#i guess i was wrong about jinx (depending on how you look at it ???????) but idc one is already way better than i ever thought id get :D

[cheriboms]

NO FREAKING WAY VIKTOR IS CONFIRMED ACE I CALLED THAT SHT IN 2021 !!!!!!!!!!!! WE STAY WINNING :D

[aldana-brillantina]

HERO OF MY OWN STORY, A VILLAIN IN OTHERS'.

Nobody is good in Arcane(maybe Ekko). If you watch the show you can take a side depending on who you empathize with the most or who you consider their reasons to be good and justifiable to a certain point. This is a story of sides, of perspectives.

Caitlyn is a good person, who has never had anything bad happen to her and lives in a perfect world where her city is an example of progress, she is a person raised in a peaceful environment and she never had the need to be bad or wish evil. That makes her naive, like a baby. That makes her even somewhat insensitive in very specific occasions like when she sees a reality that is not hers (You don't have parents? You're wrong) but it also makes her feel empathy because she doesn't conceive that someone can live like garbage (when she hugs that man addicted to shimmer, when she criticizes her mother and the council for the situation in undercity). But what Jinx generates is what I want to discuss. Before her encounter with her, Cait had never been in danger and bad things classified as horror movies had happened to her, that was in the past. That's when you start to think, she was good because she never had or felt the need to be anything else. Hate can warp a person, and someone like Cait who never felt it, really felt it, well. She's still a person.I think bad situations are the ones that really bring out some hard truths about a person. But also, do we all process trauma the same way? No, does that justify any wrong you do? No, it makes it understandable.I think people are very unfair to Cait, Jinx, Vi, and even Jayce. I think it's because we all judge them from one reality, our own. But they have many.

If we look at it from Piltover's perspective, the Enforcers are heroes, people who protect them from those who want to harm them and risk their lives all the time, that it is thanks to them that they sleep peacefully in their beds and that it is thanks to the council and their good management that everyone has what they need to live. If I grew up under that reality, the Zaunites are wild animals, less than them.Jayce did not belong to the elite in the beginning of the series, he really worked hard to reach the position he is in and he believes that with enough dedication one can achieve their dreams. That is not Viktor's reality, because no matter how hard he tries or how much effort he puts into it, he is a Zaunite and people will always look down on him. That is when two realities collide without letting the other be a lie. Because Jayce really tried hard and Viktor is still less.

Jinx is a killer, a monster in Piltover, the bogeyman who took the city of progress out of peace and balance. She is Silco's attack dog, his pet for most of Zaun. She is the daughter of her boss, for Sevika. His daughter, the representation of the city he always wanted and his greatest weakness for Silco. But I think the worst thing is that she is a product of a violent environment, an environment that never saw any other way to survive than by stealing like rats or kicking others, and this was Piltover's fault. How much of the damage she does is justified if we look at it from the Zaun perspective?

For Undercity, Zaun, Piltover's live off their blood and beat them in the streets since before Silco. How many of them lost families, friends and lovers at their hands? The protests are the result of rage, pain and hunger. My dad said that if there's one thing you never forget it's hunger, guys, this is a city that lives hungry and on crumbs. No, Enforcers are not heroes, they're boogeymen and it's been a reality for, if my calculations are correct, over 150 years (I'm guessing a bit here, taking into account Vi's birth date and Piltover's founding in the lore). So the Zaunite mentality is different, like, you slaughter us for a few when you slowly killed thousands over all these years? It's not right because I'm sure there are innocent people in Topside who live in ignorance of the cost of all the pleasures they enjoy and probably see them even more as animals after these "senseless" attacks. But this makes a lot of sense to them. And Caitlin along with Mel's mom, how many lives will they take, how many mothers? She would be someone else's Jinx.

I remember Silco, in his meeting to remind the chemis of their place, mentioned the mines and how they all breathed shitty air and did they remember it. They don't look old, they started young. Vander and Silco met there, young. Because, here I am playing devil's advocate, Silco despite being a shitty person did not invent child labor or all evil as some of us like to believe, he is a product and he grew up with it, it is normal for him. And yes, at some point, even before he died, he wanted something more, believed he deserved something more when many people simply continued to think they belong under the boot of topside. But he also poisoned his people and did not change the reality for younger generations, he only made it harder for them to prosper. Because in his reality, people who want to survive will do so at all costs, for him only the one who manages to reinvent himself deserves to remain standing, because that's what he did to live. Swim or you sink, there's no other option.

And isn't that the reason why Ekko and his community are still alive? They reinvented themselves, but by lifting each other up rather than tearing each other down. And that's their reality. They didn't need to leave anyone behind because they all contributed to the boat instead of swimming individually.

People who work for Silco, do they have families? Children, siblings. When you hurt someone, regardless of whether they're bad or good, it's someone's brother, someone's child, someone's friend. Someone always gets hurt, directly or indirectly. The Firelights are the good guys, probably the most well-intentioned organization in the series. That doesn't change that how much they screw up those Silco jobs (for good reason) they put other people in danger who may have children or family and they'll think, even if they're wrong, that they're the bad guys.

But did Silco have Vander and were leaders in their own movement for independence? Well, it didn't work out and they lost everything. That formed Silco. What would Ekko do if he lost everything? Even though he's done it once, can he do it again?

That's the litmus test for every character, who you are, what's left, after a great loss. You become like Jinx or Cait, who get lost in their grief and punish people regardless of whether they're responsible or not. Or like Ekko, who like a tree, resists blows because his roots are stronger.

[zerolostwalks]

"I can't be a dad, I don't know how to braid hair." "That was not what I expected you to panic about, but okay we can fix that." / writer's choice

Also for @invisibleraven who asked for the same prompt for rulie. A sort of spiritual successor to this prompt fill

Six months. 

Reggie’s not sure if he’s ever had any relationship last this long. Technically, he’s not even sure if this relationship has lasted this long. It all depended on where he wanted to start counting. 

If he started from the night he and Julie first got together. The night that was meant to be a one time thing. Then they’ve definitely hit that six month mark. 

If, instead, he counted from when they sat down and actually talked about what they were. The day they openly acknowledged that maybe this wasn’t as much of a casual thing as they were both pretending it was. Then well, it’s still the longest he’s ever been with anyone but not by much. 

Which was great, more than great, it was awesome. Reggie never knew any relationship could be like this. And he really wanted it to keep going. Which is why he wanted to talk to Julie about finally letting everyone know they were dating. 

They’d agreed to keep everything secret, first because well they weren’t exactly dating. Then because, well, after the media circus their last relationships had turned into, it was nice having something be just theirs. Plus, though he didn’t tell Julie, he didn’t want to jinx it. It was an entirely irrational chain of thinking but after so many of his past relationships had gone down the drain after he told his friends and family, he’d sort of started keeping most of his relationships secret in the early stages. 

He thought he wouldn’t have to worry about that with Julie but he didn’t want to risk it. Not at first.

Except now, he’s wondering if he was right to worry. In the few days since he’s decided to bring up the subject with her, Julie she’s been acting…off. Withdrawn, distant, avoiding being alone around him. Every quickly averted guilty gaze and hasty excuse rending another piece of his heart.

By the time Julie finally asks if they can talk, he’s worried himself to the point where he’s resigned himself to the idea that she’s about to end things with him. Unsure of what it is he’s done wrong. Maybe they should have just been more open about the whole thing from the very beginning.

He sits stiffly on the edge of her bed, fingers fidgeting with the edges of his flannel. She’s just as stiff beside him, staring at her shoes, clearly chewing the inside of her bottom lip. He can’t recall there ever being this much awkward tension between the two of them, his mind races trying to think of anything to fix whatever it is he’s broken. He can’t come up with anything but his mind runs away from him regardless.

“Julie, I’m sorry.” 

Her curls bounce around her, nearly hitting her in the face, she turns so fast to finally, finally look at him. Her eyes glittering under her plethora of fairy lights, heavy with that guilty look again under her confused brows. Definitely not helping know what to do. 

He doesn’t even realize he’s continued to ramble, more apologies if he had to guess. He honestly doesn’t know, and he pretty much forgets entirely when Julie’s hands cradle his face, gently forcing him to keep and maintain eye contact with her. 

“No, no Reggie. I’m sorry. I know I should have said something sooner but I wasn’t sure how, and I didn’t want to scare you off.”

Slowly her hands drop from his face and now she’s back to averting her gaze. “It’s not something we’ve talked about. We’ve been so careful I didn’t think we’d need to talk about it.”

Any theory and worst case scenario he’s had continues to run through his brain but not one of them fit quite right with what she’s saying. “I don’t….what’s going on?”

She sighs deeply, “I’m late.”

“Late?”

“My period, Reggie.” She says through a groan. “It’s late.”

His mind goes silent as her words sink in, realization slowly dawning on him. “You’re pregnant?” He barely manages to whisper out. “I-I can’t, Julie, I can't be a dad, I don't know how to braid hair." 

"That was not what I expected you to panic about, but okay we can fix that." She says, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, her other hand grabbing hold of his. “Besides, I don’t know if I’m pregnant yet.”

“You don’t?”

“I haven’t taken a test yet,” She guiltily laughs “Not really sure, if I’m ready. For any of it.”

He pulls his hand out of hers but only so he can wrap her tighter in a hug. “We’ll figure it out, Jules, I promise.”

[lady-griffin]

This is why I think the Joker's philosophy of – all it takes is just “one bad day” - is such an interesting way to consider things; particularly when looking at certain stories and characters.

What if the only difference between the Joker and everyone else isn’t something inherently “wrong” with him?

What if he’s right, what if, all it takes, is just “one” bad day?

And lots of people miss the point when it’s brought up – because they’ll say, well the Joker is wrong because this person didn't break or didn’t become any crueler, even though they suffered. In fact, they became a kind and good person specifically because of all the pain and suffering they experienced, and no other reason at all.

And it’s like, sure...

I guess?

But if someone doesn’t break, is that really because they were so truly good their core? Or is it because Batman saved them in time and they were able to get help afterwards?

Also, what if you endure countless amounts of suffering and you simply don’t stay “strong” enough to last long enough to be saved? Is that on you then?

Does that just mean you’re a weak person? Evil? Were you always going to become like this? Did you deserve this, by not being enough? Is it your fault for “giving in”?

Personally, I like the idea that we aren’t inherently good or evil we’re just humans and it’s what we choose that can defy us.

But sometimes, life doesn’t give us many choices, let alone any good ones, and we’re simply screwed. Or when we did choose to do good, we were punished or hurt for it.

How many of us, could actually keep taking that again and again and again? For how long could we endure that?

If we break sooner than someone else, is that really our fault? Is the other person truly so much better than us?

Personally, I really loved in the Joker movie Arthur trudging up the stairs each and every day – it’s not easy and it was getting harder and harder.

Can we really fault someone, for being so exhausted that they just can’t keep going on? Or that they want the ease of gleefully dancing down the stairs, rather than the suffering it takes to climb them up another time?

The point isn’t to justify the Joker, but recognize something within ourselves.

We all have stairs we’re struggling to go, so, I think we should just realize that it’s a possibility for us too.

Again, it’s not about the Joker, not really; it’s more about all these questions I’m throwing out there, particularly these -

How many stairs to you have to go up each and every single day?

How much can you carry up those stairs?

How much do you actually end up carrying?

How many times can you go up those before you just can’t anymore?

Even if someone has less stairs then you, that doesn’t mean they’re weaker or simply have it better. It doesn’t.

You don’t know what everyone else is going through, only yourself.

And look, maybe for some people, they simply are such amazing, good people, that all the awful things they’ve suffered, can’t break them.

But is that really because of who they are, or more so, because what they’ve endured wasn’t actually up to their specific breaking point?

Can you even know what’s your breaking point or “bad day” is, if you’ve never come face to face with it?

I mean, we all have a different breaking point inside us, it’s certainly not one trauma fits all, kind of thing.

This is also why I think Harley Quinn and Jinx are such great representatives of this philosophy, even better than Joker himself (depending on the iteration); especially Jinx and what Arcane shows us with her journey from Powder to Jinx.

For both Harley and Jinx, their choices absolutely matter in the equation of how they went from who they use to be to who they became, but we also see that sometimes life just gives you awfulness and shit choices.

Or that we’re all flawed, breakable people trying are best.

Or that we honestly can’t even begin to think of ourselves as any kind of villain or monster, simply because we know we’re a good person. We know. Don’t we?

We see how with characters throughout different stories, that their fate is impacted by what they chose do to (intentional or a mistake), but also how so much was outside their control, and all they could do was just respond and react.

For me, the whole ‘bad day’ philosophy isn’t to justify villains or bad people doing bad things in the real world, but to make us (hopefully) stay sympathetic to others and keep in mind that for all we know, that could be us. We need to in some way acknowledge what we can become if we’re pushed past our breaking points.

It’s easy to say you would never become like that person or do something like this; it’s easy to just believe nothing bad can happen to you and even if it did, you couldn’t possibly change for the worse. Not you. Not me. Not any of us.

We know who we really and are all those other people, they chose to be bad and they did so willfully, and we don’t have to worry about that, because we all know that being kind and good are such easy, automatic things that are never ever inconvenient or uncomfortable or just difficult to do at times.

We always know what’s right and wrong, because we know ourselves and we would NEVER be a monstrous villain, simply because it can’t happen, not to us. Not ever.

[mistiell]

Quirks Arcane Characters Have Pt.2

A/N: I am fresh out of ideas but I wanted to give y’all something today so here’s this. Also, I’m working on a kinda long Viktor x reader fic rn so stay tuned for that! I might put out a preview for it tomorrow depending on how much more I get done. Anyways, enjoy!

Viktor

- Has a raging sweet tooth

- one of your cupboards is dedicated to his stash of sweets

- You’re the only one who’s allowed to steal from it

- Also, this man can put away food like it’s nothing

- Like, you would never guess just looking at him, but he can eat

- If you cook/bake as a hobby, he will gladly try anything you make.

- Will eat your food 100% of the time

- It does not matter if it tastes good or not. If you make it, he will eat it.

- He steals your clothes

- He says it’s because his are in the laundry but it’s actually because they smell like you

- Dw though cause he’ll give you his to make up for it :)

Jayce

- leaves his laundry all over the bedroom

- He doesn’t do it on purpose, but it can be so annoying lmao

- does a little happy dance whenever something goes his way.

- Sometimes it’s just a little fist pump, other times it’ll be, like, a little jig

- It depends on how big the success is

- Has a dream journal

- I will not explain myself on that one

Silco

- Doesn’t like sweet things very much

- If a food is too sweet, it actually makes him nauseous

- Cannot stand when you twist around to crack your back

- He actually gags

- He keeps all of the drawings Jinx makes for him on the fridge like the proud dad he is

Vi

- Drums random beats with her fingers when she’s bored

- does it on any surface that’s available

- Willing to fight anything that looks at you the wrong way

- Doesn’t mean she will, but she is ready to at the drop of a hat

- Physically incapable of remembering to make the bed

- Will do it with you when you ask her, but always forgets otherwise

- Her logic is that she’s gonna mess it up at the end of the day anyway (I mean, same, honestly-)

Jinx

- terrified of spiders

- Will not admit it though

You, running into the room after hearing a scream and several objects being knocked over: wHAT? WHAT HAPPENED??

Jinx, standing on a chair looking like a deer in the headlights: I-... um...

- you look at where she keeps glancing and spot the issue

You: ... You screamed bloody murder... because of a spider.

Jinx: wH- NO! ARACHNOPHOBIA’S FOR WHIMPS-

- You’re gonna have to kill the spider for her

- which is gonna suck if you’re also scared of spiders but like

- she’s not gonna do it so-

Mel

- Unlike Vi, she has to make the bed in the morning

- She feels like it makes the room look too messy

- Has so many pillows

- The queen at comebacks

- Unafraid to roast the fuck out of someone given the correct circumstances

- If someone ever makes a snide comment about you, she will make them regret every decision they’ve made that’s lead them up to this moment

- Makes you little paintings every so often just to show you that she’s thinking of you

[divinegrey]

ꜱᴜɴ ɢᴏᴇꜱ ᴅᴏᴡɴ / ᴊɪɴx x ꜰ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

i wasn't in a great place mentally last night so i kinda wrote a vent piece with jinx about it. nothing like projecting onto your favorite characters to feel better. title from the song 'sun goes down' by lil nas x.

prompt: you try and find some peace on a rooftop, and for the first time, you have some company. things don't feel so lonely.

words: 2097

warnings: talks of depression, mental illness and health, brief mentions of suicide

Would it truly be that bad if you were gone? Would things change much at all?

You bring a knee to your chest, the cold wind a balm to your head that just hurts with how much you’re thinking. Sometimes, you feel stuck in your own skin with no way to get out. Pounding on the walls of your skull to break free won’t do much.

At least the view is nice from up here. Watching the sun go down from five stories up on the roof of a building you’re not even sure you’re allowed to be on makes for a nice feeling that does help ease some of the aching in your ribs. The last hour has felt incredibly hard to breathe, but the sun… it helps. Just a little bit.

Your leg swings back and forth, either of its own volition or your body just trying to keep itself warm. You will admit that you neglected to remember a jacket before leaving your family’s estate in a haste to just be alone, but you’re not quite ready to go back yet.

Some days, you wonder if you could just run away and forget about all of this.

Why am I thinking like this over the stupidest fucking things?

You scoff at yourself, putting your chin on your knee. The horizon is a glow of orange, the coming of twilight pink and purple rising from the wings into your vision. How long would it take for you to go blind if you stared at the sun? A theory to put to the test, but you’d be sad if you couldn’t see the sunset anymore. It’s nice. You like the sun. It’s warm, it’s vibrant. Reassuring, you’d say.

You exhale, running a hand over your head. You’ve had a headache all day and it’s only gotten worse. Bless your parents, you love them to pieces, but god, they can really just say the wrong things sometimes and make you feel even more horrible than you did before. Your dad does his best, you’ve always been able to rely on him, but your mom…

“Fuck,” you whisper, rubbing your temple with your fingers.

“That kinda day, huh?”

Your head snaps to the side to see a rather lanky, blue-haired woman walking on the edge of the building with her arms stretched out to the side.

“How the—”

“Don’t ask,” she cuts you off, lowering herself next to you. She looks at you and oh, her eyes are a vibrant shade of purple. “I’ve seen you up here a lot. You’re a thinker, aren’t you?”

“Depends. Who’s asking?” You reply a bit cautiously, but you feel too tired to even move away from her. You don’t fail to notice the gun on her leg or the several grenades on her hip, but you’re in no mood to run screaming.

“Jinx,” she says, and it takes you a moment to realize that Jinx is her name, a name you’ve seen on neon graffiti in the streets. A name you’ve heard your parents say; they’re enforcers. Jinx is one of their targets.

And she’s sitting right next to you with a cupcake in her hand.

“Want a bite?” Jinx asks, holding out a piece to you in between pink and blue painted fingernails.

With a small hum, you just take the cake and put it into your mouth. The sugar on your tongue is a burst of flavors. “Is this strawberry?”

