, and often underestimated - I would hate to bring someone with me only to have them get hurt. Besides, if I told them about the virago I took on solo the other day…

“I will be fine!” I reassure them.

“...you know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you use the scouting console.” Lin comments, “We showed it to you when you first arrived in the city, right?”

I nod. “You did! Just, ah...see, a while back, I tried to use it and it did not give me access, so since then I never tried it. Never saw a reason to, seeing as I have perfectly good teammates around me to go to!”

  Elma continues to frown. “That doesn’t seem right. All BLADEs should have access.”

“Might be a system error, Lin says, “C’mon, let’s check it out! I could probably work out any of the bugs!”

She runs over to the scouting console before I can tell her not to. I have heard so many tales of scouting, and for the most part, it involves meeting new people. My hands clench into shaky fists, fearing that when she fixes the problem, it will involve me having to scout someone. I know they only mean well for me, but new people are scary. How am I supposed to interact with them?! What if they hate me?!

As Elma and I follow Lin to the console, she starts fiddling with some of the buttons before asking, “Walk me through what you did last time you tried to use this.”

I nod once before taking her place at the console. She got me to the main screen, where there are four options. The first, being to scout BLADEs, is the one I click. However, just like my last attempt, it gives me an error screen with bright red letters reading “offline”.

“See? It does not work, therefore I cannot scout!” I say, almost with a little relief in my voice.

Lin takes center stage again as she peers down at the letters on the screen. “Hmm...Let’s see…”

She plays around with some of the buttons again, opening a few different screens as she tries to figure out the problem. There is a moment of tense silence as Elma and I watch her work. Elma still has my coffee in her hand - gods, I can smell it from here. I want that caramel goodness, I need it!

But, after a while, Lin exclaims, “What? How didn’t Nagi explain this to you?!”

“What is it, Lin?” Elma asks.

“He doesn't have a scouting account!” She explains, spinning herself around to face us, “They’re essential if people want to access your information and determine if you’re a good fit for scouting. If you don’t have one, you can’t scout or be scouted!”

Elma chuckles. “That’s one of the basics that Nagi should’ve went over with you.”

Huh. Nagi never mentioned anything about a scouting account when he gave me a runthrough before. I guess it slipped his mind. Nevertheless, I fold my hands behind my back, smiling awkwardly. Lin knows what the issue is, and I partially expect her to push me into this scouting business. “I do not recall the Secretary ever walking me through it. But really, I do not think -”

“Here, let’s make your account!” Lin interrupts, turning around and typing into the screen. “Mind telling me your current build?”

I pause - I knew she would do this, no backing out now - before telling her, “Bastion Warrior class. Dual guns and photon saber.”

I open my mouth to speak, but again, Lin speaks before I can protest. “And your profile is set! Your days of no scouting are over!”

“Nicely done, Lin,” Elma compliments her with a grin. Just then, we all hear her comm device buzz, and she pulls it out as the blue screen displays some new information. “Vandham is starting to wonder why we’re not in Cauldros. Looks like we should get going, Lin.”

“Of course!” Lin responds. Turning to me, she informs me, “This is a good opportunity for you to scout some people! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve made a lot of friends through scouting people, and it’s so cool to see where everyone has strengths!”

“It’ll be a new experience,” Elma adds, “And a great opportunity to make some friends in the field.”

I look down - not that they can tell the difference now. Just another advantage of having no irises, I suppose. “I...I will try.”

“Good luck!” Lin bids me goodbye as she walks off, and Elma gives me a reassuring smile before following suit and eventually taking the lead. Once they get out of earshot, I face the scouting console again, taking a deep breath. I could turn around now, I do not have to do this, I can just go on my own and lie about this later if they ask - but nope, here I am pressing a button, because I hate lying. As the screen changes, I am suddenly faced with a wide array of names and classes and weapon sets. All these names are so foreign to me, and as I try to overcome the feeling of nausea, I end up deciding to look around a bit more. It would be nice to have a group of scouts that have different talents…

I say as I find a person with my exact same weapon set. Dual guns, photon saber. This scout is of the Mastermind class, however, so I figure that he might be a suitable option. The nametag given is “Scarlen.”

Okay, two more, I tell myself. Four is a nice number for going out into the field. Any more and it might cause a few problems, especially since I plan to take out these forfexes one at a time using stealth. With that in mind, I find another scout under the name of “Aeviann” who uses a sniper rifle and a javelin. The sniper rifle would be good for distance and picking off enemies from afar - a logical choice, but one that fills me with anxiety. Two complete strangers coming with me on this mission - and I am about to make it three.

One more name from the list, a somewhat random choice, gives me “Jaynix”. Equipped with a gatling gun and a longsword, I expect her to be well versed in offense, which could come in handy for getting this done quickly. And with that, I have my three scouts. Now all there is left to do is wait, I think. Will they come to me? Do I have to meet them out in the field? Gods, I did not think this through. What if they refer to me as “captain”, or “sir”? I do not want those titles, I do not deserve them. Would now be a good time to curl up into a corner and cry?

...Well, the last part is an exaggeration, but I can still sense that nothing good will come of this. I just hope I can put these scouts to some use on this mission...and I hope I do not make a complete fool of myself.

“Hey there! You’re the guy who scouted me, right?”

