#i had to add that last sentence so that it didn't end on a punch to the gut

[hotluncheddie]

✨FrankenWIP game✨

i've gotten tagged in some last sentence / six sentence / wip weekends, which i didn't have the energy to do before lol, but now i kind of do! and i've been working on seven posts for @subeddieweek so i want to share some of those, as a treat and in the form of a mish mash game that i made up the rules for :)

[also been working on the summer fic exchange for @sidekick-hero but ur not allowed to see that yet hehe]

Rules:

post 3-6 sentences of your most recent WIP's, with titles, and people can send you asks for more 3-6 sentence snippets! tag as many people as you want or just use this as a reason to add a few new sentences to your projects!

no pressure tags:

those who tagged me hehe: @someforeignband @pearynice @momotonescreaming @oakenorcrist @marvel-ous-m @steddie-island @ao3usermelancholyhues

and also: @babydollbaron @scoops-aboy86 @wynnyfryd @puppy-steve @flowercrowngods @sidekick-hero @finntheehumaneater @steviewashere @rogueddie @stevesbipanic

(snippets under the cut 18+ obviously)

Day 1: Accidental subspace

Steve had his gloved finger in Eddie’s mouth. Eddie never realised how intimate the dentist could be. Not until he’s laying on Steve’s bed, head on one of Steve’s pillows, bracketed by Steve’s thighs so he can lean over Eddie. lean over and put his gloved finger in Eddie’s mouth. 

Day 2: Cockwarming

Eddie’s mouth is still obediently open and his sticky red cock is dripping onto Steve’s thigh. ‘Swallow.’ Steve tells him and Eddie does with a whine. ‘Your turn, hump my thigh like a good puppy yeah?’ Steve murmurs, kissing Eddie’s swollen lips and relishing in how sweetly Eddie moans as fingers finally sink in. 

Day 3: 24/7 dynamic

He drops his keys in the bowl and puts his coat on the hook. Sighing the day away. Focusing on where he is now. 

Home, where he’s met, like always, by his sweet thing. 

His fallen angel. 

Day 4: Edging

‘I know how she tastes.’ 

Eddie feels like all his air gets gut punched out of him, feels his fucking pupils dilate so fast his vision goes blurry. He makes a strangled sort of moan. Feels his boxers and jeans flood with cum.

‘Did? Did you just?’

Eddies panting so hard all he can really do is nod his head. 

Day 5: Possessive Steve

And he does like it. Likes having all those eyes on him, the attention and praise. Even if they don’t really know him, just think he’s hot, that’s enough. It’s why he chooses pants cute extra tight, why he slices the ends off all his t-shirts, why he lets his mascara run and never wipes the sweat from his neck. He wants the crowd to want him, look at him and hunger for him. Even though they’ll never really know him, it’s okay. 

Day 6: Bondage

Steve smiled, indulges, gaves Eddie the cookie bite by big bite, slipping his fingers inside for Eddie to suck. 

‘You like this.’ Steve said, then, and Eddie nodded, too afraid to explain that it was everything, all of it, more. 

Eddie liked it. Liked it, especially, from Steve. 

Day 7: Daddy Steve

Eddie closes his eyes, breaths through his mouth but his exhale gets choked on a sob. Fuck, it’s been such a bad fucking day. ‘I need to not fucking think for a while, don’t, don’t wanna exist anymore Stevie. Just wanna be here, be yours.’ He pleads, tears sliding down his cheeks and snot filing his nose. 

[be-anti-fragile]

Finished CP with the Devil ending the first time, long essay full of Spoilers about how heartbroken it makes me feel

I'm 3 years late, probably, as I bought and played the game only now to be sure it's more polished.

I went in blind, as I had avoided spoilers about the story and game, and the game drew me in immediately.

Especially Takemura really grew on me. In the beginning I didn't take him seriously and didn't pay so much attention, found his parade leaping plan ridiculous and he reminded me of an annoying fatherly coworker. Someone you ask a question and he immediately assumes you can't count to 3 and explains it to you beginning from how life evolved.

Don't even know when or how it happened, but after the mission where you sabotage the wagon, I thought I'd romance Takemura and this, when I believed it was still possible, was the most fun I had in the whole game. I was doing side quests to buy expensive clothes for our next meeting, and then his messages popped up where you can ask him to have dinner and he ghosts, and I was really looking forward how this all would develop.

Well, plot twist, it didn't. At least not how I wished it would.

As we all know, the game is really immersive, so when I had Hellman and he got all cocky about the negative diagnosis, when Takemura entered the room, I felt actual relief. Thank God you're here.

It was a no brainer to go back and save Takemura. And the fact he leaves V hanging and disappears upset me for a whole week. I kept doing sidequests and calling him from time to time to see if anything had changed, but no. So I decided to check out the endings so I could read stuff about the game without fearing spoilers.

Since I had zero interest in interacting with Panam or Judy, I didn't do their quests and went straight for Hanako.

You can't believe how happy I was when I learned that Takemura would pick V up and MAN HE LOOKED CRISP in that white suit. Then when he rolls his eyes on Hellman and defends V. The moment where V tells him to ghost and do gigs and feed cats and he declines but thanks V. The moment before where he learns Saburo did not even tell him the whole truth but it's not enough to make him change.

It was like watching a movie for the umpteenth time and you KNOW what happens and you KNOW it will end bad and it's a movie and will never change but still there's a tiny part in you that hopes this time it ends differently.

The whole episode on that space station just made me sad but then happy again when I heard Takemura's voice after all this testing nightmare. I hated how he didn't want to disclose what he was up to like a real business professional but I signed the contract and his remark to see him in Kagawa made me believe it would happen. Like a real fool. I really believed if V signs up for this thing, they will find a body for her in time so she can go back and visit Takemura in Kagawa.

It hits you differently when all you want in the game is to be with Takemura and THIS IS your romance with him. Only afterwards it slowly dawned on me that he has just said that last sentence to comfort V and maybe because he wants to believe this himself but deep down he also knows it will never happen.

I am sitting here all teary eyed and don't understand myself how much this has messed with my feelings. I didn't expect that it would hit me that hard. I also cried during Soma though which deals with similar topics and left me feeling like someone had punched me in the gut as well, BUT, Soma had the decency to add the happy ending after the gloomy one (which maybe is different because there definitely are 2 simultaneously, unlike in CP, but if CP had added a small scene where V steps out of a vehicle, sun on her face, looks around some Japanese town and sees Takemura waiting for her nearby, that would have been comforting. Siding with Takemura does not necessarily mean it is because of Takemura, maybe V just believed this would save her and she could go back to her friends afterwards, but they could have easily added another choice/check for which people did like Takemura best and give them such a scene instead of messages by people I did not care that much for like Misty and Panam and Judy)

It's not really clear to me how Takemura can be such an important person for V in this ending, as intended by the devs, accompanying V through all of it, even the boss fight, and the last human (besides the guard) you see, yet it seems to dismiss this connection at the same time, like when you can call someone important to you and he's not an option, does not send V a message after V is gone, etc. - but it FOR SURE underlines the message that his loyalty is with Arasaka and this will never change and I feel like an idiot for falling for it. I can't even be disappointed about because I knew from the beginning and Johnny had pointed it out often enough.

Love games dealing with difficult topics, just didn't expect to feel that heartbroken about how it all plays out when you decide to side with Goro.

Didn't really know what to do with my feelings than leave them here where maybe someone understands.

Thinking about playing Baldur's Gate 3 but I'm worried there will be something similar disappointing.

[nochuelinha]

Chapter 4: Lepus

   A few days have passed, I've fully adapted to the Cullen family, my family now. I've spent hours talking about books with Jasper, although he's very reserved and quieter than the others, he's kind and helps me with everything I need, he and Alice make a harmonious and somewhat unlikely couple, but the way their eyes sparkle when they meet doesn't deny the love they feel for each other. With Emmett it was a muscular thing ? We bet on races and hunts several times, I managed to beat him in 3 arm falls and we exchanged punches a few times, amicably of course, he was like an older brother who liked to pick on everything, unlike Rosa who is always delicate and restrained, she taught me several things like how to behave and not let others walk over me, she helped me to have more confidence in who I am.

     Alice is the friend I never had, a sister, a companion, she goes out of her way to help me, it feels like I've known her since I was very little, she taught me how to dress based on the things I liked, she showed me how to apply make-up so that my pale skin wouldn't be my only feature, but she always made it clear that it wasn't to hide my freckles.

___ It's one of the traits that makes you unique, as well as enhancing your beauty, it's common for us to become more attractive with the transformation, usually our best traits are revealed, but I've never seen eternity fall so well on a person and you wear it very well, let's just add a little color, see yourself as a canvas that can always change and show itself differently - she said as she calmly put makeup on me, nothing too extravagant, a little blush to make my cheeks blush, mascara to make my eyelashes look more voluminous and a gloss - you have well-defined and marked features, your mouth is beautiful and fits in perfectly with everything - with every little change she made, compliments would reach my ears, with these little self-care routines with her I learned to think of myself as more beautiful and secure.

     Esme taught me how to make different kinds of tea and when I asked her about a cup of coffee, she was very happy to make one for me, she really acts like a mother, I went for a few walks with her, we picked flowers to decorate the vases in the house, we talked about how the weather in Forks was closed, but at the same time it had an air of coziness and we shared calm and happy moments. Carlisle introduced me to the library, full of all kinds of books, it was probably bigger than the bookstore where I worked, he gave me free access to all of them and taught me things I didn't know, talking to him is very easy, he is wise and manages to put you at ease in his presence, now I can understand his fame as the best doctor in town, not only because of his medical skills, but also because of his social skills.

     Now the time I spent with Edward was very interesting, he showed me all kinds of artists and musical genres, he let me into his world a little, which I noticed was more melancholic and a little melodramatic, but made him more sensitive and delicate in his own way. It was late at night and I was lost in my reading, but with a little attention I began to hear a piano playing. Curious, I got up from my bed, put the book aside, not before marking the last page I'd read, and followed the sound, at the end of the corridor was Edward's room, the door was ajar, I didn't want to be nosy but the melody was so enchanting that I couldn't help but feel drawn to it, I stopped in the doorway, he was playing with such emotion, it was almost a crime to watch without his permission. Then he stopped. He stood up and turned to me. If I still had blood running through my veins, I'd certainly be redder than a bell bell pepper.

___ I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, I heard the sound and followed you, but I'm already on my way back to my room, have a good... - I began to stutter and speak rapidly. And before I could finish my sentence, I was interrupted.

___ You can come in Stella, it's no bother, it's been a while since I last played for anyone, would you like to hear some more? - he asked gently, I looked into his eyes, which were always warm, but something was wrong, they were dim and taciturn. I went in and sat down on a sofa next to the piano - Do you have anything in mind? - Well, I didn't know any classical music, but I remembered one that I heard at Christmas time when I was 15, on the small TV in the orphanage in a special that was on.

___ Clare de Lune? - I let out without being too sure if that was her name, but Edward gracefully sat down on the piano bench and began to play delicately, the sound filled the room and my heart, I remembered my childhood and the things that have lived up to this point, everything I've been through, the difficulties I've faced, everything was thrown back and forth in my head, my thoughts running deliberately as the music played, I let my mind travel through the song, I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the moment, honestly I could spend eternity listening to him play so elegantly. When he finished, I smiled, it was exactly the song I listened to as a teenager.

___ I'm sorry - he whispered, I opened my eyes and stared at him without understanding what he was feeling - Your thoughts were very loud, your childhood and life in the orphanage, the things you've been through, I'm sorry - he explained calmly, I felt undressed again by his gaze, you can't hide anything from him, can you?

___ Those were different days, I don't think I suffered that much, I like to think I was always optimistic about the things I had to go through, then a gift fell on me and after a lifetime, I finally have a family - I didn't want to sound so melancholy, but the moment made me a little sentimental.

___ I can teach you how to play if you're interested - he proposed solicitously, I cheerfully accepted and my piano lessons began at that very moment, learning new things made me excited, it was as if I was now able to achieve everything I'd always wanted, not that I couldn't before, but it seems easier now. Days passed and always at the same time our classes took place, it was easy to be in his presence, we exchanged easy conversations, sometimes he told me more about himself, about his girlfriend, and I had forgotten that detail, him someone, that won't change the fact that we can be friends, I just have to control my heart.

     When I went shopping with Alice, she bought me a new cell phone, and on a whim I asked for headphones. At times when I wasn't with any of the Cullens, I either spent time reading or listening to music, both of which calmed me down and made me happy. My eyes were finally golden, so tomorrow I would start going to school in Forks, in second grade, just like my brothers, it's different to refer to them like that, but it's so pleasant.

     When it was time to leave, I made myself as presentable as possible, Alice persuaded me to change my haircut, the long hair still remained, but now I had a straight, full fringe, I loved the result and Alice went around the house shouting how cute I looked. I chose a wine dress, with tights and boots, a leather jacket and simple jewelry. Was it too much? I did a simple make-up and went downstairs. Rosa was happy with the result and complimented me, like everyone else. We went down to the garage, Emmett, Rosa, Jaspes and Alice occupied a car, Edward opened the door of his volvo, I didn't know which one to get into. I went towards Emmett's car when Edward's voice stopped me.

___ You're coming with me, they're too noisy - he replied laughingly, Emmett and Alice gave him the tongue. I went towards his car and got in - Let's go by Bella's house - and so he started it, the silence was comfortable, when we arrived at Bella's house, I got out of the car under Edward's confused gaze and got into the back seat, a few minutes later a pale girl with brown hair appeared and ran up to the car, she got in and didn't notice me.

___ Hey, you're early today - his voice was murmured and low.

___ Well, it's Stella's first day of school, she's even here - Bella looked back startled and I gave her a smile, she returned it robotically, Edward started the car and the silence now seemed to carry a ton. When we arrived, I almost jumped out of the car, much faster than I should have and ran, as slowly as I could, towards my brothers, Rosa laughed.

___ What, you don't like our sister-in-law? - she joked and I made a cartwheel.

___ She didn't talk the whole way, I can't form an opinion like that, but I don't want to be rude, she smells like a wet dog - I whispered and Emmett laughed out loud, and I scolded him.

___ She's friends with a wolf, that's why she smells like that, but it usually happens when she spends time with him - Emmett replied casually. Edward and Bella didn't come any closer, it sounded like they were arguing, they weren't being very discreet - Here we go again, the couple of the year is arguing again, from what I heard she's wearing a wolf boy's jacket - Emmett was stretching to hear better, Alice tugged on his ear.

___ Don't meddle in other people's lives, let's introduce Stella to the school - she scolded Emmett and smiled at me.

___ She's like a bloody wolf disguised as a rabbit - Rosa said between breaths.

___ Wouldn't she be disguised as a lamb? - I asked without thinking too much, Emmett laughed again and slung an arm around my shoulders and we walked into the school. Apparently it's going to be a lot of fun studying here.

[ask-paradox-and-friends]

CHAPTER SEVEN APOCALYPTIC DESTRUCTION PT 2

_______________________________________

*The fight had begun when Paradox charged right at the Hindu god and then with a simple jump he rammed his knee into Shiva's face making him stumble back. After he regained his composition only for a large golden gauntlet covered fist to charge at his face. Of course Shiva blocked it and the other two fists that flew at him. Somehow missing the palm from the fourth arm which hit him right in the chest using the bony parts of his body and his own sturdy body he pushed The destroyer back.*

Shiva:ha…ha… I must say you are rather impressive…is this why they called you the Living Apocalypse?

Paradox:ah man..on one hand I'm upset that you lived as I'm worried for my family's safety but on the other hand….I'm happy that I'll at least have some fun!

*this sentence was ended with a smile which didn't fail even after Shiva punched him in the torso and then kicked him in the side of the head.*

Paradox:how odd….I felt that…hehe…maybe I've found my equal…how..exciting!

*After at least 5 minutes of punching each other Shive kicked out his leg forcing him to his knee and turned around to charge a kick. Only for Paradox to grab his arm and pull it back while squeezing tight.*

Paradox:Say goodbye to this!

*with one last sick sounding tear Shiva's arm was ripped right off him. Of course Heimdall was screaming about how strong they both were. It was at this point that fight along with the tournament was broadcasted to all of the afterlife but also to the living because a few gods had interfered and sent to world of the living to show what the gods truly were.*

Paradox:hmm…down one. Five to go.

*the duo kept moving as both started dodging each other's swings with both sides family and friends chanting their names. Both seemed to grow stronger and more driven and even happy?*

Shiva:My fists! Your body! My punches! Your Gauntlets! Which will win?

Paradox:The DETERMINATION AND WILL OF THE MORTALS! THE WRATH OF THE FALSE GODS! HEAVEN AND HELL! TWO SIDES ONE COIN! ONE SCALE! WHICH SIDE WILL FLATTER!?

*As Shiva kept punching Paradox over and over all around his body, Paradox would take a few swings occasionally to smack or in his words slap him to do some damage. One powerful punch from both sides knocked some sense into both of them with Paradox spitting up teeth and Shiva's saliva and blood mixed as they fell from his mouth. The duo then gripped each other and kept slamming their heads into each other. Over. And over. And over. And over! Will they stop? Of course Shiva's wives were saying Paradox as a mortal shouldn't have lasted this long as Paradox's family from his grandparents and parents to even the family who had long since passed were cheering for their champion.*

*with the head butt match over Shiva chuckled and admitted to holding back some so he started…dancing? Paradox took a deep breath and his very aura started turning from red green and purple to add pink along with blue. As Paradox looked at his own aura and sighs.*

Paradox:...mother always said I was gloomy but…this is new..I'm in a spot where when I was younger I would shake in fear. But now..I don't have fear? I've lost all my anger for him..I see now..I haven't lost all negativity I've just found a being like me…like my family…like my friends….heh..YO! SMURF!

*Paradox laughed as they fought more with Shiva effortlessly hitting and kicking him around like a ragdoll Paradox had a look on his eyes that Shiva knew…it was comradery. Did this mortal see himself in Shiva? In his family? As he took a second to think he saw Paradox winding up a backhand after enduring another beatdown.*

*With a powerful swing Shiva blocked only for a loud crunch as Shiva's top arms flew right off his body. Shiva looked down and then smiled.*

Shiva:oh how you've got skills! But so do I!

*Shiva then punctured his own chest beating his own heart faster. This confused everyone except Paradox.*

Paradox:phew…I must say smu—no no no no more insults..no more nicknames…LORD Shiva! You've done more then enough to show me you aren't like what I've heard from the others. You you are a great guy! Only if we hadn't met in this setting! HaHahHAHAHAHHAAHAHS!

*Shiva's body started turning red and he rushed with new speed and with one fair kick blew two of Paradox's own arms off him*

Paradox:well now that could be an issue..BUT I DON'T CARE!

*Shiva then kicked Paradox into a wall with enough force to shake the arena and make a large cloud of dust.*

Paradox:Thrud…are you okay with me looking like a goddess abomination? Yes? Good…

*Paradox then smiled.*

Paradox:over 150 years ago a volcano God known as The forest eater and a woman who was seen as the heart of the sea met and fell in love thus resulted in my great grandmother..she soon met another demigod..this one was from a god of the very earth around us all…this union of love made 8 children. Their youngest and strongest son was my grandfather…after his 18th birthday an angel from heaven connected to Yawach came down to earth to see why the gods were always so interested in humanity and soon grew to love it all and the earth itself. They soon met and, of course, married. They had 4 children. Their oldest was a shape shifting woman with the skills of a dragon. This was my mother..across the globe a fae and a giant had a child but of course the giant bailed out of fatherhood and my father was raised by a human who's words made him the man who'd raise me and my older sister. Hehehehehehehehehehehe.

*With a loud explosion Paradox stormed out. He had grown to 10 feet tall his tail had changed from blue to dark indigo a pair of wings covered in feathers and scales sprouted from his back and both had large eyes on them each one looking like they had fire in them he had grown claws so large they were encasing his fingers and his scales had covered almost his whole body as both his legs became like that of a demonic goat complete with hooves that trailed fire from hell and soon Paradox lowered his head which shows his head that had become a floating flaming dragon skull with antlers horns and 9 empty eye sockets each holding a glowing light each a different color of the rainbow with them seemingly being connected to a emotion he had every felt.*

*with a giant stomp Paradox shook the whole arena and even shook some gods off their seats. Of course many yelled at Paradox.*

Ares:Wha..WHAT IS THAT!?

Aphrodite:KILL THAT ABOMINATION ALREADY!

Various gods of the Hindu pantheon:Shiva crush that eyesore alright? Do it for us! Shiva! Shiva! Shiva!

Paradox's family:GET HIM! KICK HIS ASS! BREAK HIM! GGGOOOO!!!

*Meanwhile, humans of all kinds were stunned at the fact that this large—thing was their champion… demons were shaking in their place as a few gods of the underworld raised an eyebrow. They had heard of a large monster but they didn't think it'd be this mortal.*

Paradox:LET'S GO LORD SHIVA! SHOW ME WHAT KIND OF GOD YOU ARE! SHOW ME WHY THE HINDU PEOPLE WORSHIP YOUR LIFE! SHOW ME WHO YOU REALLY ARE!

Shiva:I must say this was a surprise! I'll show you what I am! But promise me mortal—no Paradox I'll give you the best battle ever! COME NOW PARADOX! BRING ME YOUR ALL!

*both charged at each other as they knew why they fought flashed up. Shiva:For my friends,for my family, for India! Paradox:for my family, for my home, for those I hold dear to me including my friends!*

Both:I WILL WIN!!!!! RRRRRRRRRAAAAAA!!!!

[imaginecorporation]

You have definitely outdone yourself writing that slow painful demise of San's and Bada's relationship with one another. A simple misunderstanding over one brother's overprotectiveness and one brother's anger at being perceived as weaker has wrought so much damage to their little family. Whoever their parents were, I wonder how sadly they would have been when they see their sons turned against each other.

Wait, there is a part three?! Ooooh more please! Keep the angst flowing! And thank you once again! You should turn this into a fanfic one day. There are so few San and Bada fanfics even on AO3. - Faithanon

P.S. Forgot to say this earlier on but thank you for the additional song suggestions you made for the first Bada and San post and for the one you said you'll add to the third one! -Faithanon

_______________________________

You get what you ask for! I.. might flesh this out. Someday. If I don't, I give permission for any of you to do so! As mentioned before, the song. - Mod Finn

Just Like You (Part 3/???)

Part 1 here! Part 2 here!

"I regret to inform you" was a phrase Bada was familiar with in the 27 years of his life.

"I regret to inform you that we've reviewed your application, and have gone forwards with other candidates."

"I regret to inform you that we are currently out of milk at the moment, sir."

"I regret to inform you." "I regret to inform you." "I regret to inform you."

The letter was sent by the Hana Association.

Bada almost refused to read the text that followed. That is, until Martina gingerly picked the letter from his hands- since when were they shaking- and, quietly, in the dimmed light of the Cane Office's break room (they had both been 'asked' to work late that evening), began to speak.

"OFFICIAL LETTER OF NOTIFICATION TO NEXT OF KIN CONCERNING THE CHANGE OF STATUS TO KILLED IN ACTION.. Dear mister Bada. On behalf of the Hana Association, I regret to inform you that the name of your brother, San, a partner of the Zwei Association, has appeared on a list of those that have been pronounced dead after taking on the request of investigating the Urban Legend known as 'The Library'. I regret that this information I must provide to you at this time adds to your stress and emotional strain. You will be advised promptly when any additional factual information is received or an official change in status is made.."

Bada drowned out the rest.

He couldn't hear.

He couldn't feel.

He couldn't even think.

San? Dead?

Couldn't be.

They... Bada hadn't answered, let alone read, any of San's letters in the past six years.

After all, he was Baby Bada, the younger brother who couldn't stand up to the oh-so-amazing Fixer Superhero San had become! He was going to prove to him how he was missing out! He was going to do better than his older brother could ever hope to achieve!

And, to top it all off, while his brother was stuck at a dead-end Office, seemingly capped at Grade 6.. Bada had made it far beyond that. Bada had made it to Grade 2, an accomplishment marking the only time he ever wrote back to his brother, bragging about how much better it was being on his own than being stuck taking care of his brother's dirty laundry every week.

He got up.

He had to go home.

Bada flung open his door, practically bolted to his spare bedroom, where he had stored all six years' worth of his brother's letters. Practically tearing the file cabinet open, he frantically opened letter after letter after letter after letter, reading through each one.

"Hey, Baby Bada! How's your first week alone? In case you forget, here's directions to the fast food place you went to last year for your birthday! I hope you've settled in well-"

"Hey, little bro! I haven't heard from you in a while and wanted to know if you're okay, or just too busy to answer! Here's my number- and Julia's and Isadora's. Don't hesitate to call or text if you need any advice, or just want to yell about coworkers! I'll write again soon-"

"Hey, bro, are you still getting these? I've decided to create my own office and wanted your opinion on it's name-"

"Bada, I got my first employee today! His name is Mars, he almost reminds me of you some days-"

"Hey, guess who's Office is a total of three people now! Her name is Lulu, here's a photo of us for when we're just as big as the Cane Office! Don't forget me when you're a Color, okay?"

"In case you read this, here's a coupon to a store I've heard you like to visit from your coworker-"

"To Mister Bada. You know what? Fine, maybe you are better off without me. Have fun with the loan sharks, and don't get eaten. You do your thing, and I'll do mine. Signed, San, Operator of Streetlight Office"

Bada didn't get any sleep that night, instead curled up next to a steadily more beaten file cabinet, torn-up letters and notes scattering the ground around him.

[clone-whore-99]

Troublemaker

Chapter 10: A Nice Change of Air

The Bad Batch x f!Reader

Warnings: Mature-ish, some angst as usual, descriptions of fighting and sore muscles, Echos past, everybody gets to relax for once LMK if I need to add more

Authors note: I have been struggling to write. Like, crazy struggling. Like, I've only been able to add a few sentences a day and this chapter is shorter than I'd like, but I also just want it out by now. Hope you like it anyways ❤

If you like it, please do let me know by liking and commenting and maybe even reblogging, it would mean a lot to me 🥺👉👈

Arriving at Kamino

Work, Armor and... Clones?

Let it Out

You shouldn't have done that

Talk about it

The 20 Questions Game

Crosshair

Echoes of the past

The Fight

-

Sore Muscles

Heavy Rain Weights the Mind

Waste of Time

Your knees were burning from the constant friction against the padded floor. Sweat covered your skin in a thin layer, every muscle was screaming from soreness and your lungs felt like they were on fire from the nonstop panting and gasping.

"You're not done already," The mocking tone in Hunters voice made it sound more like a question than the statement it was. "You haven't even been able to lay a finger on me yet."

While sitting on the sideline, Crosshair felt the need to further fan the flame of your frustration. "Told ya, you need to build up your stamina." He smugly reminded you.

"When did you tell her that?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Obviously; that's why it was asked," Tech pointed out to his brother, but Crosshair just leaned back against the wall, with his signature toothpick sticking out from his arrogant smirk.

Slowly, you got back up on your feet, much to the disdain of your aching muscles. With arms as heavy as lead, you wiped sweat off your brow, before retaining eye contact with the man in front of you.

Hunter tilted his head back in a cofident way, a smug smirk plastered across his lips. "You're looking a little worn out, ad'ika. You sure you want to continue?"

The two of you had been at this for at least an hour - most definitely more though. It started out with your fighting stance. Hunter pointed out how unstable it was, demonstrating how easy it would be to topple you over. From that point on, Hunter had avoided everything you threw at him. Every punch, kick, push, bodyslam and whatever else you could think of, had been dodged, redirected, blocked or ended with him restaining you or throwing you to the ground. He never actually hit back and made sure not to hurt you in the process. The amount of times your head had been in contact with the ground was embarrassing. He hadn't even broken a sweat in the process, while you were drenched in it! The four men sitting on the sideline cheering, critiquing and betting throughout the fight didn't help much either.

You charged towards Hunter as fast as your tired legs would let you. You raised your fist into what would've been a left hook, but at the very last second when Hunter was ready to block it, you spun around to do a roundhouse kick instead.

Aaaaand your face instantly met the soft floor with a loud 'thump'.

Like he had so many other times, Hunter held your leg in his arm for a moment, so you couldn't as easily get back up. However, when the floor pads vibrated from your low groans of pain, he carefully put it down by its partner, then kneeled in front of you.

"Alright, you're done for today," he said through a caring smile.

"Noooo..." You half-heartedly protested into the floor. Hunter turned your head to the side, so you could more easily breathe and communicate. "It isn't fair. You're a soldier who has been trained for this your entire life, obviously I won't be able to beat you!"

The side of Hunters lip curled and his eyebrow was raised in a cocky yet questioning manner. "And the guy from the mess hall you nearly picked a fight with isn't?"

"He's a shiny, there's a difference."

"You know about shinies?" You could hear Echo question.

You let out a huff of air in exchange for chuckling. Very slowly and with your muscles aching in protest, you managed to pull yourself up into a sitting position. "It'd be rather impressive if I worked around you clones this long and didn't pick up on some of your linguistics along the way."

"Shiny or not, he's still trained in combat," Hunter stood up and reached a hand out to help you. You pouted at the hand, not wanting to move again this soon. "Come on mesh'la, we need to move on so the cleaning droid can get the room ready for the cadets. Plus, you really need a shower after all of this."

"What, you're not digging the sweaty look on me?" You finally grabbed the hand offered to you and Hunter pulled you up with ease.

"Mesh'la, look at how I live," Hunter said, with his arms out in a gesturing motion while heading towards his armor. "I don't care about a little sweat. I just figured a fancy civilian such as yourself wouldn't want to walk around all sweaty."

You scrunched your nose at Hunters mocking tone about your social status. "Fair point, I guess... What's the quickest way to the apartment?" You turned to face Tech.

"There is none. However, there should be a changing room with a refresher and a shower not far from here," Tech pointed out, while adjusting his goggles and looking at his datapad.

You faked a dry laugh. "No. You clones are sweet and all, but I'm not about to get naked in front of a bunch of you. And, it's not really like this place got gendered rooms, since the only women around here got their own apartments."

"Hah, don't worry adi'ka, we got a plan for that!" Wrecker got up from his sitting spot and went over to give you a comforting pat on your back - causing you to nearly stumble over in the progress.

These guys really had a plan for everything. Even undisturbed refresher visits.

Turns out, there used to be more clones like Clone Force 99 - more defective clones as they themselves put it. You still hated using that word for living beings. Anyways, some of the others had issues with how the 'normal' clones looked at them while in the 'fresher, so they constructed this whole plan.

Tech would slice into the system and mark the room as being under maintenance so nobody else would enter. Wrecker would stand guard to make sure nobody questioned it and Crosshair and Hunter would be on the look out for anyone checking up on it. That way, their brothers with deformations - and in this case, you - could shower in peace.

Only problem was, these showers weren't entirely like the one in your dads apartment. It was on most parts, but you couldn't find the soap or the towels. Something, you noticed way too late.

"Y/N?" A voice echoed through the durasteel walls. "I got your bag of clothes here."

You stuck your head out of the shower stall to give a proper thanks, only to burst out laughing at the sight you were met. "Thanks, but why the hell are you wearing your bandana like that?"

Hunter got a huge grin on his face by the sound of your laughter and began to soundlessly chuckle - the only reason you knew, was because of the movement of his shoulders.

"It's so there's no doubt I won't take a peak."

"You trust yourself that little around me?"

"It's for your comfort, mesh'la." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Now if that's all -"

"Wait!" You hurried over to grab his arm before he could leave. You waited until he turned around before continuing. "I, ehm... This is dumb, but I can't find the soap or towels... Since you can get around pretty well without being able to see, maybe you could help?"

A cocky grin came across Hunters lips. "Sure, if you'll turn off the water real quick so I don't get soaked," He said, pointing with his chin towards the stall.

You happily complied with his request and went to turn off the water. Not even a second passed from when it was turned off, Hunter appeared behind you and reached over your shoulder, careful not to accidentally touch your bare skin.

"I guess it's not like the one in your dads apartment?" His smoky voice was restained, yet warm. Out of the whole squad, he was the one who usually kept the most distance to you physically.

"Not really..."

With a quick touch on the wall, a sidepanel appeared and dispensed soap. The kaminoans were really practical and minimalistic with their designs. "That's how you get soap. As for towels..." His voice was right next your ear and you could see out of the corner of your eye that he was still blinded by his bandana.

With two simple steps, Hunter readjusted himself behind you, so he could reach further into the stall. Still, he kept making sure to be respectful of your boundaries and went out of his way to not touch you.

Though, that quickly changed when he touched a button right by the shower controls and warm air suddenly blew all around you. Shocked by the sudden impact, you took a step back and instantly collided with Hunter, who grabbed onto you for support but quickly let go again and stepped back.

"Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to..." He started, but you instantly cut him off.

"No no no, please don't be sorry, I stepped into you!" You corrected him, waving your hands in a dismissive way even though he couldn't see it.

Hunter sighed and rubbed his neck awkwardly. "I should've warned you. Instead of towels, they use hot air to dry you off. Less laundry and all."

You nodded thoughtfully. "Smart. Thanks for the help... Oh, and Hunter?" you stepped closer to Hunter, barely leaving any space between the two of you. Leaning up, you placed a small kiss on his stubbled chin. "Thanks for everything you do for me - all of you, really. I've never had anyone do even half as much for me as you guys. I really appreciate it."

In return, Hunter placed a hand on the back of your head and let his lips lightly grace your forehead. "It's no problem cyare. The feeling is mutual." His hand moved from the back of your head to your shoulder and he gave it a small pat before stepping away. "Let's discuss it when you're dressed again, okay?"

And just like that, you were left to your own demise again.

You returned to your shower, now knowing how to get completely clean.

Despite what it at times would seem like, you actually really liked it on Kamino. True, it wasn't as colorful or lively as Coruscant, but the air was unpolluted and the water was clean. On the rare occasion where it wasn't raining, you could actually see the stars in the sky and the nights weren't filled with police sirens.

It was a nice change of air.

The rest of the evening was surprisingly quiet. You had been too tired from the humbling fight session with Hunter to go to the mess hall, so Wrecker had been kind enough to bring food back to the barracks for you. He still vastly overestimated how much you could actually eat.

You could already tell your muscles were going to be sore the next day. Tech offered to give you a massage to help, but out of consideration towards Hunter, you had declined.

Right now, Tech and Crosshair were discussing whose bunk you were going to sleep in. Crosshair meant that it was best to stick with what you were used to, but Tech argued that after what happened that morning, it would do both of you good to sleep seperately. You decided to stay out of the argument. As long as you had a place to sleep, you were fine.

Instead you sat on the couch, doodling away on your datapad.

Wrecker sat on his own bunk, doing curls with the heaviest weights you had ever seen and watching the arguments between his brothers like it was the most interesting thing he had ever witnessed.

Hunter laid on his own bunk, headphones covering his ears, datapad resting on his stomach and with his eyes closed.

Echo leaned on the backrest of the couch, looking over your shoulder. "What are you drawing?" He asked.

You shrugged. "Nothing, really. Just doodling." Twisting your head backwards, your eyes met Echos. "Felt like I needed to do something but didn't want it to take too much thought or energy, y'know."

"Yea, I get that." He said with half a chuckle, then jumped over the backrest to sit next to you. "Can I see?"

You handed Echo your datapad. "There's not much to see. It's just dumb scribbles, really."

"Well, you're good at making dumb scribbles then." Echo offered you a smile and a small nudge to your ribs with his elbow.

With a roll of your eyes, you took the pad out of his hands and placed it on your other side. "You guys aren't half-bad artists yourselves. I've seen the stuff you paint on your armor and ships, it's pretty impressive."

A look of genuinity reflected in his amber eyes for a fraction of a second, before a teasing glint overtook it. Echo leaned back with his hands resting behind his head and his legs crossed in a really arrogant way. "Yea, I guess once this war is over, we'll always have a career option as artists."

You gently pushed him while rolling your eyes again. "Just take the damn compliment, you wiseass."

Echo laughed and jokingly held up his hand in a yielding manner. "Alright alright! Compliment taken."

Once the laughter and jokes between you had settled down, your eyes landed on the scomplink replacing his right hand. "Can I ask you something?"

"You wanna know what happened." Echo held out the scomplink so you could get a closer look.

"If it's alright with you, of course." You replied with a low gulp and a careful nod.

Placing his flesh hand on the back of your head, Echo let it slide down to your shoulder and gave you a light squeeze. "Of course it is, mesh'la. There isn't much for me to tell you, though. I was on a rescue mission to free some prisoners of war. I tried to get our ship so we could escape, when it blew up - and me with it." He shrugged. "Next thing I know, a year has passed when Captain Rex and these guys rescued me from CIS on Skako Minor. Turns out I survived the blast and the damn seppies had been using me to win their battles..."

The way Echo told the story was similar to how your dad used to describe work when he came home at night. Like it was just a normal day for him. Right until the last sentence. It was filled with anger and regret and sadness.

Your heart sank at the realization. Getting blown up in battle was a reality to these men, no different than going to the office was for everyone else. The painful part for him wasn't blowing up, it was being used against his own team.

Instantly, your arms were thrown around his shoulders, pulling him into a tight hug.

"You poor thing, I'm so sorry to hear that," You whispered into his neck. Tears were prickling your eyes.

Carefully, Echos arms reached around your upper body and held you in a tight embrace. You could feel the side of his lips curl against your head.

"It's not all bad cyare. Afterall, I probably wouldn't have met you if it wasn't for this happening."

"Oh ha ha," You said in a monotone, ending the hug with a friendly slap to his chest.

Upon getting back into your previous sitting position, you noticed that all the other men were staring at you. Even Hunter had removed his headset and leaning on his elbows to get a better view of the two of you.

"What?" You asked, shrugging your shoulders.

"Nothing..." They all replied simultaneously in their own way, then went back to their previous task.

You turned to look at Echo, who shrugged with just as confused a look on his face.

Dividers by: @eloquentmoon and @djarrex

Taglist: @zoeykallus @rain-on-kamino @thebadbatchscyare @thebahdbitch @salaminus @mybigfatspoonielife @tararosebloodthorn @chxpsi @coffeeandclaws @timothyshousefire @tazmbc1 @nunanuggets @rexandechosandwich @the-good-shittt @showerthoughtsonly @ashotofspotchka

Please let me know if you want to be added to the taglist (and if you want to be added to only this series or all my fics) ❤

[silverynight]

According to Aizawa, it's a very important aspect of the hero life to learn to trust each other; that's why they end up in pairs that day.

Izuku finds himself training with Todoroki while Bakugo glares at them from the other side of the gym; he's determined to treat Izuku in a more friendly way now, which is why it confuses him at first his insistence to glare at them like he wants to punch something.

He quickly forgets about it though because he needs to focus on the training exercise. At some point Todoroki and Izuku have to coordinate their attacks and movements; Izuku lets himself fall and Todoroki grabs him by the waist (using his ice to move himself up and catch him midair) to put him back on the ground safely.

"Thank you!"

"No... problem," Todoroki mumbles, cheeks turning slightly pink in seconds; he looks flustered.

Izuku tries to move, but feels the grip of two hands still on his waist. He wonders why Todoroki hasn't released him yet.

"Uhh... Todoroki?"

"Yes?"

"Your hands..."

"Oh, right!" He moves them away quickly as the blush on his face spreads down his neck. "Sorry!"

"It's okay, don't worry."

However, the boy with mismatching hair seems to be distracted for the rest of the session, he keeps looking down at his hands every now and then before glancing shyly at Izuku.

"Todoroki, are you alright?"

"You have a small waist," he blurts out suddenly. Izuku is not sure if it's a compliment or not until the boy adds: "I like it. It's like it was made for my hands..."

For a moment, Izuku doesn't know what to say to that so he just looks at Todoroki; it takes a couple of seconds for him to realize what he just said, but when he does, the left side of his hair bursts into flames; he makes them vanish by running his fingers through his hair.

"Did I say that last thing out loud?"

"Yes," Izuku nods, but smiles at him: "It's okay though! You mean that we can use this to our advantage during a mission, right? I'm glad you're already thinking about that!"

"Yeah, that's... exactly what I m-meant."

"Great, now let's keep training!"

***

It doesn't end there though; Todoroki keeps grabbing him by the waist even if they're not training (perhaps he just wants to get used to Izuku's weight in case they need to coordinate their attacks again).

"Let me help you, Midoriya!" He always insists, before grabbing him by the waist to sit him on the couch or lift him enough for him to grab a book on the tallest shelf. One day he takes him by the waist because Izuku is walking in the opposite direction to where they want to go and turns him towards the right one.

"You could've just told him," Uraraka points out with amusement.

"Didn't think about that, sorry," Todoroki mumbles, but he doesn't look like he's sorry at all.

***

Everyone notices and Bakugo starts getting angrier and angrier until he decides he's had enough of that.

"Why is half and half always touching you?"

Izuku realizes he's making an effort not to yell, even though he's clearly pissed, although he has the feeling that his anger is only directed at Todoroki for some reason.

"Something about my waist being small... I think," Izuku mumbles, still not so sure. "I think he just wants to get used to my body weight in case we need to do something like that in a mission."

"HA?" Bakugo's eye twitches in a funny way before he says: "I'm going to fucking kill him! That's bull..."

He doesn't finish the sentence though; an idea seems to be forming in his head as he looks down at Izuku.

"What if I'm the one who has to go on a mission with you?"

"You're right, Kacchan! Do you want to try? I mean out of the two of us, I'm the one who's easier to carry in case of an emergency..."

Bakugo nods, although he looks speechless for a moment. His hands tremble a little before he puts them both around Izuku's waist. However, he lifts him like he weighs nothing.

When he puts him back on the ground a blush appears on his cheeks, but he doesn't let go.

"You do have a small waist, Izuku..."

"That's what Todoroki said! Perhaps we can use the fact that I'm easy to carry to our advantage somehow..."

"I'll definitely use it to my advantage," Bakugo whispers before a smirk quirks the corners of his lips up. "I just remembered that I have to do weight lifting today, would you help me, Izuku?"

"Of course, Kacchan! What do you want me to do?"

***

Todoroki doesn't like it when he finds out Bakugo has been using Izuku instead of weight plates for his daily training.

Izuku doesn't mind, it's kind of relaxing, besides, Bakugo is always very careful when he carries him around.

"It's my turn."

"FUCK OFF, HALF AND HALF!" Bakugo growls, pulling Izuku closer to him when Todoroki walks in the gym that morning.

The green haired boy sighs; he's getting used to their flights at this point, even though he doesn't like to watch them argue.

"I think you two should start using weight plates again..."

"NO!"

At least that's one thing they both agree on...

***

Patreon

[fabricated-misslieness]

pairing: chūya nakahara x lazy male reader

req: yes | wc: 1.87k | cw: nsfw, size difference, praise kink, biting, blood, dirty talk, belly bulging | minors dni

anon: Hi! I was hoping I could get a smut for chuuya if you could make it kinda of a part two from the other chuuya fic u have and if u can could u add a size kink and a praise kink if so thank you so much!

a/n: you thought the demon was a himbo, ha!

"You know these don't tend to last long." You send the man pushing you against the wall a wink, making sure he knows you're still top. Chūya chuckles in response.

"I'm prepared for that." Chūya gives you a smirk. You don't know it, but he doesn't mean it. He hopes it is only your sheer amount of power that attracts him to you, but he knows it's not true. He really isn't that keen on having this be a one time thing. He rather it be a long, loving relationship, keep it lasting for as long as he can; if he has to teach you commitment, he will.

You raise an eyebrow for a minute, judging his composure. "Mkay.. good. You need me to lift you, though? You're quite a way down."

Chūya huffs and rolls his eyes. With you, he's heard something along those lines about a million times. He can't control his height and he certainly can't control yours. Jeez, it's as if you were a giant. If you and him stood next to each other, he'd look like a child, not that he was that much taller than a child anyway.

"Oh shut up with that… but yes." As much as he didn't want to admit it, even though it was very clear, he couldn't kiss you from 'all the way down there'.

"Thought so." It's the shit eating grin on your face that makes him regret this. "Hold on to the horns will ya? You'll need the support."

"Doesn't bother ya?" Chūya asks, doing so anyway. They feel rather tough, like how he imagined crocodile scales to feel. Your wings, on the other hand, weren't as he'd imagined them to be. They felt like leather, despite the fact they looked like rubber. He couldn't fathom how hot they'd be in summer.

You shake your head, in turn moving his arms. "Nah. Anyway, what do you think about the fangs?" You momentarily open your mouth wider to show him. "Would you rather I don't bite you or I do?" They're not as sharp as say, a vampire or a werewolf, but they could definitely puncture.

"Maybe test them first?" You know, what he meant was that you bite his finger, or something, not his neck. It definitely stung, but it hadn't punctured. He was sure if you hadn't controlled your strength, he'd bleed. He hissed at the pain. Though it was nothing he couldn't handle, you'd taken him by surprise.

"My bad, precious." That was a new nickname. "What do you think? Did you like it? No judge if you're into it." The mention of a biting link made him think of some past lover with said kink. It sort of made him jealous.

"What if I find your sweet spot? Would that persuade you?" You bite his neck, finding the spot that made him moan. "Knew it. They're usually there." He hated the way you rubbed your past lovers in his face. In time, he'd make you forget. He was sure of that.

"Well?"

"Okay.."

"Would you look at that?" Chūya couldn't focus on anything right now, the pleasure, and pain, was too much. You would pester him for how long he took to adjust for sure. "I'm balls deep in you and I can actually see it." He hadn't registered that first part until now.

He looked down to see his stomach clearly bulging. He laughed at the sight of it. You were really a giant, in more ways than one. It was kind of.. hot though. The size difference was already turning him on, at this point it was a lot.

"Sexy." You remark, licking your lips. If it weren't for your dick, he would want that tongue in him.. again. "Can you even talk right now?"

Chūya chuckles, fixing you with a playful look before pulling you down by the horns. "Of course I can." He whispers in your ear.

"Good." You move the slightest bit, though to him it felt more than that, which urges a moan from his throat. "Although I'd like to see you try when I fuck you with no mercy."

Chūya is flustered to no end, but as the competitive guy he is, he can't just back down, even with your dick inside of him. "Is that what you say to everybody? 'Fuck you with no mercy'? How about 'fuck you 'till you're begging for hell?'"

You smirk, shaking your head to mess with his arms. His hands were surely indented with the pattern of your horns by now. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Are you ready now?" You were going to nag him about the time, just like he'd predicted. "You've been sitting on it for so long you could call it cockwarming. But maybe you're into that, haven't discussed the deets just yet."

"What can I do?" You laugh. "Your dick is big, you said so yourself."

"Then the details. What do you like?"

"P-Praise." He's a little nervous to admit it, what with the fact he acts like a tough cookie. He had to build up some courage for this moment.

You shift a bit as you think about it. All of a sudden, you start moving slowly. It's still quite a bit painful for Chūya, but your praise makes up for it. "You're doing good, baby." Your rough voice along with the way you grip his hips with your claws sends chills down his spine. "Just a bit more."

You chuckle, toying with the idea in your mind. You thrust a bit more, barely even containing yourself with how horny you are, before stopping to ask. "Like that?"

He had bitten his lips to keep his moans from coming out; he'd nearly drawn blood "Yeah, yeah, just like that." If his eyes weren't shut so tightly he'd be so much more flustered by the look you're giving him.

"Think you're ready yet?" The impatience was clear in your voice.

"Mm, yeah."

Your thrusts are slow at first, as a precaution. It was a wonder how you hadn't started going fast, though. You'd been in him for so long without moving that the impatience and anticipation were building up.

"You can go faster now." You smile, but you don't speed up, which confuses him. He was sure you wanted more, so why didn't you give him more?

"How much faster?" It's only now that he realizes it's a cheeky grin. 

Your sultry eyes seem to enchant him, making him unable to think properly; well, that and the thrusting. "I don't know."

"My terms, then." He doesn't like the sound of that. Luckily, you catch onto his uneasy look in time to reassure him, but your words don't do much. "Don't worry, you'll be just fine."

There's no warning after that. Your thrusts are quick and hard, just how you like them though only a little less than normal. After all, you'd gotten from, say, a 1 to a 7. Since when did you start calling your thrusts like a vibrator?

"You're doing good, baby!" He didn't know why, he did but he didn't know now, but he thought you'd sound more sarcastic.

His grip on your horns loosen and his arms feel weak. Just how vulnerable did you make him feel? He couldn't hold back from letting out a loud, high-pitched moan. It caused you to laugh, which he hated since he knew you were about to tease him. "High-pitched, just for me?"

He rolled his eyes at you, maybe a little bit because of pleasure, responding just as quick. "I mean you– oh! Holy shit!" He was interrupted by his own moans.

"What was that you were going to say?"

"Straying from– ah shit! Shit shit shit!" He repeated. That chuckle of yours made him realize you'd been hitting him hard on purpose to tease him. "Straying far from," He stops himself from moaning by biting his lips momentarily. "p-praise here."

You almost pout when he finishes his sentence, but you nod. "Right, sorry, precious~" You basically purr. “You’re taking my cock so well. Are you ready for more?”

“What?” You’d only just changed pace, so why would you- “Ah! Fuck me..” You hadn’t even given him time to answer, and you didn’t mean to either. This pace was the fastest, and roughest, Chūya had ever felt before, and god, did he love it. He could barely even form words, apart from curse words that were oh so familiar. The only thing that left his mouth were moans and he couldn’t even bite his lips.

“Mm, can’t talk anymore?” You weren’t really good at praise, were you? Well, it was new to you, since most of your lovers turned masochists at the sight of you. You didn’t make them, they just did. smug hoe

His arms, tired and a little sore, fall from your horns and grip your wings, which are wrapped around him. It causes you to hiss, but it’s a mere feeling in the back of your head from all the pleasure you’re getting. “Careful with those, darl.” You say with a chuckle. “You can’t break them in your state right now, but they still hurt.”

“S-Sorry.” He manages to say, continuing with moans afterward. They’re high pitched, most of them, as much as he tries to at least make them a little lower. 

“Oh? A word?” Your smirk is as much a nightmare as it is a dream. He wants to punch it off your face but also kiss it off your lips. “Right, right, praise. You take me in so well~” Chūya just barely manages a laugh.

“Ah, fuck!” Chūya shouts. He can feel himself getting closer and closer.

You smirk, moving to his neck, kissing and nipping. Your fangs sting his neck everytime you bite down, but you make sure to control yourself. Though sooner or later you’ll bite him and draw blood, it’s only inevitable.

“Go on, baby. Come loose for me, let me feel your seed on my abs.” You move to his ear, whispering and licking the lobe. 

Your words are what sends him over the edge of bliss. His seed spills all over the both of you, which is a turn on for sure; it moves with his constantly bulging belly. 

You close your eyes when you feel yourself coming closer. Instinctively, you move to his neck, giving him a harsh bite, which makes Chūya groan. You couldn’t control yourself from not biting him, even when his neck is already littered with other marks. Blood drips from the wound, two small holes.

It’s only when you go over the edge that you apologize. You move off of him, pulling him on top of you instead. He snuggles into your body, hissing in pain. “Sorry.” You move your wings to wipe the blood away.

“It’s fine… well, not really, but eh.”

You chuckle, keeping one wing on the wound and the other over the top of you. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

The promise of another time is reassuring, whether it be sexual or not, though he rather it be a date. He likes to know he has a little bit of a chance.

[moonlightflower21]

just like magic

a/n: angsty fluffy. normal raph. there may be mistakes and it may be hard to follow through lol. but i hope you enjoy ❤

"y/n!! wait, please wait!!" the call of raph desperately trying to reach you fell on deaf ears as you angrily walked into the public so he couldn't come close.

it was so hard to decipher what you were feeling. betrayal, anger, sadness, embarrassment, pain. sometimes it felt like you couldn't even catch a break. he had been acting so suspicious and you couldn't help but recall what your best friend had said earlier, that when a boyfriend stop texting and calling back they were sleeping around.

he couldn't.... could he?

that one girl, amber, from the chief vincent crew had been crushing on him forever. you learnt that raph and her had a small fling years ago, before he ever met you. but other than that, you didn't know much else other than the fact that she absolutely hated your guts. the feeling was mutual of course but she never failed to make any small digs at you whenever you were together.

so when she came out of his room wearing nothing but lingerie, it wasn't an understatement to say your heart felt it had been stomped on the floor. leo, mikey and donnie were all out with their significant others so they couldn't even provide any help or shed any light on why she was in your boyfriend room

the reason as to why you came around was because you thought of surprising him, considering you hadn't even seen him for the last two weeks. he seemed to vanish for hours on end and while you didn't want to jump to any conclusions, you just had to talk to him. but seeing her come out of his room that he let no one in felt like a punch to the gut.

"when will you ever learn? first loves outshine any other" amber cackled in your face, swaying her hips as she left the lair. you couldn't even speak scared you would start crying on the spot. and the last thing you wanted was to give her the satisfaction.

you entered the room but aside her horrible perfume stinking the air, raph was nowhere to be seen. hell his bed looked empty. untouched. and yet his window was open, so perhaps he escaped? the more reasonable part of you disagreed vehemently, he wouldn't do this shit. and you couldn't trust that woman, she was out to drive you both apart

but this wasn't excusable either. the air felt constricting here, walls falling in closer so you left. angry tears on the brink of falling, the excited evening you had planned obliterated in small pieces.

---

the small bench in the park was empty and you sat, trying to reel in those thoughts but they proved to be a challenge.

"y/n please listen to me, i can explain everything i swear" you rolled your eyes but stood up. hearing his part would at least put your mind at ease and those burning questions could finally be answered.

"you get one chance raphael. let's go to my place, i don't want other people listening in" you look into his pleading eyes, turning the corner and walking home with him eagerly following you close.

raph entered your room, thankful for the heat that flooded his system. he didn't realise how long he was outside and how cold he was until he bagn to shake slightly. he turned his attention to you as you shrugged odd your jacket, brows raised at him.

"no more secrets, raph. no more lies otherwise we're done" you snapped, crossing your arms over your chest. he nodded, ready to answer the oncoming slaught of questions that had been scorching holes in your chest.

"who is amber? and do you still have any feelings towards her??" your voice trembled a little at the end of that sentence, hoping her put your mind at ease. his jaw seem to clench slightly at the memory of her which brought some amusement.

"she's someone i thought i was in love wit'. 17 years old me didn't know shit at the time. after a while, i knew whatever we had was just infatuation. it was never gonna work out. she wanted a relationship while i was looking for something small. but that's in my past. i don't have any love towards her anymore. she was just a silly crush"

"she was your crush? doesn't seem like it" "she was. ya can't be mad at that because you've also crushed on guys before i came but that's a good thing! because they led us closer to each other and look at us" he holds your hand, his thumb gently rubbing over your knuckles which was something he usually did to reduce your stress. and against your will, you could feel those familiar butterflies invade your lower belly.

"but why was she in your room? looking very cosy in there, i might add" your jaw clenched tightly, glaring at the floor in order to contain your anger.

"she what?? y/n i promise i had no idea why amber was even in my room. i wasn't even there. in fact, i'm barely ever there most days" he rubbed the back of his neck, hesitating the last part.

"why?" your brow lifts and he sighs, grimacing.

"well... i... uh... got a job" he chuckles awkwardly, expecting you to burst in laughter. but you just seemed to have a confused look, intrigued at his comment.

"a job?" you ask and he nods, fidgeting with the end of his shorts.

"yeah... in construction. splinter thought it would be good anger management. i started doing it to also pay back for the necklace... that ya don't seem ta wear anymore" he narrowed his amber eyes around your neck and true to his word, you had taken it off. your hand touches your chest, feeling only the bare skin instead. the only reason you had taken it off was because he just kept being so secretive around you. and you didn't know who to trust.

"so that explains the extra muscles on your arms" you ponder and he laughs, flexing his bicep.

"they got us liftin heavy stuff" he rolls his shoulders, aching from last night. "i'm sorry for not saying anything about it. i didn't want to be laughed at" he chuckles but there's no humour in his voice, just nervousness which is rare for raph to ever have.

"you'd think i'd laugh at you?? i'm the last person to judge and i think it's a good thing for you. it's healthy to let your anger out in this way, i'm proud of you. but you have to stop with these secrets, they're only driving a wedge between us" your hand is gently placed on his knee which he appreciates, with you he never feels pressured to say things. you let him take his time which he's never found in other partners before.

"i know i just didn't want ta disappoint ya, i'm not a millionaire and i'm not the greatest looking guy either. i just wanted ya ta be happy at somethin-" "raph, you could never disappoint me. i don't care about money or fame, i just want you to be as serious about us, i just want to be there for you. but i can't do that if you keep pushing me away, hiding these things from me" you sigh your previous anger melting into sadness and relief.

"m'sorry princess, i do care about us. there's just things that i have trouble saying. but i promise i never mean to intentionally hurt ya" he cradles your hand, his gaze on the floor in deep thought. your head gingerly leans against his arms and his finger places comforting circles around your knuckles.

"where is yer friend? aren't ya supposed ta go out tonight?" raph remembered, looking around the room.

"yeah she's supposed to come soon but i haven't confirmed anything" you lean back on the bed watching his amber eyes narrow mischievously. in the way you grew to adore.

"so what i'm hearing is, we have time?" he smirked but you gently nudge his chest, shaking your head with an amused smile.

"i'm still annoyed at you" you chuckle when he smiles softly, his eyes shining under your lights. he leans closer to you, simply just wanting to be in your embrace.

"and i'll spend every moment making it up ta ya. let's just cuddle, i've missed ya"

[comelylust]

Workmates

That's right I deliver what I promise, Request through my discord, Anon asked for some Miguel with plot so I made a plot attempt haha. if you find spelling or grammatical errors sorry I do this from a tablet 👀read the warnings 👀.  

Warnings: Smut content, +18, street fights, mentions of alcoholic beverages.

 "Ugh I really can't stand it" You mention this to your boss with an irritation in your voice, pacing back and forth with both hands on your head "how the hell are you two friends?! it's so... agh"  

Seeing how frustrated you were all your boss did was scoff at it, he continues to clean the glasses and arrange them on the shelves in the back, he looked like he really didn't care that two of his workers don't get along as well as he would like.  

"You're just stressed, go take a break" Your boss laughed, gesturing towards the employee door where you already knew who was there, Miguel, chances are he was listening to everything, instead instead of embarrassing you your anger continued to rise.

"He's a nice guy, you're just not used to his temperament."  

He's right, you still don't know him well enough just a couple of months ago you moved to Spain for personal reasons, but let's say things were getting difficult and you decided to venture to a new destination in search of opportunities, at first you didn't know where you were going, you were coming and going without a previously planned route, this didn't bother you at all you felt better about yourself above all you felt free for the first time in your life.  

On one of your countless trips you heard a group of strangers talking about a certain wrestling tournament which caught your interest. You decided to join that event after they finished their talk, grabbed your stuff and headed to a new country.  

When you finally arrived in Spain the first thing you did was to look for a temporary job, difficult at first you didn't have the necessary documentation to back up your identity, yeah shit, it wasn't the best idea to leave with nothing but your passport.

You continued your search now in the slums of that country, hoping that someone would offer you help, instead the only thing they offered you was endless fights showing the wimps not to mess with you, earning you a little respect from the locals.  

"Strange" You thought "People usually loathe people like me".

It didn't take you long to figure out the reason why the inhabitants were so used to subjects of your ilk. Miguel Caballero Rojo, a subject without a shred of compassion when it came to street fights, was brutal and violent making his opponents regret it on the spot.

Going to where he always made his appearances you found on the way an old cantina: on the outside it was crumbling, but the old letters of the place were still visible. Entering with your best hard face you asked about that mysterious man, without receiving a clear answer, again you let out a disappointed sigh and a pout formed on your lips.

"Hey, don't be so sad" A middle aged man catches your attention offering you a drink which you cheerfully accept "You're not from here are you, cutie?" Your eyes widen like saucers when he found out you're just an outsider, without taking the drink away from your lips you nodded.  

"Well, I need a bartender so why don't you stay for a while while you wait for him" He offers the old rag along with the apron, you were in doubt, but you really needed this job, the opportunity to work and hit on a guy sounded exquisite without hesitating a second longer you made your decision.  

"Okay I accept, just for a while".  

"I'm Daniel by the way" The old man who is now your boss mentions it.

You worked in that bar for the next few weeks, you didn't do much, just make drinks and take out old creeps trying to be smart. Now the main issue, if you met Miguel, yes, he really looked violent, and yes he had hated you.

When he first walked into the bar he was fuming, his nostrils flared, his muscles tensed and the fingers on his hands were crusted with dried blood, in short he's pissed, to add more to the mix you lunged at him with incredible speed that even Miguel himself was taken by surprise.

"What the fuck" He exclaims as his head face down is resting on the dirty floor, you crossed his wrists and paralyzed him with a knee on his back "Get the fuck down, what's wrong with you".  

"It's nothing personal just that I liked the idea of defeating the best fighter in this neighborhood" You licked your lips forming a fuzzy smile of joy. Miguel tries to move, but you strengthen your grip, raising your hand now in the shape of a fist ready to punch him in the Spaniard's face, until someone interrupts you.

 🌒🌕🌘

 "Sorry Daniel" You fiddle with your fingers as the pout returns to your face along with a blush forming on your cheeks. "B-but you already knew what my plan was!"

"Plan?! What's going on Daniel, are you conspiring with this Chiquilla?" Miguel points at both of you accusingly, scratching the back of his neck furiously.

"Eeh, who are you calling a chiquilla, brat?"

"The only person who is behaving like a brat is you" The two begin a verbal sparring match with overly childish insults. Daniel for his part lets out a loud sigh catching both of their attention.

"You both are behaving like brats, Now Miguel she is the new Bartender she will work here for a while be nice" The last sentence was thrown remarking that she will behave "Same goes for you, Be nice he is your co-worker"

"Coworkers!? That if ever!" Both mention at the same time throwing each other murderous looks.

And here we are back where we left off at the beginning. Working with Miguel was annoying, he is always drunk, when he is lucid he gets in a bad mood and even starts fights for stupid reasons, the problem is when you have to interfere when things get too intense, this didn't bother you, you were annoyed by the idea of saving his ass.

Instead of thanking you he starts a useless fight questioning why you helped him and all the crap you decided for your and Daniel's mental health more than anything else for your boss it's better to ignore him.

But what happened?  

You were not a sports fan, much less a soccer fan, however since you arrived to this place the only thing that the bar TV broadcasts was soccer, getting used to it, you noticed that Miguel on special occasions wears a jersey of his favorite team, your lips curved into a cheshire smile at the prank you were going to do, your plan is only to support the opposing team for no apparent reason, this would annoy Miguel as a "revenge" for what he had put you through.

Tonight you put your new plan into practice, you borrowed a t-shirt from the opposing team that is playing tonight, you put it on by buttoning every button, oddly enough this shirt highlights your beautiful figure, accentuating your breasts and molding to your abdomen/torso, you hope no one notices this, but who the fuck cares, you look great.  

The bar is more crowded than it normally is, you complained about the smell it smelled too much like Cologne, alcohol and sweat hopefully your brain will adapt to it. You headed to your work station serving the drinks to their respective buyers. Until you saw him come in of course with his charming outfit, fuck, you have to admit the man is hot, his manly appearance and his well toned and thick muscles soaked with a light layer of sweat would make anyone drool, unfortunately this was his only virtue.

He gave you a small smile and of course foolishly you returned it, you shook your head forcibly bringing yourself back to reality and remembering the reason why you had decided to do this in the first place.  

"Are you kidding me?" he approaches you intimidating as always, the difference is this time his voice framed mockery as if he knew what you were trying to do.

"What are you talking about, I'm just working" you bite your inner cheek avoiding emitting a laugh, You poured him a pitcher of beer waiting for him to forget the topic of conversation.  

"Yeah right, I know what you're planning, cutie" He takes a long swig of the drink wiping the rest of it off with his arm "And it's not going to work" He winks at you you roll your eyes so much you're able to see your brain, it really is unbearable.

As the night continues, Miguel continues to make fun of you and how your "shitty" team is losing, the strange thing is that you ended up joining him, drinking the whole keg of beer answering his comments with sarcastic remarks.  

You were wrong to think that his only quality is being a handsome man when you noticed that his resistance to alcohol is quite high happened exactly with you, your resistance to alcohol was the best, however, the drinks were doing in you a kind of aphrodisiac turning you hotter as you kept talking to Miguel.

"How about...if we go to the back" your voice comes out smaller than you would have liked you play again with your fingers waiting for an answer, instead he didn't give you one he just grabbed your bicep with his hand and dragged you to the employee only room.  

Before partially closing the door, his free hand wrapped around your jaw pulling you closer to him in a hot kiss, intertwining their tongues licking every part he could, he pushed you into the room closing the door behind you. He connected his lips this time on your neck leaving you with purple and bite marks.

 He held your wrists guiding you to the lounge chair obediently sitting there, still kissing you enjoying your taste despite the bad beer you had chosen.  

"Apparently you're not a rough girl anymore" Separating slightly so he could speak.  

"H-hush don't ruin the moment" You turned into a red, stuttering mess, all Miguel did is smile at you and get up from the seat, your mind raced hoping he wouldn't leave.

"On your knees" His hoarser than normal voice made you shudder and let out a low moan, he had never been so dominant and you would be lying if you didn't say you didn't like it. You quickly went down on your knees looking up at him with eyes clouded in lust.

"Fuck" Solo said unbuttoning his pants, you helped by pulling them down along with his boxers "I'm going to punish you for being a spoiled brat."

 You finally released his cock from its confines, you gasped at the sight previously you could picture it, but your mind didn't do it justice, it's big with veins that framed its outline the red tip was already dripping pre-semen, you licked your lips and included its head between your lips, giving kitten licks.

 "Stop teasing" He growled, you opened your mouth wider with your tongue hanging out, shoving his cock in your mouth touching your throat, you looked up as you gagged which made him let out a guttural gasp.

You pulled back pulling his cock partially out before thrusting harder into your throat, you moan and the vibrations you throw are so delicious he can't take it. Getting rid of his remaining clothes he continued to pound your throat rapidly as he watched your face fill with tears and you try to breathe through your nose so you don't choke.  

"Will you stop teasing?" your eyebrows flex in anger, but this action doesn't last that long, still gagging on his cock you nod energetically. "Good girl."

Thick, hot ropes sprouted from his cock covering your mouth, trying to swallow as much as possible. Inhaling and exhaling heavily catching your breath, you struggled to stand up before Miguel lifted you up placing you face down on the couch climbing behind you, your instinct was to raise your ass and spreading your legs apart, giving him a perfect view of your already slippery pussy.

 Miguel looked at you with carnal hunger re licking his lips as he looked at your innocent form, his palm slapping against your ass in a thud, you squealed as you felt another series of spanks follow leaving your buttocks red.  

 "Remember it's your punishment pretty girl."  

He rubs his fingers over your wet folds and plunges a finger inside you, you yelp at the sudden action pulling away, Miguel firmly holds your hips so as not to go any further and continues to plunge his fingers stretching your tight walls.  

"Easy I'm getting you ready" Miguel works on your sex pulling his fingers in and out "She's too tight".  

Your legs trembled with excitement and your moans echoed in the room loudly, before you could come he pulled away from you collecting your essence smearing it on his long shaft lubricating it.  

The tip of his cock rubbed between your folds teasing your entrance, you moaned needy moving close to him.

"Don't tease" you pout and he teases you, he pushes his member slowly into your pussy. The sensation of your walls squeezing his cock made him throw his head back as you rolled your eyes at the bliss of being filled.  

Miguel pulled your hair back into a ponytail using it as leverage to go faster and deeper, the lewd noises you make are music to his ears instigating him to move.

You could feel every part of his thick cock and how it exquisitely hits that rubbery spot inside you, through your mouth overflowing saliva and your eyes still rolling back. Your walls tremble giving hints of your come.

"Cum on my cock pretty girl" his voice a few octaves lower brings you to the edge, a lewd moan escapes your sweet lips and he quickens his pace chanting your name between curses, his load shoots inside your sex painting them white.

He pulls out of you and you both catch your breath. When you realize what has just happened your face turns red and you try to hide it between the cushions of the couch. Miguel notices this and pats your head.

 "So..." You say shyly.

"Then I'll ask you out, mi amor."  

"W-what?!"  

"Ha, I really love your temper."  

"Idiota" this wasn't the plan nor much less the expected result but you're happy.

I must improve on the fast way it ended haha I hope you liked it.  

[watchinglikeafangirl]

Lovely Writer episode 9 - analysis

Since I need to distract myself from the exam tomorrow, I figured, I would interest you in a new Lovely Writer analysis because oh boy did much happen yesterday... Gene and Nubsib took things next level again, Aoey showed his true colors and thankfully we didn't see very much of the director because I wanna punch him so badly.

Aoey

This whole episode starts with Aoey more or less inviting Gene to spend time with him. I think the tension and uncormfortness Gene feels is well portrayed here. Aoey is in a bar which doesn't seem to have any windows which already makes us feel imprisoned. Even though the color scheme focusses on earth tones, which are normally very calming, all those light bulbs in the background mixed with Aoey's clothes, all in one color only, make this scene even more uncomforting. Aoey seems dangerous only wearing a neutral color because nothing of his personality shines through and we fear he holds back because it's ugly. This whole scenery seems to scream "Gene doesn't want to be here".

Then, Aoey starts to talk and we know why we feel like this. The tension is extremely uncomfortable and I cringed about it - not in a negative way - because I was so scared what Aoey was going to do. This scene underlines one more time that Aoey feels unloved and unworthy of love.

Stop loving Nubsib. Love me. I'm cute too.

It gets more precise when Aoey talks to Mhok and rejects him not because he doesn't like him back but because he hates himself so much. He feels pathetic. He feels worthless. He has very low self-esteem and messes things up to make people hate him. He is his own enemy. Mhok doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to help him emotionally because Aoey pushes him away. At the same time, Aoey is thankful for Gene not hating him even though Gene has every reason to. Gene is someone he hangs on to, like Gene is his redemption. But Aoey will never reach redemption if he continues to do stuff to convince people otherwise. His character is very dark and lonely and lost.

Gene and Nubsib

They take two next steps this episode. First, they have their first time and second, they tell their parents about the relationship.

First of all, their first time has a weird aftertaste. I believe Gene wanted to do it with Nubsib for some time now but wasn't quite ready and now felt the pressure of "getting it over with" because he thought Nubsib took viagra. It's not like he doesn't love Nubsib or anything, but I feel like he wasn't entirely ready and forced himself a bit. Nubsib, thankfully, felt this vibe too and even asks him about it but there's nothing more he can do than ask and if Gene says he's fine, then Nubsib can only believe him. When Gene discovers Nubsib actually didn't take any viagra, he's a bit shocked. This raises the question in me if he really wanted it. But well, he doesn't exactlu panic about it, so maybe he really was very sure in this moment.

What I definetely didn't see coming was their outing. I thought it would take a while but well, okay, if they are ready, why not? I like the way Gene has changed since he and Nubsib got together. When something is on his mind, he says it. It bothers him their parents don't know about them and he tells Nubsib. They talk about this decision and once Gene is sure, Nubsib just rolls with it reassuring Gene he doesn't have to step out of his comfort zone if he doesn't feel like it.

This dinner was the most awkward dinner I have ever seen and it must've been horrible for Gene and Nubsib to just sit there and listen to the jokes about them being together which already implied it wouldn't be fine if it were true. These jokes last for a few minutes and the mothers talk about the popularity of BLs whilst Gene's father looks very scary. I can literally taste the awkwardness and how uncomfortable they both are.

For these few minutes, when the parents were just joking, I feared Gene wouldn't go through with it because he was usually the kind of guy to back off when such things happened, but not right now.

What if the two of us are really together?

The mood switches from casually joking to extremely serious. This outing and the following make their relationship far more serious and real than before. They don't touch each other like crazy when they are together because it wouldn't've fit with the characters at all. And it's totally right Nubsib only adds an explanation to Gene's question/outing in a verbal way. They still don't touch because they are both overwhelmed by the negative feelings they are faceing. Only when no one says anything, Nubsib takes Gene's hand to comfort both of them and this small touch was all that was needed. They didn't need to hug or even kiss. They also didn't need to make a scene out of it. Them staying in silence hurts even more because it feels so damn realistic. In other BLs, the couple mostly storms off angrily but that's not how you treat your parents. You discuss the matter and talk properly about it or at least give them time to answer no matter what it may be. Here, all of this happens and no one storms off to leave even more awkward silence. It was just as painful as it would be in reality.

BL fans

What makes the dinner even more awkward is the talk between the two mothers about BLs. The way they talk about it makes obvious they like to see it on screen because it's not happening in their real life. They have a distance to it and it's also a huge critic to all those female watchers feteshizing these relationships. They like the kissing and hugging but never reflect on it and ask the question what they would do if they would know someone with any other sexuality than heterosexual. They don't accept it at all when it comes to their sons. What they worshipped is now disgusting and nothing they "can understand". (This sentence "I don't understand it" freaks me out everytime shows pull that because what is there to not understand about love? It just doesn't add up to me what is so not understandable about two people loving and deeply caring about each other.)

Family's reaction

Gene knew his father would not approve because he's a self-hated bisexual and his mother just never raises her voice. In general, the relationship of the parents looks distant. The mother never says anything for her own sake and just exists under the fathers approval. The father loves to have control and now has to learn the hard way gender stereotyping doesn't exist like this any more. Gene can leave the family if he wants to and there's nothing this father can do about it because he doesn't have as much power any more. And also, his sons are not children anymore even though he treats them like they are in order to gain control again.

I want you to go upstairs!

Nubsib lives in a devided and distant family as well. He knew he would not be accepted because like we've seen in the flashbacks and what his dad talked about this episode as well, his parents don't support his choice of being an actor. But he's more worried about Gene because he already went through the phase of not feeling appreciated. Gene didn't. He discovers a new side of his parents and never had such drama with them. After this awful evening, we see the difference between both families nevertheless. Gene's parents cry both on their own but Nubsib's parents sit together on the sofa, symbolizing this unity they always were. They live in a distant world apart from their children. The world of them and Nubsib is disappointed, angry and worried at the same time.

Dad, but Gene and I did nothing wrong.

Cinematography

There are many examples to talk about the beautiful cinematography of Lovely Writer. I will only list the ones which are the most memorable to me.

Like I said above, the bar in the beginning sends out mixed signals of comfort and angst.

In contrast to this, we have Nubsib's bedroom with calm and warm light when he and Gene "take the next step".

The next morning, they brush their teeth in a very bright and white bathroom. Like they reached heaven. It's used to symbolize their happiness and also honesty. Their love is very pure because they mean every word they say and every action they follow.

At the very end, we have both Gene and Nubsib crying in their bedrooms. Gene's bed seems to be huge because he curls up. He is sad and angry but not surprised. He expected things to go down this way. Nubsib in contrast, is filmed through his shelf. This shelf frames him and since it's not a very big one, it makes Nubsib seem extremely small. He is disappointed in his parents, didn't expect things to happen this way and feels like he doesn't belong there. He feels very small on a very big planet.

Conclusion

This episode was overwhelming and the atmosphere switched a lot.

What I realized, especially after the scene between Aoey and Mhok, they all share the same feeling of loneliness. They all feel lonely and seek redemption. Gene and Nubsib found theirs and Aoey pushes his away. They all hate the feeling of loneliness but have gotten so used to it, it made them a bit bitter and feel a certain level of worthlessness. Like redemption would never come. But it did, at least for the main characters, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything is fine now and I like this. Even though they've grown, they are still not untouchable and there's always something that could set them back and make them face a challenge. Mostly, BLs end as soon as they are together and when everything looks like they will last forever. They feel untouchable because "love survives" but here we have a situation which is challenging for both of them and it looks like they are nearly breaking up because of this. Their relationship is not untouchable at all because the outside is also a part of their lives (like it normally is). BLs just tend to forget that but Lovely Writer thankfully doesn't and talks about this which I really like about this new episode.

Anyway, I have to go to bed now...

[selene-tempest]

It’s my birthday and apparently the hubby isn’t going to let me ignore it...

((Author lady is putting this up now to celebrate, but it won’t be uploaded to Ao3 yet because it doesn’t fit the timeline at the moment, so you’ll have to wait.))

“What do you mean she’s not coming home?” Scott asked.

“She’s not coming home,” John replied with a shrug. What else was there to say? How else could he make that simple sentence any clearer?

"Like never again?" Alan whimpered. 

John didn't dignify that with an answer. 

“But why?” Gordon asked.

“Because she doesn’t want to.”

“Did you try to talk her round?” Scott asked.

“Of course I did, but she’s being stubborn, and you know what she's like when she sets her mind to something.”

“Why? Did we do something wrong? Does she not love us any more?” Alan asked, looking like he was about to cry.

“Don’t be ridiculous, of course she still loves you. Do you honestly think that after four years in this family and all the things we’ve been through, this would be the time she decided she wanted out?” John couldn’t believe how dramatic they were all being about it.

“But it’s her birthday, she should be here with us,” Scott said firmly, like that was all there was to it. 

“Yes, her birthday, and she does have a choice in the matter,” John reminded him.

“No, she doesn’t.”

“You can tell her then,” John said. “Because I’m certainly not going to get involved with that.”

“Did she at least say why?” Virgil asked, ever the sane one.

“Yes, she said that she isn’t having a birthday this year, she’s ignoring it because someone,” John paused to glare meaningfully at Scott, “keeps teasing her about getting old because she’s hitting the big Three-O.”

Scott sniggered quietly to himself.

“I wouldn’t be so proud of it if I were you,” John warned him,

“I didn’t even say anything that bad to her,” Scott protested weakly.

“No, but you asked me what it was like being married to a cougar that only wanted me for my youthful body.”

Scott sniggered again, turning it into a cough when John’s glare rached up a notch.

“And yesterday you got up off the couch and asked her if she wanted to sit down,” Virgil added.

“I was being considerate!”

“If that was the case you shouldn’t have said that you were doing it because it’s only polite to give your seat up for the elderly,” Gordon laughed.

“Oh for the…” John dropped his head into his hands in utter despair. Scott was just lucky that he was only there in hologram form or he’d have punched him. 

Scott just shrugged. “She needs to come home, it’s her birthday.”

“Well she’s not going to,” John told him, wondering if he should whip out the hand puppets to get him to understand the simple answer of no.

“Go and get her, she’ll do it if you tell her to,” Alan tried.

“Let me think about it...no.”

“Aw, come on, John, please?” Alan was going to pout, John just knew it.

“I’ll try,” John sighed, knowing he was beaten.

-x-

“Come on, love, get out of bed.”

“No,” Selene said, her voice muffled since her head was currently stuffed under a pillow.

“Everyone wants to see you,” John wheedled.

“I don’t care, I’m not moving.”

“You have to celebrate your birthday.”

“Lies! I say the same thing to you every year and every year you tell me you don’t want a fuss. No party, no going anywhere, no nothing. Why can’t I do the same?”

“Because I’m me and you’re you. You’re the sociable part of our couple, you’re the one that forces me to go places I don’t want to by insisting that I'll have a good time when I get there.”

“And you still argue, complain and refuse to go. Maybe I’ve finally started to listen to you and realised you were right all along, birthdays are bad, social is bad, celebrating anything is bad. I get it, you were right.”

“Don’t even try that,” John warned her.

“Try what?” she mumbled innocently.

“Telling me that I’m right so I’ll be so shocked I won’t argue with you any more.”

“It was worth a shot,” she grumbled to herself.

“Enough of this,” John declared, grabbing the edge of the duvet and yanking it off the bed, revealing his darling wife lying flat out on her belly like a dead starfish. “Come on, get up.”

“No! I’m not getting up. If you really loved me and wanted me to celebrate you’d go and get a Chinese and eat it in bed with me.”

John paused for a second, because honestly that did sound very tempting… no, he had a duty as a husband, a duty to give his wife a birthday she wouldn’t forget for such a milestone. 

“No, we’re doing something for your birthday and that’s final. You asked me to trust you for my birthday last year-”

“And you didn’t! You bitched and tried to seduce me into staying on Five and ignoring the trouble I and everyone else had gone to.”

“Never happened,” he lied smoothly. “You have two choices, get up and come with me or I’ll call your mother and let her drag you out of this pit.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she hissed. 

“Oh, wouldn’t I?”

“No, because then you’d have to talk to her and you know how that would go,” Selene left the threat hanging in the air.

John paused, his brain frantically scurrying to come up with something like a hamster spinning on its wheel. What could he do that would be special for her birthday? He’d used up his one good idea planning a night away for the four year anniversary of the night they met… huh..maybe he could… 

He pulled his phone out and sent a quick message to EOS asking her to get to work rearranging the surprise. Selene's birthday was close enough to their anniversary, shifting the two bookings he had made shouldn't be too much trouble.

“Fine, then you have two more choices, get up and pack yourself an overnight bag and be waiting patiently for me to get back so we can go, or I’ll pack for you and throw you over my shoulder and drag you out. Choose wisely.”

“I choose door number three.”

“Stop being dramatic, plus you know that’s not an option. You can see your family tomorrow, for today you’re mine. I would strongly advise you pick the first option as you know my idea of suitable clothes to pack differs wildly from yours, you know I can’t be trusted…”

“Not convinced.”

Huffing he grabbed hold of her legs and yanked her backwards down the bed. She shrieked like a fire alarm. He ignored it. Flipping her over he tugged on her arms, pulling her into a sitting position.

“There’s my beautiful wife,” he lied, taking in the messy hair, mascara smudged around her eyes and the fact she was wearing the hideous nightshirt that he loathed with the fire of a thousand suns. 

She snorted, clearly not falling for his line.

He knelt down beside the bed, taking her hands in his.

“Do you trust me?”

“Most of the time.”

“Then trust me now, do as you’re told and stop being obstinate for the sake of it. Think about it, you and me, a whole night away…”

“And no mention of my birthday?” she clarified.

“Not if you don’t want it,” he promised. “I had something arranged for our anniversary but I think you need it a little earlier.”

She still looked suspicious but she reluctantly nodded her agreement. “Alright, I’ll trust you.”

“Good. I’m going to head back to the island to pick up Dad’s plane-”

“Plane? Just where are we going, exactly?”

“That’s on a need to know basis and right now you don’t need to know,” he told her. “Just concentrate on getting yourself ready, have a shower if you want to, dress in something you feel amazing in and be ready in two hours.”

“You’re really not going to tell me anything?”

“Nope, now move your backside,” he ordered, giving her butt a little swipe.

-x-

John had walked straight out of their flat after giving her her orders, leaving her to it. She procrastinated for half an hour, feeling that he would have totally won and she would have lost if she got up and did as she was told straight away. She needed to keep some form of dignity and control over her own dramatic leanings. 

She then slowly packed a few essentials, throwing in a nice maxi skirt, some leggings she could wear under it if they were going anywhere cold, a peasants blouse along with underbust corset she could add to jazz it up in case they went anywhere fancy, a thick shawl for chilly weather, a T-shirt to wear in bed, fresh underwear, makeup bag, toiletries and she was done.

She did take a shower, not because he suggested it but because she felt a bit grotty and knew it would make her feel better. She resisted the urge to stare at herself in the mirror and scrutinise her naked body until she wanted nothing more than to hide back in bed again, and got on with the laborious task of hair washing, leg shaving and getting dressed.

She was just about ready in jeans, T-shirt and a hoodie she’d stolen from Alan, comfy travelling clothes, when he texted to demand her presence downstairs. 

He had an automated taxi waiting that took them straight out of town to the nearby private airfield that Scott used whenever he was taking a break and leaving One at the island in case of emergencies, although this wasn’t a surprise since he had said he was going to get Jeff’s jet. 

The flight time had been relatively short in relation to standard commercial flights, only an hour and a half, but when you were used to being in a family that could zip across the globe in half an hour it was quite long. This comparison did absolutely nothing to tell her where they were at any given moment or where they were going to end up, so she stuck with sitting quietly, letting him get on with the whole flying thing.

“Are you still grumpy at me for making you leave the house?” John asked after half an hour of mostly silence from Selene.

“No,” she sighed, “I just really didn’t feel like doing anything, I’m not sure I’m going to be the best company at the moment.”

“Did I ask for you to be good company? It’s not like I’m a shining example of how to be the life and soul of a party.”

“I know, sorry, I just kinda wanted to forget about it. Everyone wants to make a big deal about my birthday and I don’t. Mum wanted to drag me around to visit people, to which I firmly said no, so she’s not really talking to me at the moment. She did that a lot when I was a kid, kept having parties and events that were loosely based on one of our birthdays, but she’d invite a lot of her friends and family members we didn’t really like. She’d have a great time but we didn’t because it just wasn’t what we wanted to do."

“I can understand that, Grandma was much the same.”

“Plus it’s the first big thing, apart from our wedding, without Dad and I’m just not really in the mood to celebrate, I’d rather just have a quiet night in and get a pizza or something.”

So that was what was really bothering her. Not so much the fact that she was getting older, though he was sure that wasn’t helping, but the fact that her Dad wasn’t going to be there. He could understand her point. Scott had turned thirty while their father had still been missing, presumed dead and it hadn’t been the celebration it should have been. Birthdays without their Mom had been much the same, celebrating milestones without important people was always hard. Maybe they were a little guilty of forgetting what that felt like, since their Father had been recovered after so many years. They were used to him being there again and didn’t let themselves dwell on the past if they could help it. 

“I promise you that we don’t even have to think about your birthday,” John assured her. “This is just us, having a night away from the madness that is our lives and tomorrow I’ll send Virgil to pick up Celia and Adam, she loves him so she'll behave, to bring them back to the Island for the night so we can have a quiet family dinner. Will that work for you?”

She thought about it for a moment or two, but could see no other way of getting around it.

“Yep, that’ll do.” 

"Good," he smiled, turning away tk check on the course settings. 

Watching him fly the plane, knowing he had put in a lot of effort already made her feel  like a complete bitch.

“I’m sorry, it’s not that I don’t appreciate you going to all this effort to arrange something, I didn’t mean to be a grumpy cow.”

“I’ll let you off this once, because it’s your birthday,” he teased, earning himself a half hearted glare that turned into a giggle as she finally let go of the tension she had been holding onto.

“I’m gonna smack you, you know that, right?” she warned him.

“Not while I’m flying, and maybe wait until after dinner, I’ll be slower then and easier for you to catch.”

“Noted,” she nodded, reaching over to drop her hand on his knee.

“I hope you’re not planning on distracting me,” he said mildly, acting as if nothing was happening, his eyes on the sky. 

“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not, or is that another thing best left until after dinner when you’re too full to run away?”

“I could handle a little distraction now, but if you want me to be able to reciprocate with a little distraction technique of my own, you’re going to have to wait.”

“I’ll wait,” she decided, but that didn’t stop her leaning closer to smack a kiss to his neck. “Have I told you today that I love you, husband?”

“No, you were too busy ignoring me, wife. My heart is shattered by the way.”

“Oh, yes, you seem so very heart broken.”

“I’m hiding it well.”

“Sure you are,” she drawled, trying very hard not to laugh. “I do love you though.”

“As you should.”

His tone was so serious that she lost the battle to hold herself together and started to laugh. John smiled to himself, relieved to see that she had perked up. Hopefully she would have loosened up enough to enjoy the activities he’d planned for them both that evening as they were certainly more her thing than his.

John landed the JT1 on what appeared to be a small runway with a barn, in a field, in the middle of nowhere. He had refused to let her see where they were travelling to, insisting she pull down the window blind next to her as they got closer and close her eyes for the last three minutes of their descent and landing.

A local woman was there to meet them, her accent saying she was american, southern by the sound of it, although Selene wasn’t too good at identifying accents. After the woman had opened the barn doors and John had taxied the small jet into it, she introduced herself as Cherise. Hands were shaken and pleasantries exchanged before she led them to the small truck that she had parked nearby. A five minute drive and…

“Is that a river boat?” Selene asked, unable to figure out just what the heck was going on.

“Yep, now get on,” John instructed, guiding her onto the walkway with one hand while grabbing their bags with the other. They waved a goodbye to Cherise who assured John she’d be ready and waiting the next day and to just text when she was needed, and went in search of seats.

The boat was more of a ferry, containing around 150 seats, only half of which were filled.

"Now will you tell me where we're going?" 

"No, I don't think I will."

"You would if you loved me."

"Its because I love you that I'm not telling you," he replied cryptically, getting up from his seat and moving to the front where an attendant sat. 

“What river is this?” Selene sneakily asked a nearby passenger as John paid their fare, a measly sum of five dollars each.

“Please don’t answer her,” John called over, obviously overhearing.

The man chuckled, having been shamelessly listening in and finding the situation most amusing. “Are you being kidnapped?” 

“I don’t know, you'd better ask my husband,” she pouted. 

“It’s her birthday and it’s a surprise,” John explained as he returned to his seat next to her. “She’s being impatient and sneaky.”

“You’ll only have to wait five minutes,” the man told her, patting her shoulder. “Surely that’s not too bad?”

“You’d think so,” Selene huffed, crossing her arms as the boat slid out of the dock and out into the open water.

Just as their fellow passenger had promised, just a shade under five minutes later the boat cruised into another dock and they were ushered off.

“Now will you tell me where we are?”

“Nope, not quite yet,” John grinned, enjoying this game immensely. Tucking her hand into his they followed the stream of passengers out of the dockyard and onto the streets beyond.

It wasn’t until she saw the streetcar waiting for the offloading passengers that she figured it out. 

“Oh my gods, you didn’t?” she gasped, the pieces of the jigsaw finally sliding into place. The river, which surely had to be the Mississippi, the streetcars and the friendliness of the locals, there was only one place they could be. The city of New Orleans was famous for being one of the only places in the world to still have a working historical streetcar line, something she had heard all about from her friends who had been lucky enough to visit. It was one of the places on her bucket list, her spiritual home for her laidback, chilled out self.

“I did,” he smirked, feeling incredibly pleased with himself at that moment, knowing that his hunch had been correct.

"You are amazing!" she screamed, throwing her arms around his neck. 

“Finally you realise it,” he teased, wrapping his arms around her waist for stability as she bounced enthusiastically on the spot, almost knocking him over. “Shall I assume you approve?”

“Hell yes I approve!” she squealed, smacking a kiss to his lips.

“Good, because we’ve got a full evening booked up.”

“And time factored in for a wander?”

“Translation, time to look at some shops?”

“Obviously.”

“Maybe we can find a little time tomorrow morning,” he allowed. She smiled happily, knowing that was a yes. 

She squeezed up as close to the window as possible on the streetcar, wanting to see everything, squeaking and pointing like an excited child whenever she saw something she recognised.

When he had been thinking of somewhere to take her for an overnight stay he'd happened to overhear a phone conversation between Selene and another friend. They had been discussing a mutual friend and their shop in New Orleans and had spent ten minutes talking about the area with Selene saying how much she wanted to go, how it was on her list of places to visit before she died. The answer, it seemed, had quite conveniently fallen into his lap. 

It had been simple enough to organise, just a hotel booking, pick up from the landing area in St Bernard Parish and tickets for the tour he’d found. He’d planned on surprising her for their anniversary, knowing that it would never be something she would think to plan herself. She knew their busy lives, knew that time off was a rarity that could never be counted on, plans often had to be ditched at the last minute and so she never made them, not wanting him to feel bad if her efforts went to waste because IR were called out and he had to return to Five. 

He had thought she would want to do something with family and friends for her birthday so had booked for the week after, but once again she had surprised him with her insistence that she wasn’t going to celebrate. So he’d had to make some quick decisions, adapt, improvise, overcome.

He kept his eye on his phone, watching the little dot moving on the screen that was them and their streetcar, waiting for the right stop to disembark. Seeing the stop for Toulouse Station coming up he grabbed their bags and waited for her to notice. When she didn't, so engrossed was she in the streets going past, he had to catch her hand and tug her out of her seat. 

“Come on, we’re walking from here,” he instructed, pushing the bell to indicate to the driver, nothing was automated in New Orleans if they could help it, that they wanted to get off.

The stop wasn’t terribly close to the hotel he’d booked, but he’d thought it would be nice to walk, allowing her to see the sights a little and familiarise themselves with the layout of the area.

They walked hand in hand through Jackson Square and out onto St Ann street. St Ann’s was a pleasant walk past a number of shops, bars and restaurants, the end of which intersected onto Bourbon Street. Selene insisted on dipping into a gift shop and grabbing a few items for the family, just in case they didn’t get a chance to later. It took all his skills in sneaky manipulation, and promises of later distractions, to get her moving again, following the street until they reached their hotel. The whole walk took them less than half an hour but they were already feeling a little damp and sweaty.

The Lafitte Guest House was on the quieter end of Bourbon, something he knew both of them would appreciate. Selene liked her sleep and hated being woken suddenly and, although she suffered it well on the island, he knew for a fact that she would not appreciate it while they were away. He’d debated the wisdom of knowingly booking into a haunted hotel but experience had told him that his wife would find a spirit no matter where they were and at least this way they would be forewarned.

“This place is so nice,” she had cooed, running a hand along the ornate wooden handrail on the staircase. 

“It’s a little smaller than some of the fancier hotels, but I thought you’d prefer the atmosphere here.”

“I do, it’s the perfect choice,” Selene agreed as they were shown to their room. And it was, a three storey building that fitted in perfectly with its surroundings, the classic New Orleans French inspired architecture.

“This building was constructed in 1849,” their concierge told them, “by the same man who designed our opera house, Robert Seaton."

He turned down a hallway, beckoning them to follow along. 

"I’m afraid, although your original booking was for our most haunted room, room 21, it is already occupied, I do hope that won’t be a problem?”

“Not at all,” John assured him. “Any room you have will be fine, we’re just thankful you could accommodate us at such short notice.”

“No problem at all,” the man said, leading them up a flight of stairs and along a corridor. He opened the room with a flourish, stepping aside to allow them to enter.

The room itself, much like the rest of the hotel, was like stepping back in time, containing period furniture, a lovely large four poster bed and large french door windows that opened out onto a small wrought iron balcony overlooking Bourbon street. 

“It’s gorgeous,” Selene sighed, flopping backwards onto the bed with a woop of delight.

“Happy wife, happy life,” John quoted, much to the man’s amusement. 

“Will you be requiring anything else, sir?”

“No, thank you, we’re just going to freshen up and then head out to dinner," he said, dropping Selene's bag in a nearby chair." Actually, is there anywhere you can recommend?”

“Many places, but I’d say the best idea is to follow your nose and your stomach, although I would encourage you to try something authentic, the gumbo at SoBou is my favourite.”

“Then we’ll be sure to try there,” John promised. “Sel, are you done messing up the bed?”

“Nope,” she answered, continuing to roll around like a happy puppy, burying her face in the pillow.

“I’ll leave you in peace,” the man laughed, backing out of the room after John shook his hand, discreetly pressing a twenty into the man’s palm.

“I’m going to freshen up with a shower,” John told her. “Try not to fall asleep.”

“I could come with you,” she offered, perking up at the idea, sitting up on the bed expectantly.

“No, I’m far too hungry for that, besides which we have somewhere to be tonight, so your continued attempts to distract me will have to wait,” he told her, grabbing his bag and firmly shutting the bathroom door behind him.

“Unfair,” she pouted, flopping back down again. “It is my birthday you know!”

-x-

“I literally can’t eat another bite,” Selene complained, pushing her bowl aside with half the, admittedly delicious, Jambalaya still in it.

“That’s because you ate four bits of bread before they brought the food out,” John told her, finishing the last bite of his gumbo and wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“I regret nothing,” she insisted, reaching over to swipe the crust of a piece of bread off his side plate, wiping it through the sauce left in his bowl.

“I thought you were too full to eat another bite?” he asked as she popped it in her mouth, chewing hard before swallowing to answer him.

“Of my own food, obviously, yours is fair game,” she sipped her coke and smiled sweetly.

“Of course, how stupid of me not to realise that.”

“It really was,” she agreed, holding in a giggle at the martyred look on his face.

“Dessert?” he eventually asked once she stopped sniggering like an idiot. 

“Obviously, do you want to share one?” 

“Sure,” John shrugged, at ease with pretty much anything at that moment. He had worried that he might find the whole area overwhelming as it had a reputation as a nonstop party town. He’d been dreading crowds of people getting too close for comfort, being too loud, too boisterous and invasive. But he’d found that, while it was loud it wasn’t unbearable, seeming to consist of a lot of music, laughter and the occasional shout. 

Although it was crowded, they weren’t shoving and barging, they were respectful of personal space and friendly enough without being over friendly.  It was a pleasant surprise, one that was reflecting in his current mood. Selene, for her part, was so chilled out she was practically horizontal, four witch types had already waved hello and greeted her like a long lost friend even though she didn’t know them at all and she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the experience, her grumpy mood of earlier completely forgotten. 

“What do you fancy?” Selene asked, currently studying the dessert menu on the board.

“Besides my gorgeous wife?”

“Yeah, besides her, wives are not for eating,” Selene snorted.

“I beg to differ.”

Selene tore her eyes away from the menu to look at him. He lifted his bottle of beer and took an innocent sip, his eyes projecting trustworthiness. She wasn't fooled. 

“Something chocolatey?” she offered, trying to distract herself away from the thought of his mouth on something other than the neck of the bottle.

He thought about it for a second or two then shook his head. “Maybe something with fruit?”

“ Or possibly Ice Cream?”

“Maybe,” he studied the menu himself. “Bananas Foster?”

“Perfect,” she nodded.

They finished up the last of their meal at a leisurely pace, chatting in between sharing bites of the delicious dessert. Bananas Foster was a favourite of Gordon’s and she snapped a picture to send to him later, wanting to make him jealous.

John paid the bill, leaving a generous tip and reached for her hand, guiding her outside. He took out his phone, checking the time and location for their next activity. Keeping hold of her hand, using it to pull her in closer to his side, he led the way further down Bourbon and onto St Peter’s where the tour guide would hopefully be waiting.

"Hello!" one of their guides greeted them as they closed in on the group of maybe twenty people already waiting there. "Tracy, party of two?" 

"That's us," John confirmed and Selene nodded too. She had no reason to, she just wanted to look like she had some kind of clue as to why they were there and what was going on. 

"Good, then you're the last ones, let's get started. I'm Delphine, this is Remi, and we'll be your guides on this, the world famous New Orleans Ghost Tour." 

Selene squeezed his hand excitedly and he allowed himself to release the breath he had been holding. It was always a bit of a gamble with her when it came to planning anything like this. In most things she was incredibly laid back, but when it was anything that involved the potential for witchcraft, mediumship or ghosts then you were swimming in muddy water. It depended on how respectful the people involved were. He had done his research as best he could, seeing that the tour had been running for more than 80 years in some form or another and that they didn't employ the use of jump scares, people in costumes or sensationalise it in any way. He just hoped it was all it promised to be. 

"This is a two hour walking tour, ending with a visit to the beautiful and very haunted St Louis Cemetery No 1," Delphine informed them all. "But we're going to start right here in the heart of the French quarter where murder, mystery and voodoo magic helped shape our history."

The other attendees ooed and ahhed, already impressed by the mere thought of ghosts and ghoulies. 

Selene was busily looking around them curiously as they wandered slowly down the street, Delphine and Remi giving them a run down on the architecture, the history, the customs and the people that make up New Orleans. But he could feel that she was already on alert, the hand that held on tightly to his arm seeming to warm against his skin, letting him know that her gifts had already awoken, sitting up to take notice. 

As they walked they were told a little about the Le Petite Theatre and the young chorus girl who, falling out of favour with the producer, hung herself above the stage during the opening night's performance. Legend had it that every opening night her shadowy form could be seen hanging against the backdrop of the stage.

The first place they stopped at properly to take pictures and listen to the full history was the Andrew Jackson hotel, somewhere John had looked at as a possible place to stay but had decided against it when he had realised it was on the tour.

“The Andrew Jackson, once a boarding house for boys, fell victim to two major fires at the end of the 1700’s,” Delphine told them. Her voice was pleasant to listen to, loud enough that they didn’t have to strain their ears but soft and lilting in that southern way that put you at ease instantly. 

“One of those fires burnt the school to the ground, killing a number of young residents. The spirits of the boys are often seen and heard in the hotel, being described as mischievous spirits who like to play outside people’s rooms at night. One guest reported waking up in the middle of the night to see three small boys sitting on the end of her bed. Of course, she screamed, which the boys copied, screaming back at her in terror before vanishing.”

“Can you sense anything?” John whispered to Selene, making sure to keep his voice low, not wishing to interrupt Delphine or distract the other people listening. 

Selene waggled her hand back and forth in a ‘meh’ gesture, indicating it could be something or nothing. 

“I can feel energy from there, but nothing is coming forward to say hello,” she whispered back. “If we were inside I’m sure I’d get something more but out here, not being funny but the spirits are probably so used to tourists coming through that we’re boring to them now. That and, where I’m usually one of the only mediumistic people to come in to talk to spirits, there are tons here, you can trip over a witch by accident. So they are probably just keeping themselves to themselves.”

“Fair enough,” John chuckled, he always loved the way she explained things, a mixture of simplistic and colourful language with a hint of ‘I’m the expert’ that he so admired.

They continued walking, Remi pointing out interesting landmarks and telling the odd story of a murder or some other tragedy that had occured until they reached their next proper stop.

“Here we are at the historic, and very popular, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, the oldest in the city. History is mixed on whether this building was owned by the famed Lafitte brothers, Jean, or John, and Pierre or just named after them. Some accounts say that they ran the blacksmith shop as a front, others say that they cannot find any actual evidence of their involvement. All we know for sure is that they were nasty pieces of work.” Remi swept a hand out, gesturing towards the bar that was already hopping even though it was still relatively early.

“Jean and Pierre, the Pirate Captains, were instrumental in helping to win the battle of New Orleans during the war of 1812 against the British,“ Delphine continued to explain, glancing at Selene and winking at the mention of the British. “Jean was given a pardon for all his misdeeds as reward for their help, but in exchange he was ordered to leave the state of Louisiana.”

“Bit mean,” Selene whispered to John, who nodded in agreement, imagining how it would feel to help save a city only to be thrown out of it. 

“It’s said that they left great treasures around the French Quarter and in the Mississippi itself which have never been found. The only other person that knew of their whereabouts was a fellow pirate that Jean made the mistake of trusting. Unfortunately, as is often the way with pirates, he was untrustworthy, returning again and again to the cache's to skim a little off the top, so to speak. When Jean found out he did a little skimming of his own, he killed the pirate and it’s said that his spirit is cursed to guard the treasure forever more.”

“That’s a bit of a rough deal,” Selene muttered. “All eternity guarding something he can’t have? That’s like Virgil dying and hovering over the coffee pot.”

John snorted out a laugh, picturing his brother in ghost form, wailing as Scott took the coffee pot, poured himself a cup and drank it in front of him. 

As they wandered on, John and Selene were asked for a few selfies by tourists not in their group and they had to hurry to catch up a few times, finding it impossible to be rude and refuse even though John would have much rather done so.

They were told of the Pharmacy Museum. The building had the dubious honour of being the first licensed pharmacy in the United States but the treatments offered often did more harm than good, verging on barbaric. From drilling holes in skulls to relieve the pressure as a cure for headaches, to chemical concoctions that would have you put in prison were you to use them today. 

The second doctor to practice there was known to kidnap pregnant women and perform horrific experiments on them and it was his grizzly spirit that was said to shunt the building still.

They stopped outside a large, three storey building, getting comfortable as their guide started her story.

“The Palace, the Sultan’s house and the murder house,” Remi called out over the increasing noise of the streets and the chatting of the tour attendees. “All names for this building. Originally the second home of a wealthy businessman, he was hardly ever in residence and often rented it out in exchange for some extra cash that he probably didn’t need. Legends differ, one saying that the mysterious young man, a tall, dark and handsome stranger, was the brother of a sultan, hence the name, while others talk of him being some kind of demon or devil.”

“Demon’s aren’t real are they?” John asked Selene in a side whisper. She didn’t answer but her scrunched up nose and avoidance of his eyes told him all he needed to know. 

“Do you know any?”

She nodded vaguely, clearly not comfortable talking about such things out in the open as they were so he took the hint and shut up, tuning back into the talk.

“The man was very exotic,” Delphine was saying. “He had an accent that no one could place, he arrived with a full entourage of young and beautiful people, both male and female. Again, here accounts differ, some say that the Sultan actually hired a number of assassins to murder his brother and his entourage but others are far more sensational.”

“How much more sensational could it get?” an older woman whispered to her partner. 

“I don’t know,” the other woman whispered back, “maybe an orgy?”

John dropped her chin to Selene’s shoulder, burying his face in her neck as he tried not to laugh. Selene was less composed, out right giggling as he pulled her closer, his arms around her waist so she could lean back against his chest.

“The man and his ‘family’, for that was how he referred to them on the rent agreement, moved in. They immediately closed all the window shutters, hung heavy drapes and weren’t really ever seen again, although the neighbors knew they were in there. They could smell food cooking, they heard music playing at night and the smell of incense often wafted out. But, more disturbingly, the sound of screams would be heard, although it was never known if they were of pain, or pleasure. After a while the house grew quiet, no signs of life were seen and with the silence came a sickening smell. When the police broke down the door they found a scene that they likened to a slaughter house. Dead bodies were everywhere, blood splattered the walls and in the garden they found a freshly dug grave that contained the body of a man, supposedly buried alive. “

“Damn,” the woman who had suggested the orgy, muttered to her partner. "That's definitely not as much fun."

“As I said, accounts vary, some say that it was the sultan’s brother’s harem that had been killed and the brother was the body found in the garden, others say that the family escaped and killed those that either attacked them or that they were demons feeding on the flesh and souls of their victims. We will never know for sure. But rumour has it that the ghost of the sultan’s brother haunts these halls, that passers by still smell the incense and that the echoing screams can still be heard coming from inside.”

“Anything there?” John murmured in her ear, nodding towards the big building.

“There’s definitely an energy of some kind in there,” she answered, keeping her voice low and quiet. “It feels more like residual energy though, not so much an active spirit, but I'd have to be inside to know for sure.”

As they walked Delphine told them of another house, 734 Royal Street where a young black woman had frozen to death on the roof, having been told to disrobe and wait up there by her lover as a joke. He never expected her to do it and was the unlucky person to find her the next morning, naked, frozen, dead on the rooftop. It was said he died soon after from a broken heart.

Some people report to have seen a woman standing on the roof, being concerned enough to call the police. But as soon as the police hear the address they are known to dismiss it as just Julie, still waiting.

Next on their stop was the LaLaurie Mansion. Delphine, their guide, told them the story of Delphine LaLaurie, the beautiful lady of the house who married a man named Louie LaLaurie, a doctor from Europe. They were what was considered an it couple of the time, the height of fashion and threw extravagant parties to show off their wealth and to network.  

The only thing of note that anyone found strange about them was the high number of slaves they seemed to own. Delphine LaLaurie would explain it away as nothing if you asked, brushing it off but if you continued to press the issue, or asked anyone else, you would find yourself ousted, shunned, never to be invited back again.

On the tenth of April 1834, whilst hosting another of their elaborate events a fire broke out in the house. The fire brigade were called and soon had the flames under control. Everything seemed fine, the damage seemed to be minimal but they checked the area thoroughly, just to be sure.

The fire looked to have originated in the kitchen and there they found an older enslaved woman, huddled close to an open window, coughing harshly, almost overcome by smoke. They wondered why she had not left through the window to save herself, but they soon found the answer. They discovered that she was chained to the stove by her ankle, unable to even leave the room, let alone the house itself.

They questioned her on the fire and she admitted that she was responsible, she had set the fire. When they asked why she pointed above her head and told them to look in there. In the room above the kitchen, the slaves quarters, they met with the most horrific sight.

The attic room was full of tortured, mutilated slaves. The doors had been locked but they had soon broken it down. As soon as the doors had opened the smell that hit them had made them heave, some of them needing to turn away to vomit. Papers from the time told of at least seven slaves, chained, beaten, tortured. Victims of pain experiments, their muscles and limbs stretched and broken.

Even though the people of time didn’t hold slaves in the same regard as others they were up in arms, calling for the LaLaurie’s blood. A mob gathered outside but they could not find them, the LaLaurie’s had made their escape in a carriage.

“People talk of a dark and depressive atmosphere in the house,” Remi continued, “and many have reported to have seen the ghost of LaLaurie. A young couple once lived here with their baby. One night the man awoke to see a woman standing over the crib. At first he thought it was his wife but she was right there in bed beside him and she didn’t have long, red hair. He yelled out loud and the woman turned to look at him before running away. He made to follow but something told him not to, instead he stopped to check the baby. The baby’s sock had been removed and had been stuffed deep down into the baby's mouth, partially down its throat, choking it.”

“I don’t like this one,” Selene whispered, her eyes fixed on the building in front of them. Even though it was a lovely warm night and she had her shawl around her shoulders, John could feel that she was shivering and wrapped his arms around her tighter.

“There’s a darkness in there, not like at the Sultan’s Palace, different. I feel that this building still has evil inside it. The energy is so...spikey,” she finished, not really knowing how to describe it. “Like it could prick you or hurt you just because you were there. I can’t say if there are any spirits in there, I’d have to go in for that, but the things that happened in there, it’s soaked into the walls, the floor, everything.” 

She shuddered again, taking an instinctive step backwards, forcing John to do the same or have her knock him over. He knew what she meant, the house felt strange even to him, like every instinct he possessed was screaming at him to turn around and leave. He was a Tracy, he didn’t back down from anything, even with the fine hairs at the back of his neck standing to attention, but he was more than happy to start walking as the tour moved on.

The last stop on their tour before they moved on to the cemetery was the famous house of Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans who, despite being dead for over 250 years, still seemed to hold some sway over the city, still having powers from beyond the grave.

“Born in 1801, to a wealthy white plantation owner and her black mother, Marie was said to be incredibly beautiful,” Delphine told them. “She married and went on to have two children before her husband mysteriously went missing. After this she called herself a widow, though some people believe that this was simply to save face and that he had actually abandoned her and their children.”

“Is this place any better?” John asked, his voice low in her ear, making her shiver for an entirely different reason.

“Much better,” she replied, keeping her voice quiet. “I can feel power here, but it’s neutral, nothing that I would call malevolent or nasty.”

“After her husband’s disappearance she was in need of money with which to take care of herself and her children. With precious little options, she began working in a hair salon, serving wealthy white and Creole women of New Orleans. Just like the salons of today they were a hotbed for gossip and secret spilling. She hoarded the information she was privy to, using to her advantage to rise up the ranks of society.”

“Honestly, I  can respect that woman,” Selene muttered. “I gather gossip and use it to my advantage too.”

“Sweetheart, you said that finding Grandma’s old photo album and stealing the picture of Dad’s emo phase was you doing the Gods work.”

“I stand by that,” she sniffed, ignoring the giggle from the young man standing behind them.

“Marie entered into another relationship with a wealthy and powerful man from a prestigious local family,” Remi continued. “And they had a total of fifteen children in quick succession.”

“Sod that!” Selene yelped, crossing her legs in the ultimate act of self defence. 

“And you said I have too many brothers,” John teased, hugging her tighter when she attempted to elbow him.

“Obviously, with so many children to look after she found that her time was limited,” Delphine said, ignoring Selene’s outburst. “She quit her job at the hair salon and devoted herself to raising her children. It’s believe that this was the time when she started to pay more attention to her mothers voodoo beliefs and practices.”

The story, which Delphine and Remi continued to tell them as they walked towards their last stop of the night, St Louis Cemetery number one, said that while she had a basic knowledge from her mother she learnt most of her craft from a voodoo doctor known only as Doctor John.

Selene turned her head back to look at John as she walked beside her. 

“Why didn’t you tell me you had a side hustle in Voodoo? You’ve been making me do all the magical heavy lifting for years.”

“Well, I had to leave you with something to do to make you feel useful,” he retorted, smacking a kiss on her lips when she squeaked a protest.

“Quite Christian based in the prayers used, voodoo combines the use of saints, incense and dance into its practice,” Remi continued as they walked. “She was known for her pet snake which she had named Zombie, and for providing Gri-Gri bags, spiritual readings, spells, fortune telling and mediumship for the wealthy of New Orleans upper class. She was said to have died with a smile on her face in 1881 and, when her death was reported in the newspapers they called her the kindest woman that had ever lived. She was said to have nursed the sick and helped out with all manner of problems that people might have, although many said it wasn’t so much because of her magical abilities that she was so powerful, but the secrets that she kept. Secrets that kept many politicians in her debt.”

They came to stop outside the crumbling white walls that surrounded the cemetery, glowing eerily in the rapidly darkening twilight between dusk and full night. The walls themselves were actually made up of wall tombs, a place for families who couldn’t afford a large above ground one.

“Marie Laveau was laid to rest right here in this very cemetery. It’s said that she still wields a remarkable amount of power even from beyond the grave, so much so that people often petition her spirit in the hopes that she will grant their wishes,” Delphine said as they entered. 

She and Remi led the way through a maze of tombs, some old and crumbling, others surrounded by iron railings that tilted at odd angles due to age and decay, some large, some small, some classical, some extravagant while others were just so outlandish that they looked completely out of place.

They stopped beside a rather plain white tomb, relatively small in comparison to some of the others they had already seen. Delphine reached out a hand to touch the side of the tomb, right beside a green X that had been scrawled on the paint.

“The practice has since been banned and is considered a criminal offence, but in the past people would mark her grave with an X, although as you can see some people ignore the law. The ritual stated that you should mark the grave with an X, turn around three times, knock on the tomb and then yell out your wish. If the wish came true you were supposed to return, draw a circle around your X and leave an offering to the lady.”

“I can think of a few wishes I’d like granted,” a lady in their group stated, making a fair few people laugh. “Not much, just a few million in the bank, a nice house and a good looking man on my arm.”

“Well, I can’t help with the millions,” her husband said, “but at least you have the good looking man.”

“Yeah, in my dreams,” she countered, although he didn’t seem too offended by it.

“Marie’s ghost has been spotted in many locations throughout the French quarter where she made her home," Remi told them. "She is most recognizable by the red and white turban tucked around her hair and the bright clothes she wears. People are still drawn to her and often follow her wanting to introduce themselves but she always vanishes, sometimes right in front of them, before they can do so.”

“She doesn’t sound scary,” a man said dismissively. 

“Oh, she’s seen as very friendly,” Delphine answered, “until you cross her. She’s been seen many times in this cemetery, walking between and sometimes through the tombs. Usually she leaves you be but, if you do anything that she deems disrespectful, such as disregarding or insulting her beliefs or religion she has been known to scratch, pinch and shove people to the ground. Voices have been heard coming from inside her tomb and some people that get too close have reported feeling sick.”

“She’s not too bad,” a voice beside Selene and John said in a conversational tone.

“Have you seen her?” Selene asked, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb Delphine and Remi as they told of the cities other famous inhabitants of the cemetery such as Bernard de Marigny and Barthelemy Lafon.

“Seen who?” John asked, dragging his attention away from the talk and back to her.

“Sorry, wasn’t talking to you,” she whispered.

“Do you happen to know where the Vignes tomb is?” the man asked, changing the subject from ghost talk to something more mundane. 

“No, sorry, we’re just on a tour here, we don’t know the area,” Selene admitted.

“Who were you talking to?”

“This guy,” she said, nodding towards the blond man who had begun to wander closer to the front of the tour group, obviously wanting to take advantage of listening to the information without having to pay for the privilege like the rest of them had.

“Who?”

“Him,” she replied, waving in his direction. "That new guy, he definitely wasn't with us at the start. He must have joined in along the way."

“There’s no one there, Sel,” John said quietly. She looked at him, studying his face to make sure he wasn't messing with her, but he seemed serious enough. She sighed, for someone so observant John certainly seemed to be missing the obvious. 

“Yes there is, he’s right there,”  she insisted. Praying for patience she grabbed his hand to drag him closer. “See? He's right there.”

“Yes,” John gulped, eyes widening, “I actually do see him.”

“Right, so he was saying that Marie Laveau isn’t as bad as everyone says she is, I assume he meant that her spirit isn’t that menacing, I was asking him if he’d seen her but then you interrupted and-”

“Sel,” John interrupted, his eyes locked on the man who was meandering back their way, “I don't think he joined the tour, he just walked straight through that tomb.” 

“Damn, then he’s got some serious energy in him,” she breathed, catching John’s meaning. “He must have if I didn’t sense it straight away.”

“Sorry, I had to listen to make sure they told my story right,” the ghost said, reaching her side. John’s eyes almost fell out of his head, confirming that he could now hear him as well as see him.

“Oh, are you a famous one?” Selene asked as the tour moved on, affording them a little more privacy to talk. 

“My name is  Henry,” he told them, dipping in a courtly little bow. “Oh, that's my cue, if you’ll excuse me…”

Henry vanished and reappeared nearer the front of the tour. Making a face of pure boredom he stepped into a gap between two tombs and moaned in a low, quiet voice. “I need to rest.”

Several people in the tour jumped and an older lady stumbled. John, actinb on instinct, reached out to steady her, letting go of Selene’s hand in the process.

“Where did he go?” John asked, returning to her side after assuring himself that the lady was unharmed. 

“No where, he’s still right there,” she answered, giving Henry a small wave.

“No, he’s not.”

“He is,” she insisted, “come on, we’ll go talk to him again.”

“As we were saying,” Remi could be heard above the mutterings of the other attendees. “The story of Henry Vignes is a sad one. A sailor who trusted the wrong person, Henry died having no place to be laid to rest, his tomb sold by the lady he had entrusted with his most important papers.”

Henry nodded sadly, leaning casually against the side of a tomb.

“He has been seen by many people, usually so clearly that they do not realise that he is even a ghost,” Delphine told them. Henry preened a little at that. 

“He often strolls right up to tourists and asks them where the Vignes tomb is located as he’s having trouble finding it himself. He’s even been known to appear at funerals and ask if there is any room left in there for him.”

Selene giggled, she couldn’t help it and Henry winked at her, tipping his hat before fading away.

“Are you sure he was still there?” John asked later that night as the tour returned to the french quarter meeting place. 

“Yes, I’m sure,” she sighed. “I don’t know what happened there, you seemed to see-”

“And hear,” John added.

“And hear him just fine. Then all of a sudden you couldn’t anymore.”

“I couldn’t at first either,” he reminded her, “I thought you were talking to yourself.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” she grumbled. “Sometimes I’m the only person that will listen to me.”

“Was there anything you did that might have allowed me to see him?” John asked, ignoring her insinuation that he never listened to her. He listened to her all the time, he was just selective with what he chose to reply to, knowing she needed very little encouragement with some of her more ridiculous ideas.

“No, I didn’t do anything at all,” she promised him. “All I did was move you closer so I could point him out.”

“You took hold of my hand,” he said, mentally rerunning the moment in his head. “And kept hold of it the whole time.”

“Not the whole time,” she reminded him. “When Henry did his haunting voice that lady stumbled and you caught her before she hit the deck.”

“And I didn’t hold your hand again until we were walking back,” he finished. 

“Nah, it can’t be that simple,” she scoffed. “I hold your hand all the time.”

“But have you ever done it while there was a spirit around?” he asked, guiding her around a group of drunken young ladies all carrying brightly coloured cocktails in yard long plastic containers with straws sticking out of them, most of which were being eagerly slurped from as they walked.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, thinking about it. “I don’t think so now that you mention it.”

“Do you think that could be another side effect of that little bonding mistake we made?”

“I guess anything is possible,” she mused. “Tanzi did say that we might keep noticing new things for a while after.”

“I guess there’s only one way to know for sure,” he shrugged, “you’ll just have to make sure you tell me next time you see one.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” she promised him. He smiled at that, knowing how just a few years ago she would never have dared to even agree to try, let alone have any intention of doing so. Her ex, Nathaniel was responsible for messing up many things in her life, her confidence in herself and her abilities being one of them, but John was determined that, no matter how long it took, he was going to prove to her that she never needed to be wary again.

Bourbon street at night was like no place they had ever been before. They heard it before they even got close, the neon lights glowing from a distance. The lights reminded Selene of London but that was where the similarities ended. 

The entire street was a wall of noise, music of all kinds seeming to spill out of every single bar on the strip on either side. She felt John tense beside her, knowing that it wasn’t somewhere he would be at all comfortable.

“Do you want to try and avoid it?” she asked and he nodded gratefully. A quick word with Remi and they had secured directions and a suggestion to head down Dauphine St instead of continuing onto Bourbon. They could follow it until they reached St Phillip’s St which would lead them to the intersection where their hotel was located.

They thanked him and Delphine for a fun and informative tour and struck out on their own. Dauphine street was much quieter than Bourbon appeared to be, there were still small crowds milling around outside but not enough to send John into flight mode, so they took that as a win.

“Want to grab a drink?” John offered but Selene shook her head.

“No thanks, I’m not really feeling it today, maybe it’s the crowds or all the walking but I think I’d rather wait until we get closer to the hotel, that way we can find a quieter one to try before we head to bed.”

“Good plan,” he agreed, pulling her in closer. It was only eleven at night, relatively early for them, but they had had a long day and the thought of the comfy bed awaiting them was a very pleasant one.

They located the intersection where Dauphine met St Paul's and soon hit the tail end of Bourbon. From there the music was far more bearable, seeming to be a mixture of classic rock, Selene could hear Smoke on the Water playing from a bar, and some kind of Jazz.

With Virgil, Scott and Jeff being fans of old fashioned Jazz music they decided to move a little further in that direction, meaning to take a video or two to show the others when they got home. That was their first mistake.

“No, no way,” John protested as a woman separated herself from the crowd outside the bar where a band was playing and grabbed his hand.

“Come on, honey, you have to dance,” she insisted, swirling on the spot and dragging him with her.

“Help!” he yelped as his arm was pulled this way and that by the enthusiastic woman. 

“Little busy,” Selene laughed, having been swept up into the arms of a man who was trying to lead her in some kind of 1920’s era Jazz hop dance that involved a lot of quick footwork and much arm waving.

John managed to escape as the band paused before launching into their next number and stole Selene back. She took full advantage, holding on to his hand as the music began to play again. 

A couple near them started something that looked vaguely like a charleston mixed with a waltz that Selene was determined to try to copy. Neither she nor John were very good, not knowing the steps or the music enough to actually follow along and ended up finding their own rhythm, not caring that they didn’t match the others, not caring that they were slower and less energetic. It was nice, it was simple and it was very much them.

“Thank you for forcing me to celebrate my birthday,” she said, pulling him in closer to steal a quick kiss.

“My pleasure,” he grinned, twirling her on the spot then dipping her in his arms. “Anything for the birthday girl.”

-x-

“It was so nice to see Myst again,” Selene sighed, relaxing deeper into the passenger seat of Jeff’s jet as they cruised over the Pacific, on course for Tracy Island. 

“I haven’t seen her in two years, not since she last visited Tanzi, I can’t believe how great the shop looked, they’ve run it for years but don’t get to spend much time there.”

“Well, with what we spent they'll still be open for at least another ten,” he teased, not in the least concerned by her shopping spree. You only turned thirty once and if she wanted to buy up half of the shop that was her choice.

“I didn’t buy that much,” she pouted, but couldn’t hold it for too long when, with a no doubt on purpose twitch of the controls, the little plane rolled sideways, sending a number of bags cascading to the floor.

“You were saying?”

“That doesn’t prove anything,” she huffed, trying not to laugh. "You said they were birthday presents.”

“So I did,” he agreed, lifting his hand off her knee to poke the console, bringing up a comm line to the island, announcing their impending arrival.

Virgil had messaged earlier that morning to say that he was picking up Celia and Adam in time for their return, so all they had to worry about was enjoying a leisurely breakfast.

They took him at his word and shared a delicious three egg omelette, an order of beignets and the best coffee she had tasted in forever.  Bellies full and suitably rested after an uneventful nights sleep in the hotel, the resident ghosts declining to visit, they had wandered around Jackson Square and the shops of the French quarter. 

John had insisted that he was hungry again and craving something special for lunch, that something special had turned out to be oysters. Selene had watched in morbid fascination mixed with horror as he had proceeded to devour a dozen oysters speckled with hot sauce, which she refused to try, while she munched her seafood salad. She was still undecided if watching him swallow them down whole so easily was hot or disturbing, the jury was still out.

Cherise had been as good as her word, waiting for them to dock from the ferry and taxing them to the bar where the jet waited for them. They had waved a happy goodbye after awkwardly stuffing their shopping (the pieces they hadn’t arranged to have delivered) and overnight bags into the back and taken off for home.

“I hope mum doesn’t make dinner awkward,” Selene sighed, knowing that with her family anything was possible. “I know she’s going to be a bit disappointed that I didn’t want to spend the actual day with her.”

“Then let her, you can always blame it on me.”

“My hero,” she smiled, lifting his hand to her lips to kiss it. “What would I do without you?”

“Marry Scott?” he joked, ducking out of the way of the smack she aimed at his shoulder. 

“I think Cat would have something to say about that,” she huffed. “Besides, you know you’re the only man for me.”

“I know, but it’s nice to be reminded now and then.”

She was still giggling, feeling relaxed and happily clinging to his arm, as the lift from the hangars completed its ascent, the doors opening to spill them out into the hall just beyond the lounge.

“Why do I hear music?” Selene asked suspiciously.

“I have no idea,” John admitted as they rounded the corner into the lounge.

Selene stopped dead in the doorway, as did John, unable to believe what they were seeing with their own two eyes.

“Am I that old now that I need glasses,” she whispered, “or am I actually seeing this?”

“Unfortunately it’s very real,” he whispered back, wrapping his arm around her protectively.

The lounge lights were flickering to the beat of the music, someone had laid out food on the coffee table, including a plate of mini sausages that Armstrong was steadily working his way through and someone had opened the concealed drinks cabinet.

It wasn’t the fact that there was quite clearly a party in full swing, a party that she had said on no uncertain terms wasn’t to happen, it wasn’t the fact that the entire family , plus her mother, Adam, Cat, Penelope, Parker, Bandon, Conrad and Moffie were all there.

No, it was the fact that each and every one of them was sporting a wig in various shades and stripes of purple and black. Wigs they had apparently teamed with half the contents of her wardrobe and every band T-shirt Jeff had ever collected.

“What the ever loving fu-”

The music quietened as the party animals realised they were no longer alone. They looked at John and Selene rather guiltily, not saying a word.

Scott, who had somehow squeezed his chest back into her favourite corset, was tossed under the bus and shoved forward to greet her.

“I’m going to kill you,” she hissed, trying to back away as he advanced on her, arms open in anticipation of a hug.

The world's most annoying best friend simply grinned at her, flashing those dimples that he knew she could never resist.

She tried to duck behind John but Scott was too quick for her, herding her directly into the path of the oncoming Virgil.

She was swept up into a bone crushing bear hug, vanishing under the tide of Tracys that descended to join in.

-x-

“Admit it, it wasn’t that bad,” John said, catching up with her beside the pool and handing her another can of her favourite cherry coke.

“I didn’t want a party,” she argued.

“But…”

“But I guess it wasn’t that bad,” she admitted, moving over on the padded bench seat to make room for him to sit next to her.

“They only did it because they love you.”

“I know, but they are all idiots.”

“I know, but it was a special birthday and they wanted to celebrate with you.”

“I know,” she said, leaning against his side with a contented sigh. 

"I've got a present for you," he announced, jiggling his shoulder to get her to move and shifting so he could dig into his hoodie pocket. 

"Really? Why?" 

"Because it's your birthday."

 "You really didn't have to, New Orleans was more than enough."

"The trip was supposed to have been for our anniversary, I just moved it forward," he reminded her. "Besides, I'd be a pretty lousy husband if I didn't get you something special to mark the occasion."

He offered her a bright green velvet pouch which looked to contain something rectangular and hard. 

"Open it," he instructed. 

"OK." She did as he bid, noticing that he was watching her very closely. Did he think she wouldn't like it? 

She loosened the draw strings and tipped the pouch up, catching the bundle of cards that slid out. 

"Tarot cards? What are they…" she paused, turning them over, her eyes widening as she realised exactly what they depicted. 

"Oh my gods," she gasped then burst out laughing. "These are amazing!" 

She flicked through them quickly, laughing even more at some of the pictures, each matching perfectly with the subject. 

"Where the hell did you find Muppets Tarot cards?" Kermit was the Emperor, Miss Piggy his Empress, Fozzy the Fool, Sam the Eagle as Justice, Animal as the Devil and most perfect of all, Statler and Waldorf as Judgement. 

"Tanzi put me in touch with someone who makes one of a kind sets to order," he replied, breathing a little easier now that he saw she liked them. 

"They're perfect, absolutely perfect. I love them so much."

"Good," he smiled, slipping his arm back around her waist and pulling her in closer. "I wasn't sure if it was something you would like or I should actually buy for you and didn't want to do the wrong thing. But Tanzi said that tarot cards are often gifted to people so it was OK." 

"Why would you think I wouldn't like them?" she asked softly. 

"I know how important your tools are to you and how Nathaniel never respected them. I guess I wanted to show you that I care too, that I'll always respect you and your beliefs."

"You are the best husband in the world," she assured him, pulling him closer for a kiss. "I love that you did this and I love that you know me so well that you could commission the most perfect set of cards just for me. Thank you, I love them."

"You're very welcome. I'm glad you like them."

"You always surprise me, just when I think you couldn't be any more amazing you pull something like this out of the bag, literally," she laughed, holding up the green pouch. 

"So, does this mean that you enjoyed turning thirty?" 

“I guess, as birthdays go, it wasn’t too awful.”

“Not too awful?” he mock gasped, clutching his heart. 

“Not awful,” she repeated, tipping her head back for another kiss. “Did you know they were planning all that?”

“Not all of it,” he admitted, “I suspected that they might not stick to a quiet meal but the rest was as much of a surprise to me as it was you.”

She let out an elegant snort in response, clearly not convinced.

“Honestly it was,” he promised, making the rescue scout sign. "Scouts honour."

“OK, I believe you, even though you weren't the scout, Scott was.”

“Thank you,” he grinned, draping his arm around her shoulders, his head tipped back to look up at the night sky above their heads. “All over for another year, how do you feel?”

“Better than I did yesterday morning,” she answered.

“Good, then my work here is done.”

She nodded, resting her head against his shoulder, just enjoying the peace of the late night,

“You’re quiet,” he said softly a few minutes later. “Everything alright?”

“Yep,” she promised. "I'm just thinking.”

“Care to share what you’re thinking so hard about?”

“Yep,” she repeated, grinning evilly. “I was thinking that mine isn't the only special birthday this year.”

Realisation dawned on him, a feeling of dread skittering up his spine.

“No, absolutely not.”

“But you said it yourself, you only turn thirty once.”

“No.”

“You forced me to celebrate, so it’s your turn next.”

“No, listen to me very carefully. I, as your husband, forbid it.”

“I’m thinking of a nice, relaxing trip somewhere quiet. I’ve heard that Finland does an amazing range of glass igloos to stay in to watch the sky, it's supposed to be beautiful that time of year.”

That didn't sound too bad, he had to admit. 

“OK, that wouldn’t be too terrible,” he agreed, breathing a sigh of relief. “For a second I thought you were going to say you were planning a party.”

“Would I do that?” she asked innocently, sliding out of his arms and off the bench. "I'm just going to show these to Mum, she'll have a fit."

“No, you aren't. Get back here. I forbid you to even think about planning a party."

"I'm not planning anything," she said, deftly avoiding his attempts to catch her and pull her back down. 

"Promise me you won't plan a party," he pleaded. 

"I promise," she vowed, dancing around the side of the pool towards the kitchen. 

John's eyes narrowed, she looked entirely too suspicious…

“I’m going to leave that to Scott.”

She dropped her bombshell, turned tail and ran like her life depended on it. 

[kuronanox]

Childhood promises - Hisagi Shuhei

"Shuhei wake up! It's snowing!" (Your Name) says putting on her torn up shoes while running outside. Rukongai in the winter was harsh and they were poor but it didn't mean they weren't happy.

"I'm coming!" He calls out putting on his robe and touching the white floor.

She was playing with the snow and smiling. He shyly watched. "Come on!" She yelled out and grabbed his hand.

"Ahh!" He protested and stood next to her and she smiled.

"Let's make something!"

They made a snowman and laughed as it fell apart from their poor attempt of it.

"I'm hungry (Your Name)." He says clutching his stomach.

With a worried face she walks back into their house and looks at what they had left. "Here eat this."

It was the last of their rice balls they had.

"But you won't be able to have any."

(Your Name) smiles and gives it to Shuhei anyways. "It's okay eat it."

Looking at the rice ball he broke it in half.

"Thanks." She smiles and eats it in one bite.

Shuhei zones out in the office and smiles sadly to himself. He had missed (Your Name) deeply and regret being a weak friend at the time.

He remembered he thought of her as family, they had no one. Although she was 5 years older than him (Your Name) worked hard for them.

Shuhei remember she worked at a small stall in rukongai and she made enough money for them to live enough to survive. Although they starved from time to time they were happy.

Kensei walks in with papers and places them on Shuhei desk. "Need these done by tomorrow."

"Okay Captain."

Kensei stares at Shuhei and walks out the office. He noticed that his Vice Captain had been spacing out recently but he didn't want to push any matters that were unnecessary.

"Are you okay (Your Name)?" Shuhei asks with teary eyes as he watched her wrapped a cut she got from work that day. "I'm okay thanks."

She smiles and sets down some hot soup she warmed up, although there was no rice today.

"What did you do while I was gone?"

"I played out in the fields with some friends."

"Fun, I'm glad you made it back safe."

"Actually... we were almost killed by a hollow."

"What?! Shuhei you could have gotten killed!"

He looks down and starts to cry. "I know, I'm sorry I was so scared. I couldn't do nothing. It was so big and strong. I didn't want to leave you either."

(Your Name) pulls him to an embrace like a mother would and kissed his head. "It's okay you are safe now."

"I met a Captain, and he saved my life. It made me realize that I wanna be a Shinigami when I'm older. I can take care of us and get strong!"

(Your Name) laughs and ruffle his messy hair. "Okay one day, promise me."

"I promise!"

The next morning they were rudely awakened when their door was knocked down and a group of men came in.

Shuhei eyes frighten as (Your Name) became alert and pulled him behind her.

"Your the bitch that sold us the fake metal." One said and grabbed her harshly.

"(Your Name)!" Shuhei yells and runs after her but she stops him.

"Don't come after me!"

He panics and watches as she struggles to get off the grip of the men. They were dragging her somewhere unknown.

"Leave her alone!" Shuhei screams and grabs the stick to hit the men.

Shuhei was sent flying a few feet in the air as they punched him and his nose bleed. He wanted to cry but he was losing (Your Name).

As they dragged her off Shuhei was left with one other dude as he beat Shuhei black and purple.

Lying on the floor (Your Name) was out of sight as he cried and ran to find her.

He screamed and fell to the ground.

Shuhei grips his hand in a fist as he laid in bed looking at the ceiling. He thought about (Your Name) wondering if she ever survived.

Rubbing his eyes he pushed the tears threatening to fall. She had sacrificed everything for them and he couldn't even save her that day.

The next morning Shuhei walked into the publishing office and greeted everyone with a smile. It was a new day and new opportunities waited for him.

"Me and Renji are giving some rookies a tour of Soul Society wanna join me?" Kira asks him as Shuhei had to pass. "Um nah seems kinda boring but good luck though!"

(Your Name) ended up stuck with a group of new comers like her as they toured the place, the blonde dude was kinda bland and gloomy but he showed everyone the important stuff which was the only thing that mattered.

"What squad do you wanna join?" A girl as her as she looked around amazed at the place.

"I'm not sure yet! I guess any that accepts me!"

Passing all the barracks Kira goes into the editing room. "And this is where we publish all the paper work, stories and headlines. The head of editor and chief is Lieutenant of Squad 9."

Shuhei greets everyone and smiles talking about how fun and hard working the publishers are.

(Your Name) looks at him with confusion. He didn't state his name but he looked familiar to her. "My name is Hisagi Shuhei! I can't wait to see what squad everyone joins!"

"What a minute? That's!"

"Okay everyone follow me." Kira boringly says and walks them out as she turns to find Shuhei but he was already gone talking to a few coworkers.

"I guess I'll catch up to him at another time. He's so grown now."

She smiles knowing that he successfully took care of himself. Although the scar and 69 was new.

"(Your Name)?" Shuhei calls out as she washes the rice for them that night.

"Yes?"

"Will you ever leave me for someone else?"

She tilted her head in confusion and laughs. "What do you mean?"

"Like if a guy came and you liked him."

"No silly, we have each other."

"Promise?"

"I promise! Trust me when you get older all the ladies will swoon for you."

"He's so hot!" A few girls giggled to themselves as they continued the tour.

By night time came they entered a dorm place for all new comers. Tomorrow was the day that they picked their squad whether they wanted to be in it or not.

(Your Name) was placed under the 6th squad, which to her seem pretty good because her Captain was a noble and everyone seemed fairly strong. Although she wasn't nearly as good as a seated officer she didn't mind working her way up.

"Abarai Fukutaicho?" She calls out one day as he turns to her. "Um? Do you know where I can talk to Shuhei?"

"Uh?? You mean like the Lieutenant from squad 9? Are y'all close like that?"

"Yes, I'm his childhood friend. We lost contact a long time ago but I just found him."

Renji was bewildered, he didn't know much about Shuhei past but it sounded a lot like him and Rukia so he couldn't reject her.

"Yeah I'll let him know."

Shuhei was in the middle of a rush when Renji walked in. "Yo! Someone was asking for you!"

"Not now! I'm kinda busy." Shuhei states skimming through the papers rangiku messed up on.

"It's (Your Name) she really wants to see you." Renji says as Shuhei drops the papers and looks up shocked. "You mean it?!"

"Yes, like she's in my squad and everything."

"Where?! Where is she!" Shuhei yells with a big smile on his face as he gets up from his desk.

"Woah woah calm down!" She's over at the fields training-" without letting Renji finish his sentence he made a run for it.

Renji smiles and scoffs. He was happy knowing that the reunion was going to be a good one.

Shuhei saw her with her sword training hard as she sweated and concentrated on her spiritual energy. "(Your Name)!" He yells out as she turns to him.

She smiles and ran towards him as they pull each other in a embrace.

"Shuhei! You're so grown now!" She says and he crushes her with his inhuman strength now. "Well you're so tiny!"

They let go as they both couldn't stop smiling. "How?" He says as she sat on the grass as he took a seat next to her.

"Remember when they took me, I managed to escape but we were so far away I couldn't find the way back home."

Shuhei groans and looks down. "If only I was strong back then, I would have saved you."

"It's fine, you were a kid. I don't blame you."

He smiles softly as she touches his face and he starts to blush. "What happen to your face?" She asks with concern.

"Don't worry, just battles and the 69 is something I got from the man that saved my life. He's actually my captain now."

She laughs and lets go. "Well you succeeded, now you can protect me from now on."

2 years later

"Why don't you tell her!" Hinamori pouts at Shuhei trying to push him into the restaurant.

"Be-because it's weird! She was like an older sister to me."

"But you like her right?" Rangiku jumps in unintentionally popping her breast out as Shuhei looks away in awkwardness.

"Better tell her before someone else beats you to it." Kira adds looking into the restaurant spotting (Your Name) dressed in a nice kimono waiting for a certain childhood friend.

"Come on! Renji even asked Kuchiki Taicho to reserve the best restaurant in Seireitei right now!" Hinamori says making Shuhei feel a bit guilty that Renji made the effort to beg his captain.

"Oh fine fine fine! I was going to do it my own pace but since everyone is telling me to."

Shuhei takes a deep breath and enters the restaurant.

"Shuhei!" She calls and waves him over.

"Sorry I'm late, how was your day?"

"It was good! I can't believe you got a place like this for us!"

Shuhei sweats a bit and drinks some water before answering. "Yeah me too."

"Ahh little Shuhei is so handsome now." (Your Name) smiles and push the messy part front of his hair away from his eyes.

He blushes and grabs her hands with his. "You've grown to a fine lady also... but you kept your promise."

"What promise?"

"Remember when we were little, I didn't want you to leave me for another man."

(Your Name) laughs and covers her mouth with her free hand and tighten her grip with his hand.

"Of course, why would I want anyone else?"

"I wouldn't want anyone else but you (Your Name)." Shuhei confesses as she drops her smile.

They had been through so much she could see a life with him and he could see a future with her. A future with laughter and happiness where they no longer starved or lived poor.

"I'm making enough money for us and I'm strong enough to protect you now. That means I'm the man I told you I wanted to be and the man you deserve to have."

She chuckles and set their hands down on the table as she rubs it softly.

"Always, I don't see why we wouldn't work out. The future tied us back together."

Shuhei grins like the child he once use to be and boldly kisses her from across the table.

"I've been waiting for this for years, our first kiss."

"And many to come." (Your Name) adds with a blush.

[crimsonbubble]

Pairing: Hongjoong x ot7

Genre: Smut

Warnings: brat tamer!ot7, sub!hongjoong, creampie, blowjobs, overstimulation, uhh taking pictures, fingering, marking, light voyeurism, double penetration, nipple play, cum eating, mommy/mistress, there's probably some I'm missing

Hongjoong was being difficult. His emotions were off the rails. Lately, he's been slipping into head space a lot. Having talked about this with the other members, the boys helped watch over Hongjoong when you weren't there, when he was in little space.

Today, Hongjoong was being extremely difficult to work with. One second he's happy, giggling and mumbling nonsense, the next he's talking back to the boys, practically bouncing off the walls. He's already broken so many rules and you've been gone for only 3 and a half hours. It was currently 7:40 pm and you wouldn't be back till 9:30 pm. The rest of ATEEZ were trusted by you to take care of him and keep him in check. They didn't want to call you and say that they need you're help. Hongjoong was their responsibility, when you were gone. You've left Hongjoong with the boys many time before, so you thought they could handle it.

Boy were you wrong.

Seonghwa; as the eldest, who was trying to get him to eat his dinner, was slowly losing his patience. "Joongie, please eat your dinner. If you don't eat now, you'll have to wait till tomorrow morning." Seonghwa said in hopes to persuade him to eat. In response, all he got was a bratty "no," which resulted in Jongho pulling Hongjoong away and throwing him over his shoulder. They've all had it with his brattiness and Jongho decided to end it. With long strides, they make their way to Hongjoong's room. Hongjoong kept kicking his legs and punching Jongho's back, to be put down. He did get put down, just not where he wanted. He tried to maneuver around Jongho, but was stopped by Yunho. Yunho dragged him back to the corner and sat him down.

"Hongjoong," Seonghwa said in a stern and borderline terrifying tone. Hongjoong snapped back with a harsh "what." Wooyoung walked forward and grabbed his face, turning it towards them. "First of all, you don't talk back." Wooyoung says as he harshly let go of his face. A loud ringing echos through the room, as Yunho answers his phone. Smirking at the contact name, he answers and put the phone on speaker. "Hello?" He says, looking Hongjoong directly in his eyes. "Hey Yunho-ya! I'm on break and decided to call and make sure Hongjoongie wasn't causing any trouble. So, how is he?" You ask, soft voice pouring out of the phone speaker. Hongjoong's eyes widen in fear as he can basically see the fire behind Yunho's eyes. He already knew he was gonna get punished.

"He's been bratty. Talking back, being sassy, throwing tantrums, you name it." Yeosang says, slightly amused. "Really now?" You question, as your anger is dripping from your words. "Why don't you tell your mommy, what you did, Joongie?" San taunts. Hongjoong feels tiny under all of their lustful gazes. He stumbles with his words and can't say a coherent sentence. A soft "let me talk to him," leads Yunho to putting the phone infront of Hongjoong. "You can speak to him now, mistress." The name falls from his lips, as anger slowly bubbles within Hongjoong. "Hongjoong," your voice makes him feel tiny, even though he can't see you. Stammering out a quick 'yes.' your voice is dripping with authority and lustful anger.

"I told you didn't I? I told you to be a good boy for them, didn't I? Even if I'm not there, you're still getting punished. I've already talked to the others about it. Take what they give you, like a good whore. Now, behave for them. Understood?" Your voice was stern, steady and quiet. A choked out hum, leaves him. A large hand, grips his throat. "Use your words, slut." Mingi says, as he presses harder with his fingertips. Mingi's voice was deep, husky and made Hongjoong melt. "Yes m-mommy, I understand." He staggers, the hand slipping away from his throat.

"Good. Boys? Take care of him for me, ok?" Hongjoong can practically see the smirk on your face. "Of course," Jongho starts. "Mistress." They all say, before the call is ended. The boys calling you mistress has Hongjoong fuming, but that doesn't last as he's placed on the bed and stripped of his clothing. He lets out a whimper at all the lustful gazes. Their aura is dark and dominating. Yunho has a certain flare of something in his eyes, that Hongjoong can't place a finger on. The boys look at one another before looking at Yunho. He walks forward and grabs the lube from the bedside table.

"Spread your legs." Yunho says as he gets inbetween them. Two fingers circle his puffed rim, small moans spilling from his throat. Yunho pushes a finger in and starts pumping immediately, not letting him adjust. His pace is fast and hard. Hitting places that Hongjoong didn't knew existed within his body. Yunho adds two more fingers and shoved them into the tight heat. Moans spill from his mouth as Yunho keeps his set pace. The others watch as Hongjoong takes Yunho's fingers with ease. Hongjoong was brought out of his mind when he heard a voice.

"You like that don't you? Fingers, oh so deep inside you. Moaning like a bitch in heat, already?" Wooyoung says as he palms himself through his jeans. "Look at you. You're already look fucked out, from just Yunho's fingers. You're sucking him in so easily. Such a greedy slut." Yeosang says. "Let's see just how much your body can take hmm?" Mingi says as he crawls between Hongjoong's legs. Yunho moves a bit to the side, so Mingi can slide his fingers in with ease. Mingi's lubed fingers intrude Hongjoong's hole as his back arches, hating and loving the burning stretch.

Mingi and Yunho move their fingers into Hongjoong at uneven paces. Their fingers were long and thick as they rubbed his sensitive walls. Wails and cries reverberated around the room as their paces became brutal. Their dry hands, grip his hips to keep them in place. Hongjoong's pitch rises as they slam into his prostate. "Aah please Yunho o-oppa, Mingi oppa. Please. I'm so c-close. Ah!" The nickname ignites a fire in their chests as they pump their finger into him even faster than before. Lewd moans and whimpers poured out of Hongjoong's mouth. His tongue stuck out of his mouth as his eyes were sinched shut.

"Aww, you wanna cum baby?" Mingi says, tauntingly. "Ah, oppa please! I wanna cum so bad." Hongjoong let go of all the shame he once had and begged them to let him cum. "Hmm.. you can cum now baby. Although, you'll be cumming until we tell you too. If we tell you to cum, you cum ok? No ifs, ands, or buts." Their fingers curl into his prostate as a string of moans come from him. "Aah oppa please! I'll cum as many times as you want, just please let me cum. I'll be a good boy, please?" Hongjoong choked out a reply as their fast pace is taking a toll on his body.

His back arched beautifully as his hips try to lift up from the bed. His neck barring to the boys. Wooyoung steps forward and latches onto the flesh of his neck and sucks dark hickeys into it. The soft skin adorned by dark red and purple marks. Trailing kisses down, Wooyoung makes marks all over the skin he could reach. Hongjoong's hips stutter as he cums. His lips swollen and wet, lewd noises falling from his lips, hair matted against his forehead, beautiful marks along his neck, chest and collarbone.

Yunho's and Mingi's finger, don't stop. In fact, they go even faster, hitting Hongjoong's prostate head on. His cum runs down his sides, as he gets hard again, not even two minutes later. Yeosang dips his fingers into the sticky white mess and shove them into Hongjoong's mouth. Hongjoong laps at the sweet and salty taste on his tongue. He swirls his tongue around the digits, lightly grazing his teeth on Yeosang's fingers. A throaty groan leaves his lips.

Hongjoong was always sensitive. Hence why he's able to cum from just prostate stimulation. The moans leaving Hongjoong's mouth are light and airy as Yunho presses into his prostate, and rubs that one spot over and over. Hongjoong's senses heighten as his prostate is abuse by Mingi and Yunho's fingers. Lewd chants of 'oppa' and 'aahs' go straight to the other boys' cocks. The noises Hongjoong let out were angelic; soft, airy and sweet. His face, neck, ears and collarbones flushed. A thin layer of sweat covering his shaky form.

"You like that don't you? Your prostate being abused with just our fingers?" Yunho grunts out, tightening his grip oh Hongjoong's hip. "Already so wrecked, without even getting your cock played with. Wonder what you'll look like when we fuck you.." Seonghwa taunts as he sees Mingi use his arm strength to pump his thick fingers in and out of Hongjoong's wet heat. The dirty words sending intense pleasure searing to his untouched cock. Hongjoong looks as red as his hair. The boys continuing their ministrations on Hongjoong's body. "Aah, ah oppa! I'm gonna cum! Ah please!" He says, arching his back, his head against the pillows. "Cum for us Joongie~" Jongho states as he moves to leave bruises on the skin, Wooyoung didn't.

White ropes paint his already messy stomach with more cum. Removing their fingers from his hole, Mingi hovers over the white mess. He licks a stripe and attaches his lips on Hongjoong's. Their lips move with haste as Mingi's tongue intrudes his mouth. Hongjoong whimpers as his tongue licks the white off of Mingi's tongue. Their tongues intertwine with one another. A string of saliva connects them as they pull away. Mingi and Yunho move off the bed and let Seonghwa sit between Hongjoong's legs. Wooyoung hovering over his chest. All of the boys strip themselves and engrave the image of Hongjoong being completely at their mercy.

Unbeknownst to them, Yunho took a few pictures to send to you later. Seonghwa lubes himself up, lining up with his entrance. Seonghwa pushes in all at once and immediately starts thrusting. Wooyoung slowly runs his tip along Hongjoong's bottom lip, slapping his cock on his cheek before pushing in. Hongjoong's eyes are filled with lust and hunger. Hongjoong looks up at Wooyoung. He gets teary eyed as Wooyoung fucks his mouth. Hongjoong's tongue slides around Wooyoung's cock as he swallows the pre-cum. Hongjoong's moans are muffled as Wooyoung's tip hits the back of his throat. Seonghwa grunts, pistoning his hips into Hongjoong.

The sound of skin on skin echo throughout the room. Hongjoong almost forgot that the others were here. He was brought back into the real world when Yeosang began playing with his sensitive nipples. Moans and screams came from his mouth as he struggled to breathe. His face tear stained, red hair sticking to his forehead, pink lips stretching so beautifully around Wooyoung.

Wooyoung groans as he feels his release nearing. Seonghwa slams into his prostate with a string thrust. Seonghwa let out continuous groans and growls from the back of his throat as he was holding back from cumming from Hongjoong clenching around his cock. Wooyoung grips Hongjoong's hair and pushes into his mouth a few more times before releasing his cums down his throat. Wooyoung rides out his high, slowly rolling his hips. Seonghwa speeds up and groans. "Fuck. Joongie I'm gonna cum. Ah fuck." He says before plunging into him once more, releasing his load into him.

The hot and heavy feeling from Seonghwa's cum leaking out of him throws him over the edge. "You're such a whore Joongie. Cumming untouched 3 times already~" Jongho purrs as he wiped the tears off Hongjoong's face. "Let's keep it that way. However many times we fuck, you're going to cum untouched." Mingi commands as he gets inbetween his legs. Mingi thrusts in setting an animalistic pace. The force for the thrusts, cause Hongjoong's body to move up on the bed.

Mingi pulls Hongjoong back into him as his hands grip his hips tightly. Mingi leans in and licks around his hardened nipple. He bites, sucks and licks. Blowing air into it, sending a shiver through Hongjoong's body. Mingi gives the same treatment to the other and licks a stripe along Hongjoong's sternum. Yunho continues taking pictures. His gallery in full of pictures of Hongjoong getting wrecked, just waiting to be sent to you. Yunho is doing a favour for you by taking pictures. Hongjoong looks so beautiful.

His neck, chest and collarbones covered in hickeys and marks, along with sweat and his face flushed pink, bruises slowly forming in his hips from their grip. Cum staining his stomach and inner thighs. The sight is ethereal. Mingi softly bites Hongjoong's earlobe and trails wet kisses down the sides of his neck, creating even more hickeys. Hongjoong's breathing is harsh and shaky. The sensitivity was catching up to Hongjoong.

Hongjoong let out intensely high pitched moans and whimpers. His body raking with overstimulated pleasure. His cock still hard and leaking cum. The boys languidly stroke themselves, watching Mingi pound into Hongjoong. "Ah fuck Joongie. Even after getting fingered, and fucked by Seonghwa hyung, you're still so tight. Fuck, I'm close." Mingi says, hitting Hongjoong's prostate over and over. Hongjoong whimpers and cums I've this stomach once again. His voice was given at this point. His brain is telling him to stop, but his body refused to deny the extreme pleasure he was receiving.

Mingi groans at the tight clench of Hongjoong around his cock. He cums buried deep inside him. His hole and inner thighs, covered in their white stickiness. Mingi pulls away and stands up. The others watch as Seonghwa and Mingi's cum drip from his gaping hole. Yunho is still taking pictures, capturing Hongjoong's beauty in all the photos. Jongho and Yeosang move forward. Yeosang carefully moves Hongjoong's body to lay over him, his back to Yeosang's chest. Yeosang pushes in with ease and stills. "Joongie, both me and Sangie are going to fuck you ok? If it gets too much, tell us and we'll continue seperately, ok? We don't want to hurt you."

Jongho says, before leaving light kisses on Hongjoong's neck. Hongjoong nods in appreciation at the warning. His voice is rough and quiet as he mumbles a quiet 'ok'. Jongho slowly pushed in beside Yeosang. Yeosang grunts at the slide of Jongho's cock beside his. Tears of pain slide down Hongjoong's face as he tries to adjust to the significant stretch. Jongho stops halfway and litters butterfly kisses along Hongjoong's chest. A quiet 'keep going' is heard before Jongho pushes in the rest of the way. Hongjoong is filled to the brim.

He feels like he's being ripped apart at the seams. Tears continuously fall from his eyes, as he musters up the remaining energy he has and clenches around both of them hard. Jongho and Yeosang let out curses as they very slowly and carefully starts thrusting into his hole. The drag of their cock along his walls, has his squirming in Yeosang arms. Yeosang's hands rest in his hips, using them as leverage and to control his pace. They speed up ever so slightly and Hongjoong shrieks.

His body convulsed as he came once again. The fifth orgasm has his body writhing and squirming as he whines high in his throat. His mouth open in a silent scream. His clenched hole was puffed and pink. The running of Jongho's and Yeosang's cock against each other, are enough to throw them both over the edge. Their cum mixes with one another as Jongho slowly moves away. Yeosang moans as Jongho leaves Hongjoong's hole. Yeosang lets out a noise between and grunt and a growl as he pulls out. He moves Hongjoong to lay beside before pressing a kiss to his nose and standing up.

San trails his cold hands over Hongjoong's nipples and sucks on his neck. Hongjoong is too far gone to say anything. San doesn't warn him before he's fucking into him with force. His pace was slow; but hard. Hongjoong does nothing but take San's cocks and moan silently. His legs went numb after Mingi fucked his brains out. His senses are on overdrive as he clenched around San. "Fuck Joongie, so pretty. You look so pretty all fucked out, with cum all over you." San taunts as he slams into his prostate with a new found vigor. Hongjoong screams as his next orgasm was building. Based off his bodily reactions, it was going to be a dry one.

Hongjoong's body writhed as he dry orgasmed. The feeling was so painful but felt so euphoric. The boys felt sorry for Hongjoong's dry orgasm, but can't do anything, as San just fucked him through it. San moaned at the witness around his cock. "Fuck Joongie, I'm close- ah fuck I'm gonna cum." San whispers as he emptied himself in the older male. San pulls out and watches as all of their cum drips out of their leader. Yunho is still taking pictures.

Although now, he crawls between Hongjoong's legs, Seonghwa is looking at the previous pictures