“Yup,” Jinx pops the ‘p,’ and you have to wonder how someone like her is a criminal. She’s your age, has to be. Hell, she looks harmless. Jinx turns her head to you and offers you some more with a grin. “Stole it myself.”

“I guess stolen sweets do taste better,” you say, taking the half of the cupcake she gives you. It’s soft in your hands and the frosting is delicious, but the rational part of you asks, “... why are you here?”

“Why are you here?”

“Fair enough,” you mutter.

“Like I said, I see you up here a lot. Can’t blame you, it’s a fuckin’ great view,” Jinx says, swinging one of her legs in time with yours. She tilts her head back to inhale the last bit of the cupcake and dusts off her hands by clapping them together. “You look sad. Why are you sad?”

Damn, is it that obvious? You take a bite into the cupcake, licking your lips free of the frosting. Is that cream cheese frosting? Sheesh. Your shoulders raise in a brief shrug because you can’t bring yourself to say anything. You hate that you’re one of those people who will just start crying on the spot if someone even so much looks at you the wrong way. Goddamn it, not in front of a fucking stranger.

Your next inhale causes a full-body shake in your lungs, your throat closed shut. You manage to say, “Not a good day.”

Jinx nods. “Yeah, those suck, don’t they?”

You laugh, but it’s a wet-sounding noise. You wipe your eyes. “Yeah, it really fucking does.”

Jinx scoots closer and bumps her shoulder to yours. “C’mon, talk to me about it.”

“Why?” You shake your head. “You’re just— I mean, I’m a stranger, who the hell would you wanna listen to my stupid problems.”

“If they’re problems then they’re not stupid,” Jinx replies, her voice deadpan. “It’s obviously hurting you. If it ain’t something you can shoot away then… talk about it.”

She looks at you so earnestly that you find it hard to say no. So, you just devour the last part of the cupcake and take a few moments to collect yourself. Your vision is going blurry and it’s difficult to breathe again, but somehow, having Jinx sitting right next to you doesn’t make it as bad, even if you’ve only just met her. Hell, she could be planning to shoot your head off in the next ten seconds.

Maybe that’d be a mercy.

“My parents are, uh… stressing the importance of me finding an adequate suitor,” you start. “Could be anyone, guy or a girl. They’re a little old-fashioned. I’m one of the smartest students in my class and I’m trying to focus on that but all they talk about is some great son or daughter of another family they think would be a good fit for me. As if marrying someone would make all my problems go away.”

“Well, that’s bullshit,” Jinx says. In a moment of no thought, you rest your head on her shoulder Jinx tilts her head to rest on yours. “Just tell them no.”

“Not that simple.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a thing of status. Piltover politics, you’d probably hate it.”

“Oh, toots, don’t get me wrong, that stuff is fucking awful,” Jinx says, making you laugh. “Seriously, what’s up with the parties? And the tiny little snacks? How are those things supposed to feed anyone? Aren’t you Pilties overwhelmed with resources?”

“It’s fickle, I’ll tell you that. Lots of traditions that people don’t care to change because it benefits them,” you say.

A drop of water lands on Jinx’s thigh.

Oh. You’re crying.

“Sorry, I—” You pull away, putting your hand to your eyes and wiping them away. You don’t realize it, but you’ve fully turned away from Jinx to hide it. Turns out to be worthless, because Jinx puts her hand on your cheek and turns your face to look at hers.

“Hey now,” Jinx whispers. “Nothin’ to be sorry for. Shit happens, we all have bad days.”

You admit, “Sometimes I wonder if I should just fuck off and disappear.”

“If you mean running away, do it. If you mean dying, absolutely not,” Jinx says, putting a strand of your hair behind your ear. “You’re not allowed to do that.”

“Who said—”

“I did,” Jinx says and you realize that Jinx doesn’t really care about letting you finish your sentences. Most of the time. Jinx puts her arm around your shoulder and squeezes it. Shit, she’s strong, you think as your body presses into hers. “Listen sharp, toots. It’s okay to break sometimes. Happens to the best of us.” She laughs. “Aw, what am I saying? I’m no therapist. Look at me, a fucking loon giving advice to someone having a rough day.”

“You don’t seem that bad,” you counter, but Jinx just keeps laughing.

“You haven’t seen the worst of it, darlin’, I’ve got people fuckin’ up my head on the daily,” Jinx says, scratching your neck with her nails in a way that feels ultimately (and strangely) very comforting. “I blow up buildings for fun. What sane person would do that?”

“We all have our hobbies.” The joke, thankfully, lands and you find yourself smiling at the sound of Jinx cackling. She holds you tighter and you allow yourself to sink into it. But, even with the brief happiness, the sadness comes back, crashing like a wave until your eyes are teary again.

Jinx, of course, notices. “It’s okay to let it out, you know? I knew someone like you who’d bottle it up until they cracked.”

You never thought you’d be crying out all of your stress in the arms of a stranger, but weirder things have happened, and you’re not about to start complaining when Jinx fully lets you cry into her shoulder. She doesn’t even seem to be bothered by it and even when you ask, she reassures you with it’s okay, toots, I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t wanna help.

The sun has fully disappeared by the time you stop. You’re not exactly aware of how much time that is down to the minute, but the fact that Jinx is still there— if not a little fidgety and playing with your hair— means something, right?

“Thank you,” you manage to say when you finally pull away. Jinx smiles at you.

“Not a problem. You looked like you could use a hug— I ain’t the best at giving them, but I try,” Jinx replies, rubbing her fingers on a metal band around her wrist. She considers it for a few moments, then takes it off. She takes your wrist (you have no room to argue) and snaps the band around it.

The leather is snug and you run your finger over the metal engravings on the top of it. It’s a language you don’t understand. Demacian? Ionian? You look at her. “Why?”

Jinx shrugs. “It’s pretty. I found it one day, so I took it. Shiny things make me feel good. What makes you feel good?”

Huh. What a question.

“I guess… talking to my friends makes me feel nice. Building stuff makes me feel nice. Inventing.”

“Then go do those things. Fuck your parents, you don’t have to do what they say. Some parents are assholes.”

“I love them, I do, they’re just a little misguided.”

Jinx huffs. “Aren’t they all?”

Touche.

You hold your wrist tightly. Part of you has a feeling you won’t take that leather band off again.

In the distance, sounds of shouting catch your attention. Jinx snickers.

“That’s my cue. Gotta go, toots,” Jinx says. She leans over and to your surprise, cups your face and gives you a long kiss on the forehead. You think she might’ve left a mark because of her lipstick, but you’re a little too stunned to say much about it. Her eyes twinkle in the moonlight. “One step at a time, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you whisper.

“Good.” She stands up and starts walking away. She gets to the edge of the building before turning around. “Oh! Uh… you’re beautiful. Just wanted to say that.”

Your cheeks burn. You try and hold back the smile but ultimately fail. That makes Jinx grin from ear to ear.

“Remember, the world ain’t worth shit without you in it, alright?” Jinx continues, giving you a finger-guns gesture.

“Will I see you again?”

She laughs. “Definitely! I’ll find you, toots, don’t worry.”

“Where are you—”

“Bye!” She drops off the side of the building, her pigtails flying up into the air until she’s out of sight completely. You don’t have time to follow her, but below, you do see a shock of blue hair sprinting through the streets, followed by a bright pink-colored smoke bomb that throws off an entire group of enforcers off their trail.

Against all odds, you laugh.

You look down at the bracelet.

Things will be okay. You’ll figure it out.

The moon shines down on you and you smile. One step at a time.

~~~~~

A/N: i actually felt a lot better after writing this. take care of yourself guys, you're never alone in this world. there will always be someone there for you. to my best friend, thank you for being there for me.

[monomonomagines]

Could I get a thing where gundam, fuyuhiko, kazuchi and ryoma are getting all hot and steamy with their s/o but then.... S/os cat starts meowing and will not BE QUIET.

I’d be honored to do this request for you Anon! I love all of these boys and this scenario is hilarious as well. Thank you so much for being so patient with us taking so long to get to your request, I hope that you’ll enjoy these as much as I did writing them!

Gundham

things had grown hot between the two of you as one kiss turned to far more.

He was lost in the moment, heat flooding his body as the two of you touched and kissed the other, hungry for more.

It was because of this passionate fervor that you both felt that you hadn’t noticed your cat in the other room meowing at first. That quickly changed as your little feline friend decided to make their entrance though, meowing loudly as if to yell out its own greeting. 

Pulling away from your current makeout session you try to shoo the little guy away, giving a quick shoosh to it before going back to your previous antics. This time, sitting on Gundham’s lap and pulling him closer as you pressed your lips desperately to his.

That was to no avail however, as your cat decided that they would not stop meowing whatsoever. Instead, all the furball did was keep meowing nonstop as if it wanted to block you from getting anything.

This time Gundham gave it a command. Yelling about how it’d, “respect the Overlord of Ice and his chosen mate,” silencing it for a moment.

That moment was short-lived though. As soon as Gundham pulled his arms around you and began kissing you again the cat just kept meowing.

Pulling away frustratedly you let out a sigh as Gundham and you stand to see what your furry pal needs.

“What do you want you fiend? Do you dare challenge the Overlord of Ice, Gundham Tanaka to a duel!?”

And now Gundham was picking fights with your cat. Just great maybe he’d try to tame them while he’s at it because you were well aware by now that tonight was not ending how you had hoped it would a moment ago.

Fuyuhiko

Despite his tough exterior Fuyuhiko was always soft when it came to you. He was yakuza so he didn’t experience gentle things often nor did he want to hurt you so he tried his hardest to treat you the best he possibly could, that going for when things got more intimate as well.

Fuyuhiko didn’t often plan for days where the two of you would get to be so close other than for special times but today happened to be an exception.

The two of you weren’t supposed to do much more than sleeping together after your date earlier in the evening and you were wiped. You just weren’t wiped enough to stop from teasing him a little however and with just a few nips and kisses at his neck he had decided that today was a special occasion after all.

Situating himself on top of you, Fuyuhiko quickly got to work with getting his revenge, nipping and kissing all along your neck and collar bone. The raw passion he was using to ravage you already was enough to make your head spin even making it so that you didn’t even realize that there was a soft mew that sounded nearby.

Fuyuhiko didn’t seem to hear it either, starting to get handsier with you as he grabbed at your body only to pause as he heard that same sound you did. It was louder now and it was indeed a meow as your cat had been under your bed the whole time, not taking kindly to being disturbed.

Growling in annoyance, Fuyuhiko tries to resume his makeout with you. If he put enough passion into it he was sure the damn fleaball wouldn’t disturb them and would eventually leave on its own. It wasn’t typical for your cat to stay long in your room anyway.

But, even with his new attempts that meowing just wouldn’t stop. Now the cat decided to meow louder and louder each time until Fuyuhiko could do nothing but throw his hands up in defeat.

“Fuck this! I’m not in the mood anymore!” He hisses out as he moves to lay next to you like he had previously, the cat soon jumping up onto the bed at your feet.

“Oh fuck off!” Fuyuhiko yells again, earning a small laugh from you as your cat lays by his feet.

This was going to be a long night wasn’t it?

Kazuichi

Kazuichi was always unlucky with animals but he would have never imagined he’d be this unlucky.

He had always liked to try to initiate getting more intimate with you when he wasn’t too awkward to act but more than half the time he wasn’t confident enough or his timing or luck were horrible.

Today he had felt that he had finally gotten lucky when it was just the two of you alone and you had initiated a makeout session, pulling him close to you as you pressed your lips to his fervently peppering him with kisses all over.

He wanted this more than anything and there was no way in hell he was missing this opportunity. You may have started your session in the laundry room but he didn’t mind that in the slightest. Using all the strength he can muster between your kisses he pushes you against the washing machine, encouraging you to sit on it so that you can go further maybe.

He wasn’t sure if his advances would work so when he saw you break away just to sit on top of the machine and pull him right back in for a kiss he was elated. He was going to get more than just kisses he was certain!

As Kazuichi got to kiss you more he began to grow more confident. He now was giving you nips and kisses all down your neck occasionally opting just to trail his sharp teeth against the sensitive skin. Nothing could ruin this moment he thought until he heard a loud sound coming from behind him.

Not meaning to jump, Kazuichi smacks his head against your chin causing both of you pain as your ears pick up on the sound as well. It was your cat meowing at the two of you from the other side of the room.

Narrowing his eyes Kazuichi groans. “Get out of here! We’re in the middle of something!”

Seeming to have shut up for now the cat merely looks at him earning a sigh of relief from him. He didn’t jinx this he has a chance right now.

As soon as Kazuichi presses his lips back to yours you press into him, reciprocating his advances only to be startled once again by frequent loud meows coming from your cat.

Now ripping away from you, Kazuichi yells at the cat, eyes tearing up as he agonizes over the current situation.

“Ahhh shut up shut up shut up, you’re ruining the moment!”

Ryoma

Having intimate times was extremely rare with Ryoma. Not because he didn’t like to be close to you though, it was just because he didn’t often want that sort of thing from you.

He always had his own issues with opening up and being so close to you but you were fine with that. Normally you both were content just to be clinging onto each other under some warm covers while watching some TV with your cat in the bed to give you company.

Today didn't happen to be one of your usual days though. It was a rare event today. Ryoma had initiated a few kisses that turned to more soon after.

It wasn’t his intent you were sure to actually start anything other than a few kisses and snuggles but today sparks were flying and you didn’t care why they were or how. All you wanted was more of him you thought, as you pulled his small form closer to yours.

As the two of you grew more and more passionate with your kisses you could tell that it’d get a bit handsy at least so you didn’t mind when Ryoma lightly grabbed at your form. His touches are almost hesitant, gentle even, as if he was asking for permission before doing more and you knew he had you permission.

Pulling away to look at you he asks with a breathy voice if he can touch you more, earning a fast nod in approval from you.

Keeping the same gentle smile he always looks at you with on his face, Ryoma continues what he was doing before when suddenly he freezes. You didn’t quite understand if you did anything wrong but before you could ask you understood what he froze for as you heard a meow from the foot of the bed.

Detaching himself from you again Ryoma gives you a look as if to say, ‘what now?’ as you both turn to look at your cat making themself comfortable at the end of your shared bed.

It wasn’t a big deal you thought, the passion from before blinding you so you decided not to answer him, pulling him back down into a kiss like before only to be interrupted once more by your cat meowing, only it being louder this time.

Groaning in frustration you remove yourself this time to look at your feline friend simply staring right back at you. Your now ongoing staring contest with the cat being broken by Ryoma lightly laughing, an even rarer occurrence than anything else.

It seemed that your cat and you were both aware of the miracle that happened as you both broke your sudden contest to stare at him. A warm smile on his face as he lowly chuckles at the scene.

“I think they’re jealous.” He cooly says reaching a hand out to signal for your cat to come closer to him. An invitation they quickly accept as they rub and nuzzle their face against his small but dependable hand.

You guess tonight was a bust though it wasn’t as if you minded. It was far more worth it to see him smiling than to get to be intimate.

[katsukikitten]

Warning : 18 plus AU, adult themes, collage au

Part one Part two

"Mina, I really don't see why I have to wear this Bikini, I prefer a cutout  one piece." You say sipping your iced coffee as Mina packs her beach bag with sponges, rags, and tons of bottled water. You wait impatiently by the door of your shared, temporary dorm. 

"Becauuuusssse, I already told you! That Instagram post I made of all of us blew up, even with my large following. Remember how many people we brought in last time?"

"Yes, we made 45% more profit…" You bite at the inside of your lip as you think, adjusting your white t-shirt so it sat nicely above the black bikini bottoms. You weren't one to argue with numbers.

"Well now with the combined efforts with the shirtless boys we can actually use that allowance you got us for unlimited kegs." 

"No, Mina new windows and installation. They said the house was hot, which means winter will be brutal." You roll your eyes, "Unless you want to freeze this winter, personally I have no problem with freezing." 

She giggles at your joke, pulling you along as if you were the reason for being late instead of her. Mina spies Uraraka and Jiro waving them towards the two of you before she whispers softly to you.  

"Just, try to have fun today no matter what." 

You wondered if that was an omen, a jinx or if she already knew what lied ahead. Either way you would not being having too much fun. 

The four of you arrive just before the first customer's begin to line up and already you want to organize. Counting the heads until you see a certain ash blonde causing your normally cold blood to run hot. Too hot. 

"Mina?" Your voice dips low, as ice dances in the air around you, "What is he doing here?" 

"Who?" She plays dumb as the other two women greet the group of men. Harsh garnet cut to you as you steel your glare. 

"Oi, Icy Brat. What are you fucking doing here?" His voice grates your nerves and for a moment you see red. Thinking of freezing him and going about your day. Instead you choose to give him the cold shoulder, averting your gaze. 

"We're doing pairs for washing today. I'm glad you could make it" Kirishima beams, coming in for a hug, you take a step back offering him a polite smile. His smile doesn't lose an ounce of shine, it makes you respect him a bit more. 

"I'll handle the cash and direct cars then." You say pointing to the box, ready to grab the fanny pack and head to the street. Denki grabs onto you gently, releasing you as if you were hot to the touch.  

"No it has to be a boy girl ratio. I promise the outcome will be worth it, please!" This won't be the first or last time both Denki and Mina beg for your help. You look around at what must be their subconscious pairings. Jiro calls Denki over as the first car pulls up, Kirishima seems to wait patiently, his eyes lingering on bubble gum pink skin, while Sero is already guiding cars with Uraraka in tow. 

That leaves you and Bakugou who has his arms crossed, sneering at the customers. 

Your hope dwindles that today would be a good day.

Sero points to a blue car indicating that this was going to be yours to share with the hot head. Sighing you waltz over in your black wedge heels and begin your work. Bakugou looms over the wet car, sponge in hand. The two of you work in silence until the third car, a red coupe with a couple inside about to receive the show of their bi lives. 

They comment on the tension they feel between the two of you right away, they notice the glares and lack of communication. Even making small jokes about how funny it would be to see one of those cliche water fights between the two of you. 

"Icebrat, you're doing it fuckin wrong." Bakuogu barks, you ignore him, continuing to wash the car. Anger burns in his chest, never understanding why you acted so high and mighty. 

"Gonna give me the cold shoulder are ya?" He growls, eyeing the dirty water before a thought crosses his mind, "Love to see you ignore this."

His voice is sadistic before he throws the dirty water across the car onto your frame, suds and water cling to your white t, showcasing the black bikini top underneath. Your temper spikes enough that your shirt collects frost at the seams before you slowly remove it. Glaring at the hot head when you're done.  

"Fuck." The couple say aloud grabbing onto each other as they watch the scene unfold. Your powerful frame guiding you with a deadly clack of your heels. Your hands find the bucket of water Mina and Kirishima were using, your fingers tap the bucket and the water forms a film of ice at the top. Meanwhile Bakugou goes to "correct" whatever mistake you were making. The couple's eyes watch the unsuspecting Bakugou reach up their hood to clean a particular spot before water is dumped over his spiky blonde hair. 

You tap the back of his shirt making it stiff with frost, when he moves to face you it shatters away from his body. Revealing the sculpted plans of his abs and the scars of untold stories. 

If it weren't for all of that ice water Bakugou would have blown you sky high, he comes close to you. Huffing as his eyes become wild and wide. All you offer him is a deadly polite smile as you stare him in the face, unbothered and unphased by his towering presence. 

"What? I was only getting the spot you missed." When he says nothing you allow yourself to relish the silence, placing your hand on his shoulder capping it in obvious ice. 

"Are you giving me the cold shoulder now?" The question is nonchalant before you signal to Sero for another car as you walk to get more supplies. Sero whistles at a bristling Bakugou before leaning into the driver's side window to give directions. Before he can ask for a tip the driver is offering a twenty dollar bill while his eyes are flickering between yourself and Bakugou. 

"Mark us down as a regular." He sighs as his girlfriend does too.  Sero happily tucks the money into the fanny pack.

"Will do." 

Somehow the two of you manage quips and water pranks back and forth without killing each other. Making it through the long day but earning a high amount of tips. Mina clings to you as you count cash, sweat on her brow as the sun settles into an unbearable afternoon heat. 

"Uuugghhh how much longer mom?" She asks, sighing at your icy touch. You roll your eyes as you count the last stack. 

"Not too much hush." You place the money into the lock box, wondering how the hell the eight of you made so much money in just seven hours. 

"But I'm starving! Plus we still have to pick our rooms!" 

"You're that excited to move all of our items into what was a male dominated space?" You ask coolly as Jiro and Uraraka lean against the collapsible table. 

"I'm stoked." Jiro comments, her earjacks twirling themself as her eyes wander.

"It will be nice to be settled before the fall term." Uraraka sighs looking down at her phone, idly scrolling through her socials. The two women nod as the guys approach. You purposely ignore the hot head and allow your eyes to meet Denki's, although it takes him a few long seconds to meet your gaze. He was a little preoccupied with a black and white checkered bikini with matching Van's. 

"Earth to space cadet." Sero nudges his ribs subtly pointing to you as you gaze at him as a teacher would a student caught daydreaming. He clears his throat. 

"Well it seems your theory has paid off. We've made quite a bit of cash today." You lock the box before standing, reluctantly adding, "The pairing of female and male will be standard from here on out. Although we should only need a few more fundraising events depending on what the house needs. Which I trust won't be too much."

Three of the four boys shared a concerned look while the fourth knows how bitter your words were going to taste.

"We'll meet you at the house." 

❄💥❄💥❄💥❄💥❄💥❄💥❄💥❄💥

The four of you cannot deny the excitement you feel as yall walk up to the historical home. The upper balcony seems to wrap around the back but only partially in the front while the porch below stretches across the front of the home. The siding had been repainted and the banisters above and below are wrapped in what will be sparkling lights at night. A stately set of double doors catch your eye before they yawn open by the hands of Denki Kaminari who is trying not to visibly sweat. 

"Home sweet home!" Denki steps aside to let the four of you in with your belongings. Your eyes dissect the place as you press your tongue into your bottom lip, trying your best to keep your cool. This place needed a lot of what you deemed necessities. You notice the familiar dining room table as the foldable card table they had at the carwash surrounded by the cheap camping chairs you thought you had replaced. 

The only decent looking room was the living room and even then it was only thanks to you. The leather arm chairs were placed haphazardly around the new sectional you had delivered as it circled around the TV you demanded from the dean.

Denki watches your manicured nails rap against your skin as you think.  

"The window installation and insulation went smoothly?" 

"Yes." Sero answers as your eyes wander around the room landing on your mattress and platform bed frame resting against the wall in the nook by the study turned bedroom. 

"We didn't know where to put it since the bedrooms aren't sorted out for you lovely ladies just yet." Kirishima smiles but your mind isn't on why it is there. No, your mind is wondering why there is only one.

"Was I the only one to order my mattress?" You look towards your sorority who holds a guilty look before you glance at the three men who mirror the women. 

"Well I guess that is for the better. We can spend extra on them now anyway." 

"Are you sure? I thought the budget was tight." Denki asks, earning a rare boasting smile from you. You make your way into the kitchen and six ducklings follow. Your nail taps the stainless steel of a high end commercial fridge. 

"It was tight before but not after I got this." Smile remaining on your lips as you speak, "It was 3,000 off due to some cosmetic dents but I got it as a donation. An alumni donation." 

"Wow for free?!" Denki and Sero ask in unison, amazed by your skill. 

"For free boys." 

"Wow, Bakugou might love that fridge even more now. Every time he cooks he mentions how great it is." Kirishama laughs but a certain name causes you to freeze to the tiled floor. 

"Bakugou…" You turn to Mina with a deadly glare as ice crystals form in your hair, "As in Bakugou lives here?!" 

The silence echoes throughout the kitchen and all that can be heard is the hum of the fancy fridge. Just as you're about to snap, Denki intervenes. 

"Uh. Did you want to talk bedrooms?" 

"YES!" The girls yell pulling the boys back into the safety of the living room as you collect yourself for a moment. 

God you hated the effect his name had on you but even more so how stupid you felt. As if this was some half baked plan to leave out the important detail that the man you loathed most would be under the same roof. Finally after a few deep breaths the ice in your hair melts and you step into the living room with a level head. Reminding yourself that this house was going to be rent free. You would have a full sized kitchen and your own bedroom, this was a much better option than the dorms even if it meant Bakugou came with it. 

"There is one bedroom upstairs not claimed, the rest of us guys are up there too. Then that door next to the nook is the study, it's not huge but it has a lot of shelves and big enough to fit a queen. Um there are two bedrooms in the basement but it's not totally dark down there. Plus the second living room with the pong table is down there. What else?" Denki taps his finger to his lips, "Oh half bath is here. Full bathroom is upstairs and there is technically another full bath in the basement, it's just more 'open concept'." 

"Open concept?" Jiro asks, earjacks perking with curiosity. 

"He means no walls. Just a toilet and a shower head chilling next to the laundry sink and washer, dryer." Sero explains, again you tongue the inside of your bottom lip. 

"Girl huddle!" Mina shouts, pulling the three of you into a small circle, "I personally really would like one of the bedrooms in the basement. I'm loud and I wouldn't mind the late hours that come with the pong table. I am the QUEEN after all." 

"I want a bedroom in the basement too. You know my music gets super loud!" Jiro pipes in. Uraraka wants to say something but politely waits for you, instead you gesture for her to speak first. 

"I...I would be much more comfortable in the study. I don't mind it being small." Her brown eyes bore holes into the floorboards as you read between the lines. 

"I would be much more comfortable on a different level than all four men." Is what she means, you sigh internally, swearing this will be the last compromise you make for these women. 

"Then I'll take the room upstairs." You state before telling the boys the arrangements. You look at your watch to check the time. 

"If we leave now in the college van and trailer I borrowed we could get everyone else's mattresses tonight." You look around the room before asking, "So where is Bakugou anyway?" 

The three boys glance at one another, Kirishima speaks up. 

"He had a….previous obligation." He laughs, rubbing the back of his head. You narrow your eyes. 

"Let me call him. This is more important than whatever he is doing. It clearly isn't school related." You hold out your hand for the red head's phone, he pulls it from his pocket reluctantly. 

It rings before going to voicemail but that's never stopped you before. You call until he picks up screaming into the receiver. 

"WHAT THE FUCK I TOLD YOU NOT TO FUCKING CALL SHITTY HAIR!!!" 

"Enough with the dramatics, what could be more important than your other roommates deciding bedrooms in the house?" 

"Is that?!" A female voice screeches your name once she figured out who you are, "Listen here slut, I'm in the middle of getting my back broken and…" 

"Bakugou we are leaving in fifteen minutes. I advise that you get here on time. Otherwise we will leave without you." You interrupt the angry booty call. 

"And if I fucking don't, Icebrat?" You roll your eyes at the nickname as you sigh. 

"Then I'll spend your portion of the allowance on something else. Fifteen minutes." 

"OI!" Bakugou shouts before a woman's voice comes across the speaker.

"Stop ignoring me bitch and stop talking to my man!"

"Oh sweetheart your 'man' is only going to your place cause he sleeps on a crusty ass futon not because he actually likes you." Your voice is honeyed in venom before dipping low, "Bakugou be home or you forfeit the fucking funding for your bed."  

With that you hang up, passing Kirishima's phone back to him. Everyone shares a glance as they remember just how icy you can be, there was no threat in your voice. Only a promise to Bakugou. 

"Sero be a dear and help me take my mattress up." You ask lifting the box with the unbuilt frame with ease. Suddenly skittish Sero takes a moment to grab your mattress as Denki helps him bring it up the stairs but abandons Sero by the bathroom at the top of the stairs, forcing the tape hero to face this challenge alone. Sero only hopes the room neighboring yours is shut and he sighs with relief when it is. 

He helps you set the items into your room that is located in the front of the house.  You take in the view of the perfectly sized yet small bedroom. Two large sets of sliding doors that meet in the corner force you to place your bed against what you assume is the shared wall of one of your roommates. Sero swallows thickly as he realizes just why Denki abandoned him. He can see it in your eyes, the curiosity sparkling as you turn to face him, you're going to inquire about the room next door. 

Please Gods do not ask him. 

Don't fucking asking him please. 

"Who do I owe the pleasure?" You smile sweetly, praying it is Kirishima or Sero at the very least. Hell you'd even take Denki who sings loudly off key, as long as it wasn't Bakugou. You watch the raven hair man's face fall, his dark eyes avoiding yours as he answers and yet somehow you already knew. 

"Ba-Bakugou's" The room drops twenty degrees as the floor freezes beneath your feet, snow floating gently to the floor as Sero's breath puffs in the new found tundra. 

"SERO I NEED YOUR HELP MAN! JIRO'S DRUM SET AND AMPS ARE HEAVY!" Denki calls from downstairs, saving Sero's hide. The man rushes and catches himself from slipping before he practically jumps down the entire set of stairs. 

"How did she take it?" Mina whispers before following Sero's eyes to where your bedroom should be. Urakaka comes from the study with snowflakes dusting her hair and a shiver. 

"Well at least I'll never be hot in the summer." 

[apiratewhopines]

Thanks to @teamhook for the the eye candy :)

In the Offing

Chapter 16 — Heart of Darkness

Summary: In which our heroine buries multiple hatchets

Notes: This one gets a little gruesome!

Chapter 16 on AO3

“Some mistakes get made

That’s alright, that’s okay

In the end it’s better for me

That’s the moral of the story babe”

-Moral of the Story, Ashe

In the dead of night, her phone started ringing. Looking at the clock, she tried to shake off the fog that threatened to pull her back under. Reaching blindly for her cell and seeing the ID, she groggily answered, “What do you want, Killian?”

“Bloody hell, Swan! If I had known you would get in trouble the second I walked out, I never would have left,” he swore, words breaking with stress. She imagined his hair looked wild at this point if his voice was any indication. “Are you alright?”

“Finally got around to reading the paper, I see,” she replied without emotion as she shifted to sit up in bed. Unable to keep an accusation from seeping into her tone, she continued, “Yes, I’ve had a day to get used to the idea that I’m the most hated person in town but it’s nice of you to join the party. Better late than never I suppose.”

“Liam and I went out on the sailboat, we didn’t get back until a couple of minutes ago. Surely you don’t think I would have left you to fend for yourself if I had known,” he rebuked. When she didn’t say anything, he said grimly, “Or maybe that’s exactly what you thought. Love, you’ll not get rid of me that easily. Can I come over? As a friend.”

She hated that he felt like he had to clarify his intentions. Hated even more that she craved his presence. “No, I’m okay. I need to sleep. I...I’m glad you called though,” she confessed, too tired to maintain the facade that she didn’t care.

“Emma, please—”

“I’ll talk to you later,” she cut him off and hung up before she could change her mind. As much as it hurt, the lines between them were blurred enough without him holding her while she slept which is exactly what would happen if he showed up in the middle of the night. She was beginning to realize that a platonic friendship with him would be impossible. For them it would be all or nothing.

She drifted back to sleep and dreamed of the cottage. The sunshine softly illuminating the porch in the early morning, tiny feet running barefoot across the wood floors, laughter filling every corner of the home. She awoke hours later with a deep sense of peace that was foreign to her.

—

The seagulls squawked longingly as they flew back and forth across the marina docks in search of food left behind by visitors. Emma sat on the bench looking out at the ocean, the heat of the day warming the metal in a pleasant way. While she didn’t want to admit it, she knew she had come to this place in search of Killian.

Instead someone found her.

“I was hoping I would run into you soon,” Liam greeted her as he settled on the bench. As was his norm, he didn’t crowd or even look in her direction. His gaze was fixed out on the distant waves. The stony countenance that always graced his face, the one that used to irritate her so, had somehow changed into a soothing kind of companionship that she had missed.

“Well, you did and here we are. Two grumpy Bostonians stuck in a picturesque nightmare,” she commented, only half joking. She realized that even before their fight, she hadn’t really spent time with him in weeks. Sneaking a look out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the gash on his head was healing nicely, only a thin red line marking the place where the injury occurred. His arm was still in a sling and probably would be for a couple more weeks but he wasn’t as stiff as he had been. Still stiff of course, this was Liam Jones after all, but pompously so instead of painfully.

“Too right,” he agreed. “Although I think you might have gotten the worst of it.”

“Trip’s not over yet. Don’t jinx yourself,” Emma pointed out with a grimace. “Thank you for the transfer. I wasn’t sure you’d come through.”

“Have I ever not lived up to my end of the bargain, Emma? You did what you said you would, you found half the missing persons on our list, doing it admirably and with your normal tenaciousness. If I ever made you think I doubted your abilities or didn’t count you as important, I regret it. I didn’t bring you along as a...what did you call it? A pretty blonde distraction.”

“I haven’t given up, you know. I still want to help you. It’s only that my priorities have to shift for a while,” she told him. Saying that she needed to save her own skin first would have been too melodramatic but she trusted he understood what she meant. He usually did.

“What they printed in the paper was out of line,” he said heatedly. “It was a smear job and it means nothing. You aren’t alone, Emma. You have friends and we will sort this out. It is a fine tangle though.”

“I’m sure it was a shock to read about my past in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror. At least it was for me. There is a reason I like keeping to myself.”

“I knew about your past the second time I talked with Henry, lass,” he laughed. “I think he was feeling me out as a potential suitor. The hope of youth is vast and diabolical.”

Chuckling because that sounded exactly like something Henry would do, she reached out and lightly slapped his shoulder. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m too good for the likes of you, even with a criminal history and fresh charges pending.”

“Aye, you’ll get no argument from me,” he agreed. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he muttered, “Speaking of women who are too good for me, Elsa and I are getting married this Saturday.”

Eyes wide, she gaped at him in surprise. The tips of his ears were a faint pink and his lips had softened into a satisfied grin. “I don’t know what to say. Congratulations! That’s really fast.”

“Or really slow depending on how you look at it,” he responded. “I’ve loved her for years and I don’t want to wait another minute. Her sister will be in town on a short break for the holiday so we decided it was the perfect time. We want you to be there. After all if it weren’t for you, I’d still have my head stuck up my ass.”

Snorting, she nodded. “That’s probably true. Honestly, I thought you were an incurable case so I guess you deserve some credit too. But Liam, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I have this shooting hanging over my head and people will talk. I don’t want to detract from your day.”

“Hang them. Have I ever cared what people thought? The whole town will be there whether they are invited or not so what better way to show our solidarity.”

Forcing herself to be truthful, she added, “Things between me and Killian are...unsettled. He might be uncomfortable if I show up.”

Looking at her for the first time, his eyes crinkled in a way that was reminiscent of his brother. “No kidding. His moping around the house and general state of sullenness were my first clues. Trust me, he won’t mind.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he’s smitten with you. Has been since the moment we stepped foot in town,” he said in a voice that made it clear he thought it was obvious. Smiling out at the horizon, he explained, “Killian has taken to you in a way I’ve never seen before. In the interest of fulfilling my role of wing man, I have to confess that he was on me to tell you about the map and treasure from the minute we made it back to the cottage after the accident, long before you had formed an attachment. I’m sure he’ll give you plenty of reasons to be angry with him in the future but place the blame for this one where it belongs. Squarely on me.”

“I think I may have already burned that bridge,” Emma declared, her smile a sad answer to his.

“Good that my little brother is an excellent swimmer then,” Liam countered, standing up and facing her. “Come to the wedding. Then we’ll get back to work.”

—

Emma walked into the loft several hours later discouraged and annoyed. Having spent a good part of the afternoon at the docks, she decided to stop off at the hospital on the way home to check on August. It was there that the full import of her situation hit her. The ICU staff followed her every move, never leaving her alone with her friend as if they were afraid she would rip out his heart with her bare hands as soon as their backs were turned.

So much for innocent until proven guilty.

Mary Margaret’s sunny smile welcomed her as she stepped across the threshold. “Emma, you just missed Killian. He’d been waiting for you for hours.”

“Hmm” was her only reply. As much as she might want to see him, after her chat with Liam she wasn’t sure she was ready to. There were things she needed to settle in her own mind before she interacted with him again. It wasn’t fair to keep jerking him around. She was going to have to pick a path and stick to it. The problem was her mind was set on one direction and her heart was urging her in another.

“Uh oh, I know that look,” Mary Margaret commented. “You’re reverting.”

Amused in spite of the dark turn of her thoughts, Emma asked, “Reverting? What do you mean?”

“You’re pulling on that armor of yours and you’re readying for battle. Am I right?”

“I’m tired. That’s all. The hospital staff clearly believes everything they read,” she explained while moving into the kitchen to get something to drink. “It’s one thing to think someone capable of murder but it’s another to think they would be stupid enough to do it in broad daylight in a well monitored hospital room.”

“Most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to question the things that people present to them as facts,” she observed sagely. “Regardless, I know what you need to get out of this funk.”

“Do you? And what would that be?”

“We’re going out for a girl’s night. I’ll call Elsa and Ruby. We’ll get dressed up and we’ll show the town that they are wrong about you.”

“I’m not sure there is enough makeup in the world to change their opinions now,” Emma joked, not completely averse to proposal. “I’m also not sure I’m ready to see another story in the paper about how I callously partied my way through Storybrooke while August is on his deathbed.”

“It’s Storybrooke, Emma. How much trouble do you think we could get into? I’m not suggesting an orgy. It’s dinner with people who care about you. Maybe a few drinks.”

Nearly spitting out her orange juice when the word orgy slipped from Mary Margaret’s mouth, Emma shook her head in disbelief and teased, “What in the world has David been doing these last couple of days? You know when I met you, I would have sworn that you didn’t know any four-letter words.”

“Well now I know all of them,” she joked back, her cheeks flushing and eyes dancing with the deep emotion that only comes from being in love and being loved thoroughly and repeatedly. “Get changed. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Hours later, Emma had to admit she was glad she didn’t put up too much of a fight. Elsa and Ruby rounded out their merry little band quite nicely, the cool elegance of the former a stark contrast to the vivid earthiness of the latter. Overall they were a nice blend of independent, intelligent women who, for whatever reason, seemed to have her back.

She also appreciated that they were giving the topic of her brief arrest a wide berth. There was no better way to kill a buzz than to give into harsh realities. They kept the conversation light, discussing Elsa’s imminent wedding and Mary Margaret’s newfound saltiness. Ruby sighed and said, “Everyone is pairing up. It’s about to be nothing but babies and boringness. Then Emma will leave and nothing exciting will ever happen again.”

“That’s me, the bringer of excitement,” Emma commented dryly as her phone vibrated. Seeing that Henry was calling, she excused herself and went to stand outside so she could hear him. She watched a steady stream of people make their way into the bar as Henry begged to fly into town for Liam’s wedding. Figuring her son’s well-informed status must have come from the man himself, she laughed at his logical arguments for the last minute trip. Starting with the ability to celebrate the holiday with her and ending with meeting her new friends, he laid out his reasons as if he were forty instead of ten.

She hadn’t realized the individuals she had met since her arrival had trickled into their conversations so much but the casual way he referred to half a dozen people he had never met drove the point home. Tempted as she was to give in to his earnest and well-thought out pleas, she did not think it was a good time for a visit. She needed to clear her name first. Explaining that there would be time to meet everyone later and promising to send pictures of the ceremony, which effectively made the decision for her about attending, she ended the call and leaned back against the outer wall.

She heard gravel crunching under footsteps before she heard his voice. “Fancy meeting you here,” Graham said as he approached her.

“This is where all the cool kids hang out apparently,” she remarked, turning toward him. “How are you doing, Sheriff?”

“I’ve been better,” he admitted, stopping a couple of feet away and taking up a similar position against the wall. They stood there in silence for several minutes, neither one sure what to say now that they were alone and not interrogating each other. “The forensics came back. The gun was wiped clean. No prints.”

“Dead end then,” she observed, not particularly surprised. If it had been that easy, the guy would have already been caught.

“Not quite. You’d be surprised at the number of criminals who wipe the weapon and completely forget about the bullets. We pulled a partial off one. No hits yet but it definitely doesn’t match Liam’s or yours. They are also analyzing an unusual substance they found on the rags. We may still get lucky.”

“So, what does that mean?”

“It means you are no longer my prime suspect, Emma,” Graham explained with a small smile. “You can go back to hating me with a clear conscience.”

“I never hated you,” Emma argued, sheepishly looking at him from under her lashes. “I just didn’t trust you.”

Laughing softly, his lilting voice carried to her with a hint of delight. “I do love how direct you are.” Gazing into her eyes searchingly, he asked with a quirked brow, “Why is that? What did I do within minutes of meeting you to put you off me so completely?”

“You lied,” she said simply. Returning his searching glance, she took in his handsome face and lean body. In another time or place, if things had been different, she wondered if there would have been something between them. The odd tension stretched around them, forming a little bubble where the outside world didn’t exist. Deciding she had nothing to lose, she asked, “What were you really doing in the woods the night of our accident?”

“Clever girl,” he complimented her with a wink that showed he was teasing rather than patronizing her. With a shrewd look, he asked her, “Do you trust me now?”

“I think you’ve earned a little faith from me,” she replied, curious about the sudden shift in his demeanor. “Why?”

“It might be better if I show you,” he said mysteriously. A second later, her hand was clasped in his and he was pulling her toward his cruiser. “Let’s go.”

Sending a text to her friends to let them know something had come up and she wouldn’t be rejoining them, she buckled herself into the passenger seat and questioned humorously, “Are you taking me to the wolf’s den?”

“There really have been complaints about wolves,” he defended. “Although they are more likely to be coyotes in this area. But you’re right. I wasn’t being honest because I wasn’t sure what I had found. This town has a violent history and this particular investigation I’ve been keeping under wraps. I haven’t even told Nolan about it.”

“So why me? Why now?”

“I don’t know, Emma,” Graham responded truthfully. “There’s something about you. I’ve always been on your side, you just didn’t want to see it. I have a feeling you’re going to be the one to solve everything.”

“Everything is a tall order,” she groused. “I’d settle for finding who shot August.”

They fell into silence as the buildings gave way to trees. In no time, they were approaching the to town line. They emerged from the cruiser at nearly the exact point Liam’s SUV had left the road. With a dubious look at her sandals, he said, “You going to be okay for a walk?”

Mimicking his doubtful glance, she countered, “Are you offering to carry me the whole time?” Before he could say anything, she stepped off the pavement and ordered, “Lead the way.”

Even with the high-powered police flashlights, it was slow going in the inky darkness of the night with the overgrown forest floor threatening to trip them with every footfall. They had probably been hiking arm-in-arm for about thirty minutes, Emma having given up the pretense of making it on her own shortly after they started. “Are you taking me to our crash site?”

“I’m taking you to a crash site,” he corrected. Huffing a bit and wishing she had gone with jeans rather than a dress, she nodded. Then, there was a break in the trees and she could barely make out the charred remains of a sedan.

Pulling away, she carefully circled the burned out car. The light bounced eerily off the blackened metal and with only a slight hesitation, she flooded the front seat with the beam. Letting go of a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, she was relieved that it was empty. She really hadn’t been looking forward to finding any more skeletons in Storybrooke. “Who do you think it belonged to?”

“I don’t have to think, I know,” he assured her. “The car was registered to the city. It was reported stolen about twenty-eight years ago.”

“Someone stole city property, took it for a joyride, crashed it, and burned the car to hide the evidence?”

“Perhaps.”

“There’s something you haven’t told me, isn’t there?”

“You do have a knack for ferreting out the truth, Emma,” he respectfully observed. “It would be nice to have you around to help out the department from time to time.”

“Don’t get attached,” she warned seriously. “I’m merely passing through. What else have you found?”

“Follow me,” he directed, taking her arm lightly in his grasp to steady her as they moved deeper into the woods. Less than a quarter mile away from the car, they came upon an abandoned cabin. Flashing her light through the grimy windows, she detected no sign of movement.

Graham entered the one room cabin first and flicked on the light switch. A couple of the bulbs were still working and a dingy, yellow glow filled the room. It was then that she saw the blood stains on the small bed pushed against one wall. Her flashlight continued to trail around the room, illuminating several more bloody rags strewn on the floor. “What the hell happened here?”

“I can’t be sure,” he answered, steadying her again as her knees buckled a little at the overwhelming sight. “If it’s too much, we can go outside. You’ve seen everything there is to see now.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” she told him, taking slow breaths in through her nose. “What do you think happened?”

“I think someone had a baby.” He watched her reaction as if concerned she might pass out. Honestly, his fears weren’t totally unfounded. “I’ll spare you from reviewing the evidence that led me to that conclusion since you’re white as a sheet and look like you could double over at any moment.”

“Why haven’t you processed the scene?”

“I’m waiting for the state lab to come. Emma, something happened in Storybrooke decades ago, something that is having a ripple effect to this day. I don’t trust that we’ll find answers locally. I’ve been doing what I can to comb through records regarding pregnancies around that time but it’s slow going with the privacy laws and the fact that I doubt there was a birth announcement for this particular baby.”

“I think I can help you there.” Exhaling shakily, she hurried outside. She heard him come up behind her and didn’t resist when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as if to funnel some of his strength to her. “I’m positive that Eva Blanchard had her baby in that cabin, Graham. I’m also sure that if we continue searching, we’ll find her and Leo’s body somewhere around here. Maybe the baby’s as well.”

Feeling sick, she didn’t protest as he pulled her closer and began the trek out of this grisly corner of the forest. He didn’t question how she knew the things she knew and didn’t pressure her to talk, merely nodding at her in thanks when he dropped her off outside the loft.

That night, her dreams were anything but peaceful.

[anjuschiffer]

Amira Wayne - Chapter 17

Another chapter! Woo! And yes, I’m still going on with @biodad-bruce-month event despite being two months since it ended :D

Chapter 17: Villain (2)

WARNING: BLOOD MENTION AND DEATH IN THIS CHAPTER

-

P.Tag: @theatreandcomicfreak @damianette-is-life @toodaloo-kangaroo @elijahcrevan @vixen-uchiha @nathleigh

Tag: @we-want-mini-mini @ramos123 @bluesimani @redscarlet95 @greatcatblaze @promiswords @fantasiame @corabeth11 @anonymously-odd @alexandriamw @officiallydarkgeek @galla02006 @maleive07 

-

MASTERLIST | FIRST | PREV | AO3

Something wasn’t right and no, it didn’t take Wally having to see fog outside Amira’s bedroom to know that. 

He had been on the phone with Dick, telling him of Amira’s stress baking when the chilly afternoon became a dark, foggy evening. 

Rolls of mist covered the Parisian roads, people yelling out to each other as they stumbled to find each other. 

“Dick. I have to call you back.” Wally said as he scrambled around the room in search of his suitcase. 

To think he would need Barry’s gift so soon. 

“Back? Wally what is-“ Wally hung up when he found the comms, his eyes darting around the room until he found a box tucked under the desk labeled ‘utilities.’

Rummaging around it, he grabbed some flashlights, batteries and some goggles before heading into the Parisian street. 

He thought the fog was bad from behind the window, but now standing in...it was a nightmare. 

Amira, please...be safe...

Fishing for his phone, Wally quickly scrolled through his contacts until he found Amira’s and began to call it. 

The longer the call rang, the more Wally began to worry. 

When his call didn’t get through, he tried again, turning on the goggles, taken aback at how high tech they were. 

The perks of being rich he guessed. 

When he noticed that the night vision wouldn’t work in this situation, Wally switched over to thermal, running into the school across the street and up the stairs.

“Marinette!” Wally yelled, holding back the urge to yell out her real name. But he knew better than that. 

He knew better than to yell out Amira’s real identity.

“Marinette! Where are you?” Wally yelled out again, looking to see if anyone reacted to the name. That’s when he noticed a heat carefully walked towards the doorway of a classroom on the second floor.

“Hello?” A Parisian asked him, Wally biting his tongue. Damn it!

“Listen, do you speak English?” 

“A little.” The person said back.

“That’s fine. Do you know where Marinette is? Do you know what happened to-”

“She was akumatized!” The person bellowed back, Wally feeling his heart stop.

Amira...Amira is the akuma? She...she got akumatized...by Hawkmoth?

How? This wasn’t part of the plan she told him last night!

Snapping from his spiraling thoughts, Wally cupped his hands around his mouth.

“What caused it?” Wally asked, wondering what the hell happened to Amira that caused her to lose control of her emotions.

What caused her to snap?

“She had a little argument over a boy with her classmate. About a boy named...Jason.”

Holy shit.

“No, no, no, no.” Wally muttered to himself, digging his hands into his hair, hating the answer to his questions.

“Are you-” The person asked, Wally seeing them almost hit with the balcony in front of them.

“Stop! Don’t leave the classroom! Stay in there and wait for La-Chat Noir and the team to arrive.” Wally managed to say, his brain running through every possible situation to help him cope with the idea that Amira was somewhere out there, distorted by her emotions…

Alone..dealing with emotions she never liked lingering in for too long...walking with her baggage of pain...and guilt…

Wait...the person said she was arguing with someone who knew Jason...but how was that possible?

“-can do for you?” Wally managed to register, running up the stairs and walked into the classroom, shutting the door behind him.

“I need you to tell me what exactly happened before Marinette got akumatized and don’t you dare try to cover up any details. If you do…” Wally closed his eyes and took a deep breath, hoping he wouldn’t jinx the situation. “This akuma may become your livelihood for a very long time and not only that...this maybe be the Miraculous Team’s last fight and be Hawkmoth’s victory.”

---

Adrien held Chloe close as she continued to grip at his shirt, her body shaking violently as she muttered incoherent words. Tears ruined her makeup, her eyes bloodshot red as Chloe remained curled against Adrien’s shirt.

“Adrikins...you’re still there...right?”

“I’m still here.” Adrien assured, hugging Chloe closer to him.

“Maman and Daddy… I saw them die before my eyes. And I saw Sabrina and Mari...they..they also-”

“You don’t have to tell me.” Adrien hushed, turning to where Plagg was despite not being able to see anything but his glowing green eyes.

After Mari-Banshee caused Chloe to collapse and then disappeared from his sight, Adrien ordered Nino and Sabrina to head back to the class while he took care of Chloe.

Carefully dragging her to the locker room, Adrien began to softly talk to her, holding her hands as he tried to think of a way to lessen the effect of Banshee’s power on Chloe so that he could-

“-help her.” Cloe muttered out, Adrien feeling her hesitantly push herself away from him. “Go help her, Adrien.”

“Chloe, you aren’t-”

“But she needs more help than me Adrien.” Chloe echoed. “I know this will go away once the akuma is found, but right now...we need to do something about the akuma. Who knows how long Ladybird will get here and get rid of the akuma, but we’re here. You’re here.”

Adrien felt as Chloe untangled her hand from his. “I can’t do anything, but you can. You can help de escalate the situation and you even know who she is after. So please...help her Adrien...she’s our friend...who knows how long she can endure it…”

Adrien bit his lip, feeling Plagg settle back into Adrien’s pocket inside his jacket.

“I’ll try Chloe. I’ll try.”

Giving Chloe’s hand a squeeze, Adrien slowly makes his way back to where he last saw Marinette, holding back a scream that nestled in his throat.

“Kid. We need to hurry.” Plagg reminded him. “Because Chloe was right. We don’t know how long it will take Ladybird to find Marinette so we need all hands on-”

“I know Plagg.” Adrien cut off, digging his nails into his palms. “Plagg, claws out!”

---

Dick paced around his apartment, putting his phone to his ear as he attempted to call both Wally and Amira, only to get sent to voicemail. 

Huffing, Dick was about to call again when Tim called first. 

“Tim, can this-“

“This is urgent.”

“Tim, I’m trying to-“

“Something wrong is happening in Paris right now. Just open the link I sent you right now.”

With Tim hanging up, Dick got a message and opened it, watching a Parisian news station play on his screen. 

“Nadja Chamack. Don’t bemused, it’s just the news. As you can see, it’s currently XX:XX and yet-“ Then the camera pans to show the conditions outside. “Our once sunny December day became a foggy night, our reporters are trying to- what? An akuma?” 

The station then transitioned into a live feed of what seemed to be a figure walking within the fog. 

“This just in! Turns out that this is the result of Hawkmoths most recent akuma! So everyone who is watching, under no circumstance, do not leave the premises you are-“

Nadja went on to talk about akuma protocol when Dick notices something oddly familiar about the figure that walked within the live video. 

That bracelet on her hand…

Dick felt his heart sink to his stomach. 

Grabbing some keys and his bike, Dick began making phone calls again, hating that no one was picking up... 

Or so he thought. 

“Selina? Yes... I need a favor.”

—-

Wally slammed his fist against the teacher’s desk, hearing a few gasps escape from the students in the class. 

Damn that Lila. Can’t even face the consequences of her own actions. 

“Did you idiots seriously not think something was wrong when someone you knew was acting unusual? Even if they weren’t your friend, when someone isn’t acting like themselves, that means you should be concerned.” Silence filled the room. Wally recomposed himself. 

This was no time to lecture these idiots. Right now I have to track down both Marinette and Lila Rossi. “Does anyone know where Lila would have run off to?”

When he got nothing but silence for an answer, Wally held his composure. “Okay so no one actually knows this girl. Fine. I’ll look for her my-“

“Shouldn’t you leave this to Ladybird and her team?” The teacher spoke, Wally really wondering how dependent Parisians have become on their ‘heroes’ taking action first. 

“My best friend has been akumatized and we haven’t heard a single update about the situation from the Parisian vigilantes. My thoughts? The Miraculous Team is having trouble finding either person and if I can at least help to locate Marinette, then so be it. 

I’m not going to stand here and just depend on the vigilantes when I know I can actually do something to help.”

Walking towards the door, he stopped. “I suggest you guys find a way to deal with the mist inside this classroom. Perhaps turn the ventilation system on or something. You rather be able to see each other can keep each other company rather than not knowing what’s going on in the very room you think you’re safe in.”

With that, Wally dashed out the room, not noticing two other people walk behind him. 

—-

Lila stumbled as she ran away from the thing that was supposed to be Marinette.

That creature dressed in an ombre dress that transitioned from white to black and whose eyes haunted her was no Marinette!

That was a creature straight from tales she used to hear from the nanny that took care of long ago.

A banshee.

Lila held in a whimper as tears filled her eyes as she heard the akumatized Marinette’s hums, hums that fluctuated between her name being shrieked and soft wails. 

“Lila.” She would whisper in a hoarse voice, causing Lila to run even more. “Where are you?”

Lila turned a corner and scrambled to hide behind a dumpster, collapsing her hands over her mouth as she heard Marinette slowly make her way towards her.

Lila shut her eyes tight as she heard the hum grow louder, Lila hating that the hum kept getting louder by the second.

The hum was now right at the corner Lila had finished turning when it came to a halt.

With the foggy streets and the humming coming to a stop, Lila could hear her footsteps nice and clear, listening as her heels clicked and clacked as Marinette walked on the cobblestone street. 

Lila didn’t dare to move, she didn’t dare breath as she kept hearing those dreading footsteps. She did, however, wish she had another set of hands as a piercing shriek, in the form of her name, rang throughout the Parisian streets.

Lila didn’t know what happened next as the shriek caused her ears and head ring, her vision becoming muddled as Lila attempted to open her eyes.

She wishes she had not.

As she fluttered her eyes open, bloodshot red eyes looked back at her, a thin smile directed at her.

“Here you are.” Marinette sang in her raspy voice.

Lila felt herself begin to violently shake as Marinette helped her get up by grabbing her wrists. “You know, you didn’t have to make up all those lies to get the class to like you. They just love to throw themselves to anyone if it meant gaining a new friend. They’re just so open hearted like that.

Of course, those types of people are the type whom I’m not fond of, so I steered away from them.

Sadly, you thought lying to them was the best course of action instead of checking to see if you had to lie or not to get their adoration. I could only assume you thought this was the best course of action as it's been your main way of getting attention.

Sadly, you have to pay for your actions this time ‘round. 

Didn’t your mother teach you that every action has a consequence?”

Lila watched as Marinette let go of her hands.

“While they might forgive you for lying to them, I will not. You disparage my brother’s name and for that, you shall pay, Lila Rossi.”

She grabbed hold of Lila’s hand, Lila letting out a deathly scream as her hand went ablaze, watching as Marinette’s veil turned pitch black in color.

“Pay for your lies, for your manipulations and schemes.”

Lila felt her other hand go ablaze and soon her heart began to burn, screaming her lungs out as she watched her get swallowed by the ground.

She screamed and cried as she clawed to bring herself back up to the surface, only to feel cold hands pull her down.

“This is your punishment, Lila Rossi. Suffer like I have at the loss of my dear brother.”

The last thing Lila saw before being pulled underground was Marinette’s veil and dress turn pitch black, a vivid black she had never seen before.

Black just like the void that swallowed her, a black that was the only thing Lila could see for miles around her.

She didn’t know for how long she kept screaming, how long she was crying but she knew for quite some time as her throat grew dry. It became itchy, her eyes stinging and she started to grow cold. 

She began to walk through the darkness, not daring to stretch out her arms in fear that she may attack her once again. 

That’s when she saw him. 

Standing there, in the darkness, was a man with olive green eyes and chestnut hair staring back at her.

A man she knew...

“Papà?” She said hoarsely. 

She watched as the man looked at her with a smile, opening up his arms, welcoming her. 

With a warbling smile, Lila ran to her father, only for him to disintegrate upon her touch. 

“Papà!” Lila screeches, running after the dust. Why? Why?!

“Lila.” She heard her mother say monotonously, causing Lila to promptly shut up and stop pathetically trying to get her father back. 

She slowly turned to her side, having to look up to see her mother’s pale face. 

Was she always this tall? 

Looking at herself, Lila realized she was holding her mother's hand and standing before her father’s grave. 

She was 9 again. 

9...“You can’t keep crying mia stella. We have to keep moving, no matter what. It’s what he would have wanted us to do.”

“Yes, Mamma.” Lila complied, watching as the two walked from the grave, watching how the grave quickly got invaded by thorn covered vines with each step she took. “Bye, Papà.”

.

“Bastarda! Bastarda!” The boys chanted as they circled her, Lila covering her ears, shutting her eyes as she crouched towards the floor. 

“Smettila! [Quit it!]” Lila yelled, holding in tears as she heard the girls in her class whisper and snicker about her. 

It wasn’t her fault that her mother couldn’t afford the latest clothing, the latest car or anything new for that matter. 

If only her mother were more than just a secretary. If only her mother were someone important. 

How she hated that they were able to see through her lies. 

She could hear the laughter ringing around her, the chants of her being a bastard and bugiarda [poor] echoing in her mind. 

She watched as smeared faces of her past circled around her, laughing at her and began to sing. 

“Delilah! Delilah! Delilah the liar!”

“Shut up!” Lila screamed, but it went ignored. 

The faces continued to sing and ridicule her, Lila screaming until she couldn’t anymore. 

---

Chat looked out to the city below him, clicking his tongue when he wasn’t able to see anything below despite being at the very top of the Eiffel Tower.

Taking out his staff, Chat called Queen Bee, only to be sent directly to voicemail. He tried again, this time using their other mode of communication.

When he heard a click, Chat was about to talk when Bee beat him to it.

“I’m down Chat.’

“What?”

“I was in the area when the akuma struck. I tried to apprehend the Victim, but she got to me first. I don’t think I can...I don’t think I can fight in my condition Chat.”

Chat huffed, picking up a shriek in the distance. Narrowing his eyes, Chat started to sprint to the direction of which the shriek came from. 

“Have you heard anything from Ladybird?” Chat asked, almost crashing into someone when he got to the ground. “I tried calling her, but-”

“I didn't get anything from her…” Chat heard a shuddering of breath from the other side. “Do you think...do you think the Victim got to her?”

“Let’s hope she didn’t.” Chat said, realizing where he was. Extending his staff, he went straight to their usual training grounds, glad to be up high again. “After all, she’s the only one who can reverse all of this.

Without her, we’re screwed.”

“I know Chat...I know. But what are you going to do without me? Without her? You need allies now more than ever Chat! Without them, who knows how long it will take to defeat this Victim!”

“I’ll find a way Bee, don’t you worry. For now, rest up. We’ll win this fight, you’ll see. We won’t let Hawkmoth win, not on our watch.”

With that, Chat hung up and mumbled a ‘claws in.’

“Did we-hey! Isn’t the reason why I give you my power to-”

“Plagg, you mentioned a Master Fu before.” Adrien cut off, handing some camembert towards Plagg. “You need to take me to him. I need to-”

“I know.” Plagg said, swallowing the cheese whole. “Something tells me you might need his help for this fight.”

“Thank you, Plagg.” Adrien said, eyeing a bag of utilities nearby. He rummaged through it before finding what he needed. 

Plagg eyed the grappling hook in Adrien’s hands, wondering if he should tell him or not.

Should he? Should he tell him that Ladybird wasn’t going to come? That she was the Victim this time ‘round?

“Alright then, follow me!” Plagg said with a smile.

No, he shouldn’t tell him. Who knows what might happen if the kid would be at risk of also getting akumatized and that he couldn’t risk.

Not his kitten...not on his watch.

---

Black.

That is what Amira first saw when she barely came to her senses.

Amira felt herself walking, watching as something else took over her body.

Is this what every Victim felt like when they got akumatized by Hawkmoth?

Amira tried to move her arms, or attempted to stop herself from walking, but to no avail.

She kept walking to who knows where, hearing herself hum as she did, humming as she was looking for someone…but who?

The humming continued, Amira wondering why it resonated so much with her. 

Amira listened to the hum, closing her eyes and soaking in the melodies as the hum continued, 

---

Wally stood still as he barely made out the figures of the neatly aligned parked cars on either side of the road. Not a single person was in the street, not a single piece of paper dared to flutter within the dense fog.

Only the dim lights of the streetlights and of a few store lights allowed Wally to know where he was.

“Marinette!” He screamed, holding his breath as he strained his ears for any type of noise. When he heard nothing, he walked a few meters before standing still again and calling out for Marinette.

He kept doing his for what seemed an hour until Wally found himself right by the Seine. 

The moment he stepped onto the Pont des Arts, he heard the faintest of hums, Wally feeling the edge of his lips begin to turn upward.

“Marinette!” He yelled out, but got nothing in return.

Sprinting to the other side of the bridge, Wally was glad to hear the humming grow louder, but hated that he had yet to see Amira.

“His chirps brightened my days

Talks that would last for hours

My jay, my jay.”

“Amira!” Wally yelled, his head swinging from side to side in hopes of seeing her, but nothing. 

The quiet Parisian street taunted him, the rolling fog egging him to follow the only clue he had of tracking Amira. 

“One day after you left

For you I did wait

Another gentle night like no other.”

Wally quickly began to follow the song, hating that no type of heat was registering through the goggles.  

“I awaited for your arrival

But a visit I did not get

As I approached the window

I saw you there...

There you were.”

Wally felt like he was running towards nowhere, seeing as he had been running in the same direction for a while. 

“On the ground

Your blue feathers now dyed red

Your flight towards me

Was a flight towards another place.”

Just where the hell was he?!

“Goodbye my Jay...goodbye.” 

As those last words were said, the fog started to lift up a bit, Wally turning to see Amira staring back at him through her black veil. 

Her eyes were a dull emerald, her hair long and straight just like it was when they were younger. She wore a black lace dress that seemed to sparkle under the dim Parisian streetlights. 

“Wally. You’re alright.” Amira said, walking up to him, stroking his cheek with the back of her hand. He felt his breath hitch. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

I’m more worried about you.

“I’m fine.” Wally tried to hold her hand when she pulled it away.

“That’s good.” Her hand returning to her side, averting her gaze from him and biting her lip. “What about Chloe? Is she doing alright? I didn’t mean to hurt her like that.”

Wally gulped. She had used her power on Chloe? 

Were those tear trails running down her face?

“She’s doing alright. She’s still under your power, but she isn’t as in much pain as she was before.” Wally lied, holding her wrists in his hands, ignoring the pain her got from placing pressure over her bracelet.  

So it’s her hands he has to be wary of…more specifically, her palms.

“What about the rest of my team? Do they know where I am?” Amira asked him, Wally biting the side of his cheek.

“I think one of them might know where you are. As for the rest, I do not know.”

“I see.” Amira said, looking back at Wally, turning away from him.

“Where are you going?” Wally asked her, watching as her veil flared out a bit. He watched as a grin emerged from her once stoic face.

“I’m going to go check on Lila. You should’ve seen the look on her face as she succumbed to my punishment.”

“Amira, what have you done?” Wally almost growled out, noticing the small rips on her dress, how it seemed to merge with the shadows.

“She got the punishment she deserved. Right about now, she should be screeching her heart out.”

“How...how could you do something like that Amira?” Wally yelled, tightening his grasp on her wrists. “Vengeance isn’t the way to-”

“This was the only way to make her pay for trying to use Jason’s name for her own personal gain! Every action has a consequence, whether it be a good one or a bad one.”

“Amira, can’t you see-”

“If you are here to stop me, then don’t. I already made up my mind.” Amira tried to jerk her hands from Wally’s grasp, but couldn’t. He wouldn’t let her escape, not when she was right in front of him.

“Amira, please! Think-”

“I have. And this,” she lifted her arm ever so slightly, the corners of her mouth curving upwards as her palms hovered over Wally’s wrists. “This is my answer.”

WARNING: BLOOD AND DEATH AHEAD

Placing her palms on Wally, Wally screamed in agony as he collapsed to the floor, his hands grasping on his shirt, his knuckles turning white as his head and chest began to ring in pain.

Wally watched as his vision flickered between seeing Amira walking away from him in her black dress and her yelling out his name as she was being pulled away from him.

Wally watches as she tries to crawl back at him, as she claws at the ground as she’s being pulled away by purple miasma. 

Her nails are scratched, her skin peeling off her fingers as she tries to hold onto loose cobblestones on the ground.

She screams for him, her tears merging with the blood that trailed from her head, mixing with the dirt on her face.

Cuts, both new and old were scattered, dried blood seeping from her mouth.

She manages to get up before she’s thrown back to the floor, a scream escaping from her.

“Amira!” Wally yells, trying to reach for her as he feels tears slip from his eyes. He watches as Amira stares at him one last time before her head limps forward, her hair draping over her face.

Wally feels himself stop breathing, raising his head as he sees Joker above her. 

Why? Why were they back at Gotham?

His eyes register the crowbar in his hand, covered in blood...Amira’s blood...

Blood that dripped from the same hands that killed his friend, the same feral clown that looked down at him with his feral smile and crooked yellow teeth.

Wally let out a scream as he watched Joker walk away, leaving Amira’s corpse on the floor.

Managing to find the strength to get up, Wally ran next to Amira’s limp body, only for it to turn into mist upon lifting it.

Wally watched as the illusion merged with the mist around him, the mist slipping through his fingers as he watched his surroundings return him to the present...to Paris..

“Illusions…” Wally said, finding himself laughing as he ran one hand through his hair while the other pulled at it, feeling himself still shaking...

This is exactly why he wasn’t very fond of magic...

END

---

Nino jumped when he felt a hand on him, feeling his racing heart relax upon seeing Master Fu.

After having left the classroom when the mystery guy had run out, Nino tried to look for Ladybird, hoping to once again help his friend. But he had been running for hours, not seeing a single person at all as he searched for the Miraculous Team or Banshee.

“Master Fu, what are you-”

“You know clearly why I am here.” Fu said, slipping off the Turtle from his hand, Nino stretching out his hand towards him. “Ladybird and Queen Bee are down for this match, leaving Chat on his own.”

Nino couldn’t believe that. Chat...was on his own? Ladybird and Queen Bee...were out of commission? How?

Placing the bracelet into Nino’s hand, Master Fu closed it and looked at Nino. “Now go.”

“But Master Fu! How are-”

“The two of you are not alone.” Master Fu clarified. “Gris is to join you alongside a new ally. With you four, you must do what it takes to defeat this akuma. If not,” Master Fu lowered his gaze. “Hawkmoth might just get his hands on several miraculous tonight.”

Nino gulped, feeling unspeakable pressure pushing down on him. 

Looking down at the bracelet, Nino furrowed his brows, slipping it on. Wayzz appeared before him, smiling at him.

“Don’t worry Master Fu. I will do what it takes to protect my team, the miraculous and the people of Paris! I will not let Hawkmoth win! Wayzz, shell on!”

---

Chat’s ears twitched when he heard a thud from behind him, turning to see Carapace walking towards him.

“About time you came.” Chat said, greeting Carapace. Gris waved at the turtle hero who returned the gesture.

“Master Fu mentioned having a new member. So, where are they?”

“A new user?” Gris asked, wondering why she didn’t get the memo.

“I would like to introduce you two to our newest member.” 

The three turned to where Chat gestured, watching as a person with golden horns emerged from the doorway that led to their training grounds on the Montparnasse Tower. 

“Hello everyone. My name is Ryuuko, wielder of the Dragon miraculous. I hope to be of some help.”

“Woah, she has a whole katana by her side! Is that allowed?” Carapace asked, stretching to see the black sheath that held the katana.

“Carapace. Focus.” Chat stern said. “It’s our job to deal with this akuma as soon as possible. As you know, Queen Bee is down and Ladybird might be due to her absence. 

For this to be a success, Ryuuko, you are in charge of finding a way to lift up this fog to help with the search. Gris, multiply and scatter yourself around the city for any hints of where the akuma might be.” 

“Got it.” “Roger that!” Ryuuko and Gris said, jumping off to complete their tasks.

“What about us?” Carapace asked.

“I want you to look for Lila Rossi. She’s who the akuma is after.”

“Right. But what about you?”

“I’ll keep searching around this area. Something tells me to stay put.” Chat said. 

He watched as Carapace nodded, leaving him by himself.

Chat looked out towards the city, wondering if he was up to the job, if he was able to shine a candle to Ladybird, now that she was nowhere to be found. Would he be able to save Chloe? Marinette?

Sighing, Chat looked up to the sky, shutting his eyes firmly.

“What should I do, what should I do...Mom?”

NEXT

[illfoandillfie]

would love to see another fluffy/smutty addition to the seaside rendevous verse with joe and reader, am quite fond of that series

It’s been so long since I revisited these two but I had a lot of fun with it! Big thanks to @johndeaconshands​ for the suggestion to take them back to where they first met. I didn’t do the whole revenge tease thing exactly and it might have ended up a little more angsty than originally intended but the idea of them going back to the hotel sparked some ideas! Mostly it’s fluffy and smutty and hopefully you guys like it!  Also it’s like 3k because I am terrible at keeping things short skfjskfjlskf

warnings: smut but it’s not particularly kinky. Mentions of choking but that’s about it.

Seaside Rendezvous Series

Blurb Advent: Day 19 

Things had felt different between you and Joe since the ski trip. Of course, since then you’d started talking more, calls on the phone at night, video chats while you were studying, sharing memes and random thoughts in each other’s Instagram DMs, and of course, a lot of explicit pictures and the like. But neither of you had repeated the sentiments you’d said in front of the fire as you tried to stay warm. It was scary. It felt like saying it would jinx you or something. Like if you admitted it, you’d have to label what you had and the only label available was one that would fuck everything up. Long distance never worked. But not saying anything left you floating in this weird limbo. You weren’t exactly together but you weren’t exactly single either. It was like friends with benefits but all the benefits were just teasing hints of what could possibly be. You’d probably have admitted some things out loud if it had seemed that Joe was ready to say them but he kept quiet so you did too. Your laid back approach to the relationship pissed off your friends and they all at one time or other tried to push you to tell Joe how deeply you cared for him, but you made your excuses and ignored them. Being so far away from the romantic atmosphere of a snow dusted cabin with a roaring fire, as well as so far away from the man you’d spent the time with, made you second guess if what you’d said had been real. Surely it was an exaggeration brought on by nostalgia and hormones. Yes, you felt something for Joe, yes you found him attractive, yes you’d love to have sex with him in the 3D world again, but maybe it wasn’t love. So you kept things in their limbo bubble. When other guys asked you out you turned them down and said you were kind of seeing someone already, you sent Joe steamy pictures of you in the shower and videos of you touching yourself and moaning his name (nearly always receiving something in return), but you never called him your boyfriend and you never really committed. Once or twice you thought that maybe Joe was trying to push things further but you couldn’t bring yourself to discuss it in case you were wrong so you didn’t know for sure. You didn’t even know if he was hooking up with anyone else or if you were right to feel jealous or upset at the thought that he might be.

But with the approach of the Summer break, Joe got some ideas. A break meant there was no classes to go to, no assignments due, no college to worry about. You were free to get on a plane and fly to another part of the country without worrying about missing something important. And that was exactly what Joe suggested.

“We should go somewhere, together. Chatting like this is great but I’d really like to see you again. In the flesh.” He laughed as he potted about his kitchen, one hand holding the phone up so you could see him.

“Going somewhere sounds fun,”

“Yeah, you’re in?”

“Depends where you had in mind.”

“I don’t know yet, still thinking. I’ll give you some ideas as soon as I have them though,”

 It was a few nights later, during one of your regular calls that Joe suggested you go back to where you first met, Hawaii. You readily agreed and began looking for flights, already composing an email to your parents in your head, telling them that you’d been invited to stay with a friend so wouldn’t be going home for the break. Joe sorted out your accommodation and by the time the last day of term rolled around you were packed and ready to go, mostly excited. There was a little apprehension, especially once you’d said goodbye to your friends and were on the road to the airport. They were obnoxiously condescending, telling you that seeing Joe again would be good for you and that you’d sort everything out. Most of the flight was spent trying not to worry about where you stood with Joe, or what to expect from the trip. Was it just about sex or was there more to it? But, in the second you saw him waiting at the airport in Honolulu, all you felt was relief. Joe was quick to pull you into a hug, wrapping you up tightly in his arms as he breathed out how much he’d missed you into your hair. And you squeezed him back just as hard.

Joe had managed to get a room at the same resort as the last time you’d been there. The room you were shown to after checking in was on a higher floor than you’d previously been, decorated with tropical pinks and yellows and featuring art of palm trees and flowers. It’s bathroom had two sinks and a bath big enough for you both, and the main room was largely taken up by a queen sized bed with soft pillows and complementary chocolates in the shape of shells. As soon as you put your bags down you threw yourself onto the bed.

“So much comfier than the one in my dorm room,” you laughed as Joe took the spot next to you, turning onto his side to face you.

“God yeah. I don’t know how I’m going to go back, I think this bed might ruin me for other beds.”

“Well, we don’t have to worry about that for a few weeks at least,”

Joe yawned and nodded.

“Long day?”

“Kinda. Just finished everything up and getting to the airport and everything. How was your last day?”

“Yeah, the same really. Got a reply from mum trying to find out where I was going and with who,”

“Why does that not surprise me?” he laughed, “Did you tell her?”

“God no. If she knew I was here with you she’d either fly out to spy on us or tell everyone I’d run off to elope,”

“And we wouldn’t want either to happen,”

“Exactly.”

“So, I take it your family doesn’t know we’ve been…talking,”

“You are correct. I wasn’t going to tell them when I don’t- when we don’t see each other except over breaks.”

Joe nodded, “Yeah. But, hey, at least we don’t have to worry about sneaking around this time. We can make out on the beach as much as we want,”

You laughed and gently pushed him away but Joe caught your hand and kept it pinned to his chest as he leaned over to kiss you. The rest of the evening was spent in much the same way, laying on the bed talking between kisses until you both fell asleep.

When you woke in the morning it was with Joe’s arm around you and his chest against your back. It was comfortable and comforting to sleep beside him again and you began to wonder if maybe you hadn’t been exaggerating last time. Maybe you’re friends had been right. You wriggled out from under his arm so you could go to the bathroom but when you returned you snuggled back in against him, burying your face in his chest to sleep a little longer.

Waking up the second time was just as good, or better even since Joe was already awake.

“Morning, gorgeous,”

“Morning,” you smiled, pressing your lips to his quickly, “sleep okay?”

“Really well.”

“Me too. Kinda don’t wanna move,”

“We don’t have to,” he shrugged, shuffling around to press himself closer to you, his fingers beginning to trace lazy patterns on your side, “could just stay here all day.”

“Like the sound of that,” you purred. With your bodies so close you could feel what you had to assume was his morning wood though his pants, and you couldn’t deny that sex was definitely one of the big reasons going away together had seemed like such a good idea. Even if there was confusion about what exactly was happening, you knew the sex would be clear and simple. And, after all of the photos and videos and live chats you’d teased each other with, you wanted it to happen sooner rather than later. “Did you remember to pack enough condoms this time?”

“Hey, if you’ll remember correctly, I had enough last time. It was just that during our first time I was so wound up and pissed off that I forgot where I put them.”

“Didn’t answer my question,”

“Yes, I bought enough. Like…fifty of them.”

“Is that an actual figure or just an expression?”

“An actual figure.”

“Well then we have seventy all up cause I also brought a couple of boxes. That should be enough, right?”

“I think so,” Joe laughed.

“You wanna start using them now?”

“Definitely,”

You giggled as Joe rolled you onto your back and kissed you, his legs settling between yours. Kissing was very nice but you wanted more so you rolled your hips against his, hoping he’d get the message.

“Someone’s a bit needy,” he teased, letting you sit up so he could pull your shirt off, “miss me did you?”

“Joe, I’ve been celibate since winter, you don’t have to tease me to get me worked up, I’m already there.”

“Thank god.” He laughed, the sound muffled as you pulled his shirt over his head, “I’ve been trying not to jump you since you got off the plane.”

“So, you didn’t sleep with anyone else?”

Joe paused in his mission to get your pants off, “Why would you think that?”

You shrugged, “I didn’t I just…wasn’t sure.”

“Well I haven’t,” Joe held your gaze to try and reassure you but he quickly slipped back into the demeanour he’d had before the interruption, “And I think the proof will be in how quickly I finish. Just the sight of your bra has got me dangerously close. I mean, do you know how good it is to see your boobs in real life again?” he placed his hands on your breasts and squeezed them.

“Better hurry up and get your pants off then,” you laughed, reaching forward to pull them down, “wouldn’t want you to make a mess in them,”

“Alright, alright,” he batted your hand away so he could roll off the bed and kick his pants off his ankles, “I’m going to grab a condom and the lube from my bag, you just lie there and look pretty. And stay horny,”

“No danger of losing that,” you muttered which made Joe laugh again. You pulled off your underwear, both your bra and panties flung out of sight, and settled back against the pillows. Letting your legs spread you trailed your hand down between them, lightly stroking yourself. You were already wet, just the promise of sex with Joe enough to get you going after so long without anyone else’s touch. But you didn’t want to wait too much longer so you slowly sank your middle finger into your pussy.

“Jesus,” you said, swallowing hard, when he turned and saw you, “What are you doing that for?”

“Figured I’d, ah, save you the trouble, since you’re so close. Wouldn’t want you to touch me and end things before they began,”

“Gonna need more than one finger then, aren’t you,”

You nodded, your hips rising as you added a second. You bit your lip as you met Joe’s eyes, dark with lust, as he climbed onto the end of the bed and settled there on his knees. He watched you as he opened the condom and put it on, softly complementing you, telling you how incredible you looked and how long he’d been waiting for this and how badly he wanted you. He kept egging you on, his voice studded with sharp intakes of breath hissed though his teeth as he spread the lube along his shaft.

“You ready for me?” he asked, walking forward on his knees.

“Mmhmm, so ready,” you almost whined, removing your fingers and holding them out for him.

Joe grabbed your wrist with one hand, his other resting on your knee as he took your fingers between his lips, humming around them. When he was done you let your hand fall to the bed as he settled between your legs and lined himself up, pushing into you slowly. You gasped at the sensation, a slight sting accompanying the pleasurable fullness, though it faded as you adjusted. Joe paused once he’d bottomed out, his eyes closed and browns furrowed.

“Fuck,” was all he said but you knew what he meant. He took a few moments to collect himself before he pulled back a little and eased in again. “God, I was joking before about being close but I actually don’t know that I’ll last that long. You feel fucking amazing.”

You chuckled and pulled him down to kiss you, “Don’t care, just fuck me okay?”

He nodded and drew his hips back before snapping them forward again, finding a rhythm that worked for you both.

Joe was right in saying he wouldn’t last long but he held off as long as he could, trying to get you to the same point, his fingers on your clit and his lips on your neck. It didn’t work though you could feel the orgasm creeping up on you when he groaned and stilled.

“Fuck, sorry,” he said, kissing you again.

“S’alright,”

“Hang on, I can still – ” he readjusted himself, shuffling down the bed, “do this.”

Your back arched as he licked along your slit, “Yeah, that’ll work,” you breathed out, falling into a moan as he sucked your clit into his mouth, replacing his cock with his fingers.

“Missed your pussy,” he said against you, his voice rough, as he worked you towards the edge, “Been thinking about doing this for so long,”

You moaned again, managing to choke out his name as he focused on your cunt, his lips tight around your clit, his fingers pounding into you. You came like that, his face buried between your legs as you cried out your release and he worked you through it.

“How was that?” he asked, wiping his mouth on his arm, and crawling back up the bed so he could wrap his arms around you again.

“Give me a minute,”

“Alright,” he dropped a small kiss to your temple, “actually, hang on I have something for you,”

You looked around confusedly as he got off the bed and, pulling his underwear on, rummaged through his bag again. When he came back to the bed he handed you a long, thin package, wrapped up in shiny wrapping paper.

“What is it?”

“You do know what a surprise is, don’t you?”

“Shut up, I mean’t what’s it for?”

“Well, I don’t know if you realised this but, it’s been a year since we met. Figured I’d get you something to mark the occasion.”

You looked down at the gift and then back at Joe, “I didn’t get you anything,”

“That’s alright, I wasn’t expecting anything,”

You shook your head, “No, I should have thought. I just wasn’t sure what was going on between us.”

“Yeah, I know,”

“I thought things would be different after the ski trip and I guess they were because we were like talking regularly and all that but…what are we Joe?”

“Just open the present, Y/N.”

You frowned at being blown off when you’d finally actually voiced what had been playing on your mind for so long but turned your attention to the item in your hands anyway. Inside the wrapping paper was a box and inside that was a bracelet chain.

Joe lifted it from the box delicately and wrapped it around your wrist, “I know things have been kind of weird and uncertain but I meant everything I said on that ski trip. We’ve known each other for a year and, even though there was time in there where we weren’t in contact, I still think that’s long enough to fall in love. And I guess this is my way of trying to say that and to make up for all the times I haven’t said it lately. After we went back to school last time I started to worry that if I said it again it would jinx things. But that was stupid. I should have told you I love you every time we talked. Even if we couldn’t be together in person.”

You looked at the bracelet closely as he closed the clasp, taking in the charms dangling from the chain. A Christmas tree, a snow globe, a plumeria flower and a heart.

“Most of the charms are to represent moments we’ve had together but the heart is so that, even while we’re apart, you know you have mine. Also the snow globe was as close as I could get to anything skiing related.”

You chuckled softly, “it’s perfect,”

“Good. You’ll also notice that there is a room for a lot more charms to fit on there and I intend to help you fill it. We don’t have much longer left at college so the next one will probably be a graduation cap or something and then we can talk about where to go next. LA or New York or wherever. We can figure things out, actually date, maybe move in together if we wanted. I can introduce you to my family who are just as weird as yours but in a different way. My folks already know about you and are very keen to meet you by the way. And then we can give your mum a heart attack by telling her we’re together. And we’ll make it work. Does that sound okay?”

You nodded, too choked up to speak, and kissed him.

 Joe ordered room service while you got cleaned up and dressed which you took onto the balcony to eat before heading back to bed. In the afternoon you left the room to walk along the beach, hand in hand, leaning on each other as the sun began to set. Joe wrapped his arms around your stomach and leaned his chin on your shoulder as you looked out over the ocean.

“I have a good feeling about this vacation,” he said softly, rocking you gently.

“Me too.” You turned to face Joe, wrapping your arms around his neck, “I love you,”

“I love you too,”

When the sun had sufficiently set you began to pull Joe back up to your room, “Y’know,” you said as you pressed the button for the elevator, “I still feel bad that you got me such a thoughtful present and I got you shit all,”

“I told you it’s fine,”

“I know, but I thought of something I could give you,”

“Yeah?”

“Mmhmm.” You led Joe into the elevator and pressed the button for your floor.

“Well what is it?”

“Anything you want,”

“What?”

“I was thinking we’d start with a bath together, and then you could have me however you wanted,” you pulled Joe’s hand up towards your throat, “you could choke me out, I know you enjoy doing that, or I could blow you or I don’t know. Whatever you’d imagined doing to me, you can do it.”

Joe growled, his grip on your throat tightening, “I’ve imagined a lot of things,”

“Good thing we’ve got so many condoms then.”

[punkscowardschampions]

Libi & Bobby

Libi: I’ve just found my phone in the sea of costumes

Libi: How so many people need alterations and mending at this point 😱😱😰

Libi: I’ve got a… well, it’s not weird

Libi: but it is, but that’s not really the right word to describe it but I can’t think of said word so it’ll have to do

Bobby: Hang on, forget the play a sec

Bobby: What’s this message? 🤨

Bobby: is it the sender or what they said that’s making it feel weird?

Libi: That’s practically blasphemy Bobs! 😏 Mullans will have you helping Tom with his lines for that, poor boy… we’re all officially off book this week and he is not a little bit ready

Libi: Um, both?

Libi: I mean it’s Louie, so it’s not that weird he’d message me, I guess

Libi: We have messaged back and forth a bit, obviously, it isn’t totally random

Bobby: Sir would have to reckon I’m capable of something first, that’s a subject change though

Bobby: go on, what’s the but? What’s Louie said?

Libi: I was going on the assumption he’d forget you were deaf altogether and act like you’ll be able to hear Tom

Libi: He is quite loud in his delivery but still

Libi: 🙄

Libi: At least we have Ms Howe backing up all our other ideas

Libi: I think he’s asked me out on a date

Libi: Well I know because he said did I want to go to the cinema, to see that latest adaptation of Orient Express, and I thought he meant did we ALL wanna go so he corrected me when I started planning as such… which was awkward

Bobby: Mullan does dress a bit like you did when we met,‘course it doesn’t look as cute on him, but makes sense he’d also rob your 🔊 by chucking Tom at me

Bobby: well alright, awkward is the right word there, are you still gonna go?

Libi: I don’t know who that’s more insulting to 😂 shocking behaviour

Libi: I can’t really process it, I don’t know

Libi: Should I?

Bobby: Depends if he’s okay with you just going as mates

Bobby: he might be too 💔 and that’ll make it more awkward

Libi: It’d make the play really awkward

Libi: I’ve already put my foot in it with thinking it was a cast and crew thing

Libi: I can’t very well be like IS THIS AS FRIENDS as well, can I?

Bobby: 🤔 I dunno if there’s a way it wouldn’t be a 🤏 now but saying no and not making it obvious you still wanna be mates could mess up the play even more, you have gotta kiss, it’d probably be better if he don’t 💭 you think he’s gross or whatever

Libi: Right, maybe it sounds silly but I really do not want to jeopardise the play in any way, not at this stage

Libi: I really want it to go well for all of us, we’ve all put way too much work in for something like that to spoil it

Libi: I couldn’t just go, could I?

Libi: Not qualify it either way

Bobby: It’s not silly, everyone knows how invested you are, you’ve worked harder than any of us

Bobby: but you don’t owe the play going that far

Bobby: what are you gonna do, fake date him til after it’s over? Come on, Libs

Bobby: he must like you for real, one date would lead to him asking you out on another

Libi: I don’t think Jan would ever speak to me again if I stole the bit for such a pathetic reason

Libi: she’d judge me hardcore anyway and can’t have that

Libi: You’re right, I’ll have to let him down gently then

Libi: Whatever that sounds like…

Bobby: I know our lil 👰🤵 wasn’t legally binding but I’d rather you didn’t either

Bobby: I’d still be 💔

Bobby: for you, I mean

Bobby: Louie’s a bit

Libi: Is he?

Libi: I don’t really know him outside of the context of this play

Libi: like I didn’t know him before, I mean, obviously I’ve spoken to him as him now, a bit

Bobby: obviously I've had even less to do with him than you, but I've noticed when you're speaking to him as him you're not 😁

Bobby: even the 1 cinema trip might be asking a bit much of how 😇 you are

Libi: How much of an 😇 can I really be if I’m all 😒 😞 😔 😟 😕 🙁 ☹️ 😣 😖 😫 😩 🥺 😢 😭 😤 😠 😡 apparently

Libi: He’s a nice guy, I don’t know why I don’t want to date him

Bobby: In his pov or mine?

Bobby: I’d say your reaction is loads better than being unbothered, that’d make you really 😈

Bobby: anyway being a nice lad he’ll understand and it probably won’t be long before someone else does wanna go out with him

Bobby: you can’t force or properly fake 💘

Libi: He’s probably going to ask someone else, you’re right

Libi: it’s not a big deal

Libi: I could say you really wanna see it too, that would work

Bobby: It can’t be a massive deal, he hasn’t known you THAT long, not before the play, like you said

Libi: Totally

Libi: it’s not like he’s 💘 or anything, just interested

Bobby: Yeah, he’ll be alright and so will the play

Libi: Thanks, Bobby

Libi: even if I still need to think of what to message back

Bobby: Just be as honest as you can handle without 😳

Bobby: lying isn’t a top skill of yours and you don’t want him to work out you are

Libi: I can’t argue with you even if I feel I should

Libi: I’ll try my best

Libi: I might leave it for a 🤏 bit

Bobby: can’t fault you for it, and I won’t need to ‘cause it’ll be okay

Libi: A woman’s prerogative, so I hear

Bobby: deffo can’t argue with that, it’d have me coming across like a nice guy ™️ ❌👏

Libi: 😬 it isn’t lost on me that I friendzone Louie’s character in the harshest way by being a murderess

Libi: I won’t bring that up though, hopefully he won’t be thinking it

Libi: 🩸👠 isn’t an association I’d love to bring into my everyday

Bobby: I’m more 🤞 Mr Mullan doesn’t hear about art imitating life ‘cause you’ll never hear the end of it

Libi: Oh no

Libi: he’s so…

Libi: he’s a lot

Bobby: See, an 😇 way of putting it 😏

Libi: I can see why China and him get along, is a less polite way

Libi: but as true

Libi: she’d much prefer femme fatale over hysterical American

Bobby: It won’t kill her not to get her own way for once

Libi: It might drive poor America insane

Libi: How are her and Sean now?

Libi: I cannot believe I managed to put my foot in it like that, I felt awful but she wouldn’t hear it and if I tried to apologize to him he’d have thought I was meddling more than he probably already reckoned

Bobby: 💰 on her mates going insane 1st how often she must stay with some of them

Bobby: not that I blame her for not going home and you shouldn't blame yourself for anything that happens between her and Sean, he knows what she's like and what's been going on

Bobby: I guess they've sorted it? I dunno, have to go off their insta stories more than whatever he'd actually admit

Libi: I have been wondering about that

Libi: if I should more officially ask my grandparents/offer her the spare room

Libi: or if that’ll be insulting, or they might say we shouldn’t put ourselves into people’s family affairs

Libi: glad it’s not just me 😅 again, they’re hardly the only on-again-off-again couple around that I find totally perplexing so it’s no dig

Bobby: 🤔 I was 💭 the same but I wasn't sure if it'd be weird coming from me as a lad, especially if they're off again when I make the offer

Bobby: I reckon it's a good idea though if you're allowed to

Libi: I don’t think she’d take it that way but emphasis on the I part, I see how she could and why you’d be hesitant

Libi: I think the best way is to ask her first, if she would want me to then ask my grandparents… the potential disappointment if they say no is better than me doing the wrong thing and making it worse, right?

Bobby: Her sister has told me that lads and girls can't be mates so she would probably have loads to say which we can all do without

Bobby: 👍 getting your grandparents involved more than you need to when you don't need to isn't a 🥇💡 you're totally right

Libi: She would think that 🙄

Libi: guess it makes her feel better that Jake doesn’t want to be her friend

Libi: Cool, that’s the plan of attack there then, an easier message to send for sure

Bobby: 💔 Jake doesn’t know about Louie asking you out, it might’ve got him to back off 🤏

Libi: Or get him to do the same

Libi: Wow, that sounded really conceited 😲😅

Libi: You know what I mean though, more that he’s that type of lad than I’m that much of a catch

Bobby: you can still be a catch even though he's a dickhead but hey

Bobby: least if he does ask you you've already practiced a rejection text, type of lad he is isn't gonna take a no as easy 😬

Libi: Don’t jinx me!

Libi: He’d probably just send me a bootycall and expect me to jump, right? Ick

Libi: You don’t behave like that, do you Bobs?

Bobby: 😲❗️ can’t believe you’d ask me that Libs

Libi: Come on, you’re my only insight into what boys are like

Libi: it seems pretty par for the course, maybe not Jake levels of extreme but

Bobby: Soz I’ve got no insight into bootycalls

Libi: Okay

Libi: I’m not mad about that

Libi: that’d be a LOT to process about you rn

Bobby: I’ve got no secrets I’m keeping from you, especially not 💘🔐

Libi: 😊💚💜

Libi: Lucie has turned out to be less cute than I thought

Libi: IMO anyway

Bobby: what’s she said or done that you’ve not told me about?

Libi: Nothing compared to China, so nothing

Libi: I can see how they were friends though, before they dramatically weren’t

Libi: I wonder who Jake will choose, if he ever does

Bobby: I think he likes not choosing and keeping everyone dramatically in suspense 🙄

Libi: Begrudgingly admit he’s suited to his role in that respect

Libi: he’ll fall for someone totally out of left-field and leave both of them in the dust

Libi: if romcoms have taught us anything

Bobby: If it’s gonna be Am I better warn Sean

Libi: She hates him

Libi: which in certain stories WOULD make him 😍

Libi: but I can’t see it

Bobby: exactly it’s the plot twist everyone saw coming and the most obvious trope going, but thankfully we don’t live in a romcom

Libi: it does all feel a bit romcom rn, I think that must be what inspired Louie

Libi: not my preferred genre, tbh

Bobby: I’m alright with swapping Orient Express for whatever horror is playing, doubt he’ll be in another row of that screen waiting to spy on you

Libi: If anyone’s destined to be the stalker, right?

Libi: we better go, he’s not done anything wrong

Bobby: 📌📅 for when? How keen was he?

Libi: [Probably this weekend from whichever day he’s asked because keen is the vibe, sorry Louie]

Bobby: 👌😂

Libi: don’t be mean 😫😅

Libi: plenty of girls would be happy to go out with him

Bobby: Yeah and I’m not running him down to any of them, or you even really, I already told you I think he’s a bit

Bobby: 🤓🥀

Bobby: He gestures A LOT, is he one of those OTT doing shakespeare in the theatre type actors or what?

Libi: I guess the role is pretty...campy

Libi: I can see what he’s going for even if I’d suggest toning it down 🤏

Libi: It’s a good thing you aren’t slagging him off to the girls, he’d not stand a chance then

Bobby: Who am I that they'd be bothered what I think? Not ever asked or been asked, me

Bobby: and everyone knows the butler has always got a massive agenda anyway

Libi: Lots of girls think you’re cute though

Bobby: 😳

Libi: What? I can’t tell you you’re handsome

Libi: and that girls have obviously noticed that

Bobby: I guess 'cause I don't 👀 it I don't 💭 about it, I dunno but it's 😳

Libi: I get it

Libi: it IS weird when other people say it

Libi: @ Louie @ Jake

Libi: it’s not like when family say it but you know they have to say it, even if they mean it… 🤔 first and foremost it’s ‘cos they 💘 you

Libi: Saying we’ll get used to it sounds very big-headed but I guess it won’t freak us out as much from now on

Libi: 🤞

Bobby: I'm not sure there's a proper way for me not to get freaked out when other people notice me, even if it is only with their 👀 'cause I still forget I exist to them most of the time 🤷‍♂️

Bobby: but obviously the play was just the start for you, loads of lads are gonna wanna be more than mates with you everywhere you go, soon as they realise how great you are, so yeah, I better get used to that

Bobby: 🤞🤞 I find stuff to 📌📅 when you're on all these dates

Libi: Of course you exist to them! The school is just too bloody lazy to actually make it so more students can acknowledge and actually converse with you like everyone else 😤

Libi: though acting like they’re the issue when it’s actually the world at large is not helpful of me at all

Libi: Ha! I’ll still be sharing a stage with the likes of Lucie, I think the majority of the male population will find other places to look, Bobs 😏

Libi: Anyway, I’ll soon lose any points if I brush enough of them off like poor Louie 😕

Bobby: Alright, maybe I’m not fully 👥 but nobody knows me well enough for 💘

Bobby: and anyone who prefers Lucie knows literally nothing

Bobby: you’d score all ✔️ in everything that makes people 😁 and 😍 you’re not losing any points for Louie or Jake, don’t even worry

Libi: Yet

Libi: Pretty sure that’s the point of dating

Libi: not that I’m an expert on the subject 😅

Libi: you’re sweet

Bobby: You know what I mean, unless it’s a blind date you usually already know each other a bit, enough to be interested anyway

Bobby: nobody’s there yet

Libi: You want to start looking?

Libi: Lots of girls still like the boy to initiate, old-fashioned but works in our favour

Bobby: not my prefered genre either, it’s okay

Libi: 👍

Libi: We could go see the horror after, I’ve checked the times

Bobby: long as your nan doesn’t mind me keeping you out that late, I’m cool with it

Libi: She wouldn’t hold back telling you if she did by now

Bobby: True

Bobby: but don’t mention to Louie what a lucky escape he’s had there or he’ll fancy himself as Romeo next

Libi: Thank GOD we’re not attempting Shakespeare… what Lady Macbeth and the young lovers might inspire in everyone isn’t something I’m ready to find out yet

Bobby: he does put a silent character in most of his plays though, that’d make sir’s job of casting me well easy

Libi: let’s not make his job any easier

Libi: his creative ‘vision’ (as he puts it, I would never) is lacking in well, any creativity

Libi: casting potential included, of course

Libi: I think we’ve all made the best of though, don’t you?

Bobby: What you’re saying is, where’s the blind-deaf solidarity if he’s gonna keep his 👀 shut the whole time 😏

Bobby: *you’ve made it loads better than it should be and deserve all the credit he’ll lap up on opening night

Bobby: that’s what I think

Libi: It definitely wasn’t a one-woman mission

Libi: you’ve done loads, for example

Libi: we’ll have our own afterparty of sorts, and he won’t be invited to make a speech 😏🙌

Bobby: Only props which anyone who takes art could’ve done but I’m not gonna say no to a 🥳

Bobby: is Louie invited?

Libi: I think everyone but the teachers will have to at least be offered an invite

Libi: wrap parties are tradition… I think 🤔😋

Bobby: what about China and Jake?

Libi: Yeah, them too…

Libi: In American films they go to diners, we could do an equivalent, not necessarily a party party

Libi: so we don’t look like we’re ‘taking over’ or whatever

Bobby: Let’s go to [somewhere that has an american diner vibe because I’m sure there is] they have the best 🍨

Libi: Yes! 💡

Libi: Who can be 😠😒🙄 at sundaes?

Bobby: J and J weren’t and they always were back then

Libi: Exactly

Libi: If they can manage to crack a smile, like

Libi: I won’t be heartbroken if certain people don’t want to do it but not going to be accused of any more cliquey-ness

Bobby: me either but I’d be 😁 if we were the only ones there

Bobby: which is why I’ll never be the main character of anything but a really low budget indie

Libi: I find socializing exhausting so I can only imagine how much more you do

Libi: Much easier staying kids and not being expected to do anything we didn’t 100% want to, yeah

Bobby: yeah

Bobby: have they done Peter Pan before? Be more fun than shakespeare

Libi: Not that I know of

Libi: we should ask Ms Howe

Bobby: Alright, but I won’t mention to her how I reckon Jake and Louie could fight it out for who’s gonna be the 🐊⏰ depending which one’s the fastest at taking your hints you’re not interested once this play’s over

Bobby: Or that China’ll have to be 🧚 if you’re Wendy

Libi: Ugh, don’t! She’d LOVE the outfit, if she could convince Mullan to let her wear it… 🙄

Libi: I’d cast her as Nana for the shade of it all, as I’m such a bitch don’t you know, but she’s far too lovely a dog to warrant such a miscast 😏

Bobby: Mr Mullan will probably wanna cast me when he realises it’s not a talking 🐶 she’d have a fight on her hands again 😏

Libi: I think you’d look excellent in a bonnet 🤭

Bobby: I’d rather be the lil brother with the 🧸 be a good luck charm and a weapon against dickheads if needed

Bobby: he’s too young to say much anyway if I remember right

Libi: You’d get to wear pajamas for the whole first act too 👍

Libi: Again, not to sound like a broken record about it, making Peter deaf could be really interesting and make the plot even more heightened

Libi: There’s lots of things he doesn’t understand about real life and real people because he’s immortal, if there’s that added communication barrier between him and the lost boys, it makes the way he is even more logical, in its way, it’s a easy, perhaps a little cliche way, to show he isn’t an ordinary boy

Libi: Not to mention the relationship he and Wendy manage to forge despite this would break the audiences hearts even more when they inevitably lose it

Libi: Clearly, I’ll have to write this persuasive essay for Sir before the next play is decided 😅

Bobby: 😲

Bobby: that’s SUCH a 🥇💡

Bobby: now I’m actually speechless

Libi: I’m pretty proud of that one, ngl

Libi: need to expand the 💭 but it’s got legs, right

Libi: I thought our last idea did but there’s less wriggling out of this, it being a fantasy and all

Bobby: Like you said, we’ll go to Ms Howe, convince her and let her worry about dealing with him, I’ll help you, transition year is a massive faff Jim was right

Libi: Is it nice to have the break though? After your exams last year

Bobby: 🤏 work experience is the best bit by far though and I don’t get many breaks there

Bobby: gonna have to start going 🛌 proper early like I’m 👴

Libi: ⏲ if you mean it

Bobby: 💔 but yeah

Libi: 💔 is easier to deal with than 🥱 in the morning

Bobby: Dunno about that, maybe when it’s Louie on the receiving end of the 💔 and you’re 🥱 of his 😍

Libi: Shh, don’t remind me

Libi: dreading this reply more than my homework

Bobby: [knows her well enough that he writes the kind of reply he knows she would send and it doesn’t even sound like a pisstake]

Bobby: ✔️

Libi: See, you’re a natural actor

Libi: that was a little TOO convincing, if anything

Libi: but I’m not in a position to turn down help 🙏🙌

Bobby: Not if you want me to come round and help with your homework before the ⏲ runs out and all

Libi: 😘

[tefanfics]

Changes

Chapter 13

That afternoon, I stood in my bathroom and checked myself over. I had curled my hair, leaving cascading waves of red to fall over my shoulders. I did my makeup and kept it simple, eyeliner and mascara and a red lip. The next challenge was convincing myself that the few dresses I had brought were considered nice enough. Taron told me to dress up. Which was fine except for I had only brought a couple of options to dress up in.

I opened my closet and peered in, realizing just how empty it truly was. Most of my clothes were still back in the States. With a sigh, I moved some of the hangers and looked at my choices. The floral dress I had worn a couple of weeks ago, a red dress that had a low neckline and a box-pleat skirt or a lacy black dress.

I opted for the black dress and pulled it off the hanger before putting it on. The skirt landed above my knees and the dress hugged in in the right spots. The neckline was a little revealing but left enough to the imagination. The dress was black with a black lace overlay and long sleeves made of lace. I grabbed my heels and slid them on before returning to the bathroom to check myself over. I turned and looked over my shoulder to make sure the dress wasn’t too short. I gave it a nod of approval before reading for my gold rose necklace. I put it on and made my way to the living room, grabbing my clutch on the way.

I put the things I needed from my normal purse into the clutch, including the red lipstick. “Shit,” I muttered as I checked the time. I was running behind. I double checked I had everything then hurried downstairs as quickly as I could in heels. In front of my apartment building, a car waited for me. The driver greeted me and helped me into the backseat before returning to his seat.

I wasn’t entirely sure where we were going but Taron had arranged everything. I played on my phone to distract myself but that didn’t last long, so I watched out the window instead. A little while later, the car pulled up in front of a building and stopped. The driver didn’t move from his seat but the door opened. I looked as someone held their hand out to me.

I took it and climbed out of the car, adjusting the skirt of my dress as I stood up. I looked up and met Taron’s gaze. “Hi.” I grinned as I noted how he was dressed. Black slacks, a nice black, leather coat and a gray button up t-shirt. “Looks like we both picked the safest color.”

Taron grinned as he took me in. He didn’t seem like he had even heard the words I’d said but I didn’t mind. Not by the way he was looking at me. He used my hand to help me twirl and then pulled me close. He kissed me sweetly before stepping away. “You look… Wow.”

Thank god I hadn’t bothered with blush because I would have been as pink as a flamingo. “You don’t look half bad yourself.”

Taron shook his head. “No, I look like a peasant compared to you. Rose, seriously, you’re stunning.” He started toward the building, me following closely behind. He pulled the door open for me as I stepped in. I realized it was a restaurant as I started to look around. There was a lot to take in but what stood out the most was the scent. It smelled amazing in here. We were escorted to a table right in the center of the restaurant. I noticed heads turning as we walked through, hearing a wave of whispers.

“They’re looking at us,” I whispered to Taron as we sat down. This was something I truly wasn’t used to. Being the center of attention had never been my favorite thing.

“Let them,” Taron said with a shrug. He reached across the table and took my hand. “They’re all just jealous anyhow.” He gave a quick squeeze to my hand before pulling his hand back and grabbing the menu on the table.

I looked at the menu but had no clue what I wanted. There were too things that looked good to me. The waitress came and took our drink orders. I sat the menu down and let my eyes wander around the restaurant for a couple of minutes before looking at Taron. “I have no clue what I want to eat,” I said, laughter coming from me shortly after.

“You can’t go wrong with either of these,” he answered. He turned the menu toward me and pointed at a couple of options.

“Surprise me,” I said finally.

And he did. When the waitress returned with our drinks and took our order, Taron pointed at the menu for just her to see to order for me. I grinned as she left and it was just the two of us again.

“This is where I originally planned to take you for a first date,” Taron said as he looked at me, his drink in his hand. “But then the concert.”

“The concert was an excellent first date.” I grinned at him, pulling my glass to my lips. I sipped on the whisky sour I had ordered and sat it back down. Red lipstick remained on the rim of the glass.

He nodded in agreement. “How are you liking the job so far?”

“I’m not going to lie. I actually really enjoy stepping in and kind of bossing people around,” I giggled. “But in all seriousness, I really love it. It’s something I can really dive into and I feel good about what I’m doing.”

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about you,” Taron said. “I know Matthew is really happy with how you’ve done.”

I couldn’t help but to grin. It was reassuring to hear that I had been doing well. “I’m kind of surprised we haven’t been caught yet.”

“Well don’t jinx it,” Taron laughed. “I quite like the secret kisses. They feel very-“

“Forbidden?” I cut in. I smirked at him before averting my gaze. I bit my lip as I felt those butterflies again and looked back up at him again.

“Very much so,” he answered. I could see him gulp. I could see the playful smirk forming as he took another drink.

I held my hand out on the table and he took it. We stayed like this for a few minutes until our dinner arrived. We ate in the silence that had grown comfortable to me. I didn’t feel as though I really needed to say anything to fill the quiet moments. There was an easiness with Taron that I enjoyed.

I crossed one leg over the other, leaving my foot to hang in the air. The table was small and I knew Taron’s legs were close to my. Slowly, I moved my foot forward until I had met Taron’s leg. I didn’t look up from my plate as I kept my foot there, gently pressed against him.

I excused myself and disappeared to the bathroom. I stood in front of the mirror and retrieved my red lipstick, fixing it. My cheeks were red and my face was warm, thanks to the alcohol. I left the bathroom with a smile plastered on my face.

As I walked back, I spotted Taron. There was a change in Taron’s demeanor as he sat there. He reached for his wallet and signaled the waitress over. He signed the check before finishing what little was in his glass. I returned to the table and sat down, wrapping my fingers around my drink. I looked at the glass in my hand. I had switched to just plain whisky. I lifted it to my lips and downed the rest of the amber liquid, burning as it went down my throat.

Taron raised his eyebrows at me as I sat the glass down. I heard him chuckle as I felt the warmth of the alcohol take over. “Does whisky always go down that easy?” He asked as he stood up and held his hand out to me.

“It does,” I answered with a nod. I took his hand and stood up, following him to the exit of the restaurant. “Usually helps with bad decisions too.”

“Are you planning on making bad decisions this evening?” Taron continued as we started down the sidewalk in the beautiful evening.

“Depends on what the rest of the evening holds,” I retorted, a smirk forming on my red lips. “Guess we’ll see.”

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #290

“you’re a little pistol, & i’m fuckin’ pistol-whipped.”

What’s the biggest argument you’ve ever had with a family member? Did things ever go back to how they were beforehand? Definitely something with Mom. The biggest was probably in the car one night where she got so mad at me that she tried to kick me out of the car. No, I didn't listen. I don't really remember exactly what we were arguing about... other than it was something small that blew up about bigger themes. Have you ever experienced some kind of natural disaster? Hurricanes. If you have pets, do you feed them human food or do they just get regular pet food? If they do get human food, what’s their favorite thing to have? Roman only gets cat food. He's actually really well-trained about not taking human food after he did once as a kitten. Now he might just sniff around curiously and give it a look, but food can be pretty close to him and he doesn't go for it. Have you ever been in a physical fight? Who won? No. What were you lighting the last time you used a lighter or matches? Probably a candle. What’s the mode of transport that you take or use the most? Mom's car. Are there any sequels to things that you prefer to the original? I'm sure. Oh, Shrek comes to mind; I love the original, but the second is my favorite. What games do you play on your phone, if any at all? Just Pokemon GO, really. I have a couple others up there just for my niece and nephew to play. Aside from family, who was the last person you spent time with? How do you know that person? miss rona doesn't allow "hanging out." Do you spend a lot of money on your appearance? No. Have you ever had a zoo keeper experience or anything where you’ve been able to go behind the scenes and look after/feed the animals? I wish! :( Do you have an item that is your good luck charm? No. Your favorite thing about your job (or school)? N/A Least favorite thing about your job (or school)? N/A Do you have a "funny" toenail? No. Favorite canned soup? Meh, not a soup person. Do you have a particular coffee mug you drink from? No. Your take on declawing cats? It's cruel as fuck and you're despicable if you think it's all good and well to torture your cat like that. Do you have smoke detectors in your home? Yeah. What was your favorite snuggle toy when you were a child? First it was my little stuffed bunny that held a polka-dotted blanket, but through most of my childhood I cuddled a stuffed moose I got from Ohio at Cabela's. Brownie is still on top of my dresser. :') What did you do on your first date? Got Sonic and saw Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in the theater. I had the weirdest first date in that he invited my mom lmao. I still count it as our first one, though. The last time you let someone go, was it to make yourself happy or them? Myself. Who was the last person that could tell something was wrong with you? My ma. Have you ever thought about online dating? If so, were you desperate? Well I had a long-distance relationship, but it wasn't through a dating app or anything. Had one of those once and am mortified by it (even though no one shoud be), but no, I wouldn't have called myself "desperate." I was just incredibly lonely. Do you try not to take a lot of medicine or do you take it whenever? I just take it if I need it, honestly. I've been medicated pretty heavily most of my life, so whatever. Are you ever scared of people reading your survey answers? I wouldn't put them out there if I was. Would you ever go back to your most recent ex? That's the plan if things go ideally, but I'm not letting my hopes get too high. It'll be nice if that happened, but I'll still live on if not. What’s your best friend’s pet’s name(s)? She has lots of pets. There's Martha, Crowley, Little Dot, Jane Marie, Doris, Buster, Mango, and for her fish, I only know the one pleco's name: Raisha. When was the last time you got a splinter? I'm not sure. Are there any spiders in your room right now? I mean, probably. Somewhere. Have you ever taken a picture while laying in the grass? Not of myself. Who’s your favorite Disney charater? Dory. Are there any framed pictures of you in your house? In family shots, yes. What was the first television show you were obsessed with? Pokemon. Do you and your friends normally say you love one another? Definitely. How often would you say you get sick? Almost never. Let's not jinx it. Is there anything you get for free as a benefit for being a member of something? No. When were you the saddest in your life? 2016 was a year I'd wish upon absofuckinglutely nobody. Do you think bald guys are attractive? It would depend on the person? I don't find them inherently unattractive or attractive. If you don’t recognize the number of who’s calling, do you answer anyway? Nope. How do you pronounce route? "Rowt" What's the last thing you looked at under a microscope? Something during a biology lab when I was still in school. We looked at a number of stuff. Pretty cool. What internet service provider do you have? ... We just moved and changed providers and I already don't remember. Do you ever hear of something disgusting that you haven’t seen, so you go and look it up? This is very rare. If something is *disgusting*, I don't exactly wanna see it. If you had to get a tattoo on your face to save your life, what would it be? I'd have to think on this. I'm not opposed to a subtle face tat anyway, maybe near my ear or eye. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear? No... but I've always kinda wanted a partner to lmao that's cute as fuck. Who was the last person you were “in a relationship with” on Facebook (including anyone you may have put “in a relationship with” for a joke)? Sara. Were you ever “the other man/woman”? How did it turn out? How do you feel about it today? No, and I never would be. What do you think of open relationships? If your partner suggested it, what would you say? Not for me whatsoever, but it works for some people. I'd honestly leave the relationship because I'd feel like I wasn't good enough. Would you ever date out of your race? I have before, would do it again with no problems. Have you ever had a reptile for a pet? Oh, plenty! Did you have a swing set when you were a kid? Yes. Swings were my favorite outdoor "toy" as a kid. What is a book that you really want to read? The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. I fucking adore The Handmaid's Tale and I literally have the book, I'm just too into WoF to make time for it. What is something that you really want to try, whether it’s a hobby, food, etc.? A lot of things. I guess to name one... wow, now that I'm actually thinking, nothing is coming to me, lmao. What sort of things do you like to post or look at on Tumblr? Mark-related stuff, what a shocker. What type of people are you usually attracted to? "Different," but not in a super weird-you-out way. I like clearly unique, truly one-of-a-kind people. What song are you listening to at the moment? "Watching For Comets" by Skillet is on. I'm surprised I feel okay listening to it. How often do you take naps and how long do they usually last? Almost daily. They can be an hour or two... embarrassingly, haha. Who’s one person who changed how you viewed something? Hannah Hart on gay rights. How many pillows do you like to sleep with? Two. What was the best conversation you’ve had recently? I dunno. Have you ever considered modeling? Nooooooooooo sir. When was the last time you did something daring? ME? DARING? Who in the world knows. List five of your favorite foreign foods. Uhhhh. 1.) This requires a lot of thinking and 2.) I'm very uninformed in what is *actually* truly foreign food that I've eaten and not just an American adaptation. I'm not very adventurous with foods, either, especially when I know it's "foreign." What types of seafood are your favorite? I just like shrimp. Do you write a lot for pleasure? I wouldn't say "a lot" anymore. Do you like bacon? Oh yeah. Do you like Rammstein? Hell yeah, they're in my favorites list. Have you ever been to a State Fair? Maybe, but I don't think so. Do you like YouTube? Maaan, I don't know what I'd do without it lmao. If so what's your favorite channel? I like that Mark R. Pliers guy a little bit, and lately I've really been digging Snake Discovery and Hazelnuttygames. Good Mythical Morning/Rhett and Link are deep, deep in my heart still, even though I don't watch them anymore. There is truly a *lot*, it's why I don't need television, haha. What is your favorite small dog breed? Papillons, probably. When was the last time you went through a McDonald's Playplace? Oh yikes, no clue. I definitely haven't ~really~ been in one since I was much younger (uhhhh and smaller), but I do have a faint memory of starting to go in one chasing after a kid. Maybe my nephew when he and his dad visited? idr What was the first comic book you ever had an obsession over? I was never into comics. Do you like kids pop-up books? BITCH you are LYING if you say you don't like looking at the cool effects lmao. Have you ever ridden a camel? No. Have you ever punched somebody? No. Can you sing opera? Oh, definitely not. Who was the last person you video-called with? Have you done this more often since COVID hit? My therapist, and you could say that, considering I never did before because I hate video calls. If you have pets, when was the last time one of them annoyed you? What happened? Roman (my cat) was just playing too rough with my hand. He's always hyper in the morning. When was the last time you took a dog out for a walk? Is this your own dog or did you borrow someone else’s? Wow... it's been many years. I walked Teddy sometimes, but that definitely slowed down and eventually came to a halt as he aged and his joints got bad; he would hesitate going down the porch steps, and I didn't want him to get too tired mid-walk and then have to go up them. Have you ever been the victim of a theft or robbery? What was stolen? Did the police ever catch the person who did it? No, thankfully. Are you a fan of garlic bread? Do you eat it on its own or as part of a bigger meal? Garlic bread would ruin my life if I let it, lmao. It's always a side. When was the last time your area was under some kind of weather warning? Did it end up being as bad as predicted? There was literally a tornado warning three days ago. I don't think so, no, but then again I didn't really look into it. Do you prefer having the blinds/curtains open or closed when you’re at home? Does it depend on the weather or the time of day? OPEN. You NEED natural light, I promise. I used to like my room as dark as possible in my worst times, but I am so glad I cut that out. I like, feel a part of me lighten up when I open my blinds in the morning. Who was the last person to tag you in something on social media? How do you know that person? My mom shared something that reminded her of Roman. Have you ever eaten a Big Mac? No; I don't like lettuce in my burgers, so I'm sure I wouldn't like it. What brand is your vacuum cleaner? I'd have to check. Where was your favorite hangout as a kid? So at my childhood home, down the road was a "stream" (aka a ditch and drainage pipe going underneath the road) that usually had at least some water in it, but if it rained, it really started to feel more like a real stream to us kids because of the movement. It drained into the pond just beyond the woods, and my sisters and some neighbors loved to play around that area. What’s your favorite pizza topping? Pepperoni,ig. Which sport do you suck at the most? All of 'em lol. My hand-eye coordination is awful, and hell no can I run. Are you good at rapping? I've never tried, but I'm certain I wouldn't be. I stutter so badly, and it's been getting worse. Can you say the alphabet in more than one language? I know it in German. Do you eat three meals a day? It varies. What do you want out of life? Fulfillment. To feel like I did something worthwhile.

[senotsuri]

Going with Negative Legend’s keyboard controlled playthrough, because it is technically the wii version. If I notice anything I want to mention that he cuts, I’ll point it out.

Pregame/Tutorial

Unknown Hyperspace? It’s the centre of Vestroia’s void what are you on about

Naga’s screeching doesn’t match his voice. It sounds more like an eagle than a stock evil

“Finally, the Silent Orb is complete! Now, all bakugan will bow to me!” this thing is going to be forgotten about for ages. It’s super important later.  “Moments later, in the doom dimension” which means Leonidas was created indirectly by Naga (Naga generated the Silent Orb.) If it weren’t for the fact that he immediately leaves, Leonidas could be a super good gatekeeper for the doom dimension

Depending on your Leonidas’ attribute, the first ghost that forms the energy ball Leonidas explodes from will be the same attribute. Neat! Nega has a purple ghost. From what I can see, it comes from a dead Robotallion

What I find weird here is how much BBBmc likes bakugan, but is such a beginner that they still don’t know how to get bakugan from the store Alice runs. They don’t even know all the rules (not like there are many, let alone many the game actually gives you.) It’s a minor nitpick, and seems to be a poorly fixed remnant of the factsheet plot

Dan is BBBmc’s friend prior to this on the factsheet, but BBBmc in the game acts like Dan’s never actually met him, and vice versa. Also canon inconsistencies are gonna fly high, despite being written by the show writers

Why is Dan explaining how this game works? I know he made the rules in part with Shun, but given that Alice does the tutorial section of the game otherwise, shouldn’t she be teaching BBBmc? Eh, any way to make Dan’s like for BBBmc work, ig.

The tutorial doesn’t let you select any gatecards yourself.

Gates boost gs, change battle rules (unless silver; they’re blank), and decide on game mode (shooting is gold, matching is silver, and shaking is bronze)

BBBmc throws his gate card with one leg up, implying he got himself off balance, which is really cute initially, but out of place by the end of the game

“You rock!” Dan says, any time the tutorial goes according to plan

You can shoot at your opponent’s bakugan to basically heckle them. They can’t do this back to you. It’s very petty, and the closest BBBmc can get to passive aggressive, but it’s usually worth it in a very specific tournament later

The character design is actually better here than in DOTC imo, even if the character creation is worse in BBB

Serpenoid looks dead when he loses.

“I just love the fact that they have Dan teach you the game. It just makes you feel so validated!” Nega has a very good point actually...

Double stand-- Ok so Nega does say that he’s finally figured out what the shooting is for (making double stands easier), but he’s only figured out what half of it is for.

When you miss, Dan goes “Try it again!” with a thumbs up and a wink, and you can retry your throw. It’s very cute what the hell. Also rule breaking on Dan’s account

Power throws are a man’s worst enemy when you have terrible control of your controls

“We could end up as partners in the tournament Shuji was talking about!” Dan is wrong threefold here; the tournament Shuji mentions is the Neo Challengers Tournament (1), which is a 1v1 format, not 2v2 (2), and Dan is partnered with you in a tournament Shuji isn’t even in (3)

“To enter a tournament, I need a wicked bakugan; something like Drago!” BBBmc means that his bakugan aren’t really strong enough to be reliable assets for a tournament (and also bakugan that can talk), but it sounds like he jinxes getting Leonidas, since Leonidas does look wicked in both senses

The store in BBB is super nice looking

The Battle Brawlers are famous enough to be internet known, and specifically famous enough for the members to have their appearance and first names known. This only continues until you meet the last member, so feel free to forget that they’re internet famous

I realise that this does in fact mean that there would’ve been a late 2000s-esque fandom for the battle brawlers, canonically speaking, but the concept is very slightly cursed.

BBBmc drops by the store to look around “almost everyday”. This is why I’m confused as to why he doesn’t know how to buy the bakugan... If it’d been something akin to “could you remind me? I think I forgot...” then I wouldn’t find that odd, but eh. Minor nitpick

“I’LL BULLY SOME WEAKLINGS TO GET SOME EASY BAKUGAN POINTS!” Nega is technically referring to Akira, because he’s the only opponent at the start of the game in the park

“I’ll be a battle brawler... someday.” BBBmc is prophetic here; he actually does become one later (albeit honourary...)

Intense god rays and field opening glow causes bakugan to appear I guess? That being said, Leonidas’ colour is easily visible through the intense light?? weird. Also the intense light fades and rains down in faint drops of colour, accurate to Leo’s attribute.

“Yeah! We’ll beat ‘em all!” The park is pleased that you even acknowledge its primary function

“I sense that in this world I will only release my true powers in these bakugan battles...” Leo’s technically right, but his true powers are about as standard as any other bakugan with a signature ability.

“Was that a yes?” BBBmc essentially just went “weird, but ok.” right in Leonidas’ face. And then calls him Partner. Nega’s character is wearing white cowboy lookin’ chaps so I find this even funnier why is there a whip at his waist-- 

[sanfl0werrr]

Back to 2003 ▪︎part 1

“there's more than what the eye can see, the heart can love, and the brain can understand.” ― Louise Philippe Dulay

p r e s e n t

시작은 달콤하게, 평범하게 나에게 끌려

at the start, you were sweetly, naturally attracted to me

언제나 그랬듯이 먼저 말을 걸어와

you stepped up to me and told me it would forever be like that

모든 가능성, 열어둬 oh

all the possibilities, opened up oh

it was at that moment, when Mirotic starting playing in the restaurant, the memories of being 17 came rushing back to you like a flood.

you recalled the times when you stayed up late to record DBSK's performances and shows they appeared on, the times you got scolded by your parents for skipping school and the times you made memories with your friends who were also a Cassiopeia.

it was the most memorable moments during your youth because you loved endlessly and vigorously despite the judgement from others. some supported the love, others not so. regardless, DBSK was once the sole receiver of your affection and that had somehow changed along the way.

2020 had just started, and a couple just announced they were getting married at a class reunion after 17 years.

"this song was everywhere, wasn't it? i'm guessing the fan in you has toned down, y/n?" danoh asked, full of curiosity.

you gasped in shock, "how could you even think that?"

your best friend, sooyoung, rolled her eyes, "don't even start. remember the news regarding them splitting around 2010-2011? you should have seen her then. an utter mess."

"how could you say that?" you nudged her and squinted your eyes, feeling betrayed, "you liked them too! that's how we became friends."

"and i wish i hadn't introduce myself to you that way," sooyoung fake cry, "the love and dedication you had for them were continuously increasing over the years, i couldn't keep up!"

the others who were there had laughed and immediately after that, aera spoke up, "honestly, i thought you would be single for life. who knew you'd marry before sooyoung?"

you scratched the back of your neck and laughed awkwardly, "i thought so too."

"another amazing thing was that y/n married one of our classmates too!" danoh squinted her eyes, deep in thought while counting with her fingers, "you know, that famous clique? lee jeno, huang renjun, lee donghyuck and na jaemin?"

"they were undeniably popular! even the juniors and seniors cried at the wedding," aera laughed, recalling the memory.

all of a sudden, sooyoung, danoh and aera placed their face on their hands, expectations were evident on their expressions.

you looked at them in confusion, "w-what?"

"tell us how you did it," danoh fluttered her eyes, "how did you managed to get him, the guy everyone wanted to be with, to love you?"

"it's like you getting married to DBSK! that was how we felt when we heard the news!" aera dramatically explains.

"even i want to hear it for a second time," sooyoung added on, "it was chaos."

you paused for a moment.

"i don't know if we should be happy, getting compared to DBSK," everyone turned towards the voice that was suddenly heard.

everyone gasped.

"glad all of you could make it! and of course you should be happy. it's an honour to be compared to DBSK, renjun," you rolled your eyes.

he rolled his eyes as a response, "hello to you too, mrs hero y/n."

your eyes sparkled in glee, "it's been so long since someone called me by that nickname."

"i wouldn't be so happy if i were you," jeno chuckled, "just think of the bad coincidences that happened right after someone says that nickname."

"it's a sign that you and kim jaejoong were never meant to be, y/n," donghyuck added, laughing while shaking his head.

your lips quiver, tears forming in your eyes, "why do you all keep mentioning that? don't jinx it!"

"there, there. it's alright," jaemin stood behind your and patted your head, "you got to admit, she's toned down a lot."

you rolled your eyes.

"i mean, it's because she's currently loving two men at the same time right?" sooyoung explains.

"hey!" you smacked her, "you make me sound like i'm committing adultery."

"well, aren't you?" jeno squinted her eyes.

donghyuck claps his hand and exclaims, "all of you should see the shrine of jaejoong she made. until now, i can't get used to it."

"i don't know if she comes home to see jaejoong or her family, you know?" renjun shook his head.

jaemin nodded his head, agreeing with what renjun said, "thinking about the past makes me get goosebumps."

"well, what does your husband say about it, y/n? i'm really curious about it," aera turned to look at you in anticipation.

you gestured your hand towards your husband and sighed out loud, "why don't you just ask him yourself? and for your information, i had a hard time convincing him too!"

all four of them; renjun, jeno, donghyuck and jaemin; shouted in unison, "you deserved it!"

2 0 0 2

“kim y/n!” your mother shouted, “you better come out and eat your breakfast!”

you had your headphones in, listening to BoA’s album on repeat while trying to put on the eye contacts that you’ve previously begged your father to buy for you. it was the first day of school and you wanted a new look for a brand new year.

“what’s this girl doing?” your mother groaned to herself while making breakfast, “kim y/n! this girl-”

“kim y/n, if you’re not coming out this very instant, i will destroy that door and you will have no privacy!” your mother raised her voice.

"i’m out! i’m out!” you huffed in annoyance, “i can’t even get ready in peace.”

“guys, notice anything different?” you smiled widely and posed for them in different angles.

“how is it?” you fluttered your eyes at everyone, “am i pretty? am i pretty? how’s my new look, renjun-ah? jaemin-ah? jeno-yah? donghyuck-ah?”

all you could hear as a reply was their coughing and how they tried to avoid your eye contact. you squinted your eyes in annoyance and pouted at the silence or in this case, lack of response.

“minus lee donghyuck and lee jeno,” you huffed in annoyance, “why are the two of you always here?”

“free food,” renjun stated.

“i think it’s nice to eat breakfast with friends,” jaemin chuckled.

“all of us are neighbours. what’s wrong with two extra people?” your mother defended renjun and jaemin, “and you don’t even finish your food, y/n!”

“why do you always scold me when they’re around? and do you know how much food you make? you could even feed the whole neighbourhood!” you defended back, “forget it! i’m going to school!”

“y/n! don’t forget your lunch!” your mother shouted back.

you mentally cursed yourself for forgetting to bring lunch. you thought that you wouldn’t get hungry but even during the first day of school, it was already filled with lessons, lessons and more lessons.

the teacher said that it was the preparation of ‘major examinations’, which you rolled your eyes at. you wanted to at least enjoy the first year of school, which now seems like an impossible feat.

“hey,” someone tapped your back, “do you want to share this with me? i don’t think i can finish and you looked like you forgot your lunch.”

you widen your eyes in glee, “c-can i really?”

“yeah!” the girl nodded and laughed, “i’m naeun!”

“i’m y/n!” you introduced back, “thank you so much, naeun.”

even before you could take a bite of the food, the door to your classroom banged open, “y/n.”

the girls in your class screamed. 

you turned around and raised your brows, “jeno? why are you here?”

“the reason why i’m here,” he placed your lunch down on the table, “you forgot this.”

“okay, thanks, but why are the rest here too?” you pointed towards the door.

“we’re in the same class and just finished lunch,” he explained.

you tilted your head to the side, “wait, you mean to say you finished your lunch first, then you decided to bring mine? when it ends in 15 mins?”

“time’s ticking, young lady,” jeno winked and left.

“that crazy bastard,” you whispered to yourself.

you turned back to naeun with an apologetic expression, “i will bring you lunch tomorrow, okay?”

she nodded back, gleefully. “no worries about it, y/n!”

school after that became chaos. the girls in your class became envious of you for knowing lee jeno, lee donghyuck, huang renjun and na jaemin. not only that, you could sense the seniors kept keeping watch outside your class during lunchtime every now and then.

one day during lunch, you brought this up to naeun, “is it just me or does it feel really ominous today?”

“it does feel weird,” naeun looks around, “even the seniors aren’t here.”

“when you said it like that,” you made an uncomfortable expression, “it feels really scary.”

she laughed, “i’m sure it’s nothing!”

it felt like someone was following you when you were walking home that day after school. it was just your luck that you still didn’t have a phone, while the rest of your friends do.

you thought to yourself, please go away.

you were holding onto the straps of your bag as if your life depended on it, praying and hoping that you were going to reach home safe.

“y/n!” someone called out to you from afar.

you looked up and saw them; renjun, jeno, donghyuck and jaemin. you heaved a sigh of relief and ran up to them.

“woah, what happened?” jaemin peered into your face, “why are you sweating so much?”

you immediately cling onto jaemin and whispered, “i thought someone was following me. the whole day felt weird.”

jeno flicked your forehead, “don’t get home so late if you’re scared.”

“crazy bastard,” you glared at him, “i can fight! i will fight! let’s settle this once and for all.”

jeno laughed, as if mocking you, “with that height?”

“lee jeno, you’re freaking dead,” donghyuck laughed.

you cursed under your breath, pulled your jacket sleeve up and glared at jeno, “come here. why are you running? come back here!”

“there you go again,” renjun sighed, “stop fighting!”

“i think it’s hilarious,” jaemin put his hand over renjun’s shoulder, “let them play.”

“let’s go home,” jaemin finally put a stop to the endless fight, “let’s get ice cream!”

the moment ice cream was mentioned, all five stood in a line, with you in the middle. you, jeno and jaemin got mint chocolate while renjun and donghyuck got vanilla.

“confession time!” donghyuck suddenly started out.

“i like donghyuck and jaemin the best!” you joked and laughed out loud, “jeno and renjun are too mean for me.”

“you realise that nice guys always don’t get the girl, right?” renjun teased.

you rolled your eyes, “we’re friends, in case you’re wondering. let’s stay friends for as long as we live.”

at that moment, you had temporarily forgotten the bad ominous feeling you had been feeling in your gut., but you knew it wasn’t ending so soon.