I almost do not notice that someone has stepped up to me. I turn myself around. “I think that would be me - oh my gods.”

The person who stands before me...is absolutely gorgeous. Dark red hair falls past her shoulders, complementing the red fabric of her raim, and her fiery eyes shine with confidence as she crosses her hands over her chest, awaiting a response. I find my gaze exploring her body, noticing how the raim curves to fit her hourglass figure and complement the muscle underneath, and before I understand what is happening, my eyes lock with hers. Gods, her irises are like tiny beacons, full of light. How long have we been standing here? Oh gods, she must think I am weird. I have to do something, otherwise...

I have to hesitate, trying to regain my composure as my cheeks flush up. Of all the scouts, I had to choose a pretty one. Just my luck. Just. My. Luck. I have to say something, anything, stop standing here like a complete idiot!! “Oh, y-yeah! That would probably be me.”

“Well, you’re Pongo, right?” She asks to confirm, “The name’s Jaynix. I’m with the Interceptors!”

“...me too!” I squeak, giving my best attempt at a friendly smile - though, I think it comes across as more awkward than I anticipate. “Interceptor! Me! I am an Interceptor!”

Janyix shifts in her posture, and I notice something change within her gaze. “You are? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. I would’ve remembered a face like yours.”

My heart is beating faster than it should. My mouth opens as I attempt to speak, but no words come out. All of my thoughts, every fiber of my being focuses on her beauty, her confidence - and in the midst of it all, I wonder if I could ever look the part. Maybe one day, when I am not as much of a human disaster, I can be confident too!

“Um...hi there! You’re Pongo, right?...”

I almost do not notice that someone else has walked up behind Jaynix. I start to give them a friendly smile - ohhhhhhhhh no. Oh no oh no oh no oh no he is just as cute as Jaynix and I want to ruffle his fluffy white hair and I want to stare into those sparkly blue cat eyes forever and ever because gods are they beautiful. Am I blushing I think I am blushing wait was I blushing before or am I just doing it now? Oh gods I probably look like a complete idiot I have to say something anything just need to -

“Yup, this is Pongo.” Thank you so much Jaynix. “I take it he’s never scouted before. Either that or he can’t handle just how sexy I am!”

Ohhhhhhhhhhh my gods I want to cry. This was a mistake and now I look like an idiot and there is no way this can get any worse -

“Aevi! Hey there!”

And before I know it, Jaynix is waving to another woman who is walking towards us. As she grows closer, I take in her image and -

……….fuck.

“Jay! Good to see you again!”

“Feels like it’s been forever. We really need to catch up more. Say, did Pongo scout you too?”

“Oh, he did!...is this him?”

“Yup. Poor guy’s flustered beyond belief. I’m pretty sure it’s his first time scouting.”

“Must be a new BLADE then?”

“Don’t know. I would ask but I think the kid’s in the middle of a stroke. Here, I’ll see if I can calm him down.”

Snap snap.

“No need to be nervous, kid. I don’t bite!...but I could.”

“Jay, that’s not helping. Here, I’ll try.”

She smells like flowers.

“Take a few deep breaths. Everything will be okay. We’ll be happy to show you the ropes if this is your first time with scouts.”

Deep breaths. Okay Pongo, you can calm down. Just take deep breaths. Maybe then you can actually talk to these incredibly gorgeous people. Deep breaths.

I feel my chest expand and contract with every breath I take, and before I know it, my head is clear. I blink once, facing them with a new perspective. Okay, I can do this...I think. First things first, apologize for being the worst BLADE ever.

“Sorry about that...I just...did not expect...to scout three incredibly beautiful people.”

THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY OH GODS

“Aww, thanks kid!” Jaynix chuckles. Meanwhile, the man standing behind her - Scarlen, I assume - begins to smile nervously. Gods he is so cute - no, no, stop that. I almost do not hear his tiny adorable voice above the sounds of the Administrative District growing louder.

“Thanks!...you look nice too!...”

I shake my head repeatedly. “No, I am nothing special!” I do not give them time to say anything else as I whip out my comm device. “So the mission I have is fairly simple. There is a group of forfexes out in Oblivia that have been causing some trouble for BLADE operatives in the area, so the task is to take out ten of them to reduce their population, maybe scare the rest off in the process.”

“Oblivia? Yes!” Aeviann says with a beautiful, wide grin.

I notice, however, that Jaynix does not look the least bit happy with this. Her position shifts as she takes on a frown - which, honestly, she looks just as good in a frown as she does a smile. Wait no, that sounds like I want her to be angry, I do not want her to be angry!

“Well then, let’s go wreck shop!” Jaynix says, beginning to turn away. “I can give you all a lift in my rover by the way! My brother Kruse recently installed this new AI into it…”

As she and Aeviann walk farther away, I almost forget that we are a team, so I have to jog to catch up to them. Scarlen keeps pace with me on my right hand side, shooting me a gentle smile that makes my heart melt.

“Hey, you okay? You don’t have to be nervous. We’ll all help you in any way we can.” He reassures me in that amazingly adorable voice of his.

Taking a deep breath, I do my best to answer him with a calm tone. “I will be okay.”

But, quite honestly, the thought of being in a rover with three beautiful people might kill me before we reach Oblivia.

<-- Prologue || Chapter 2 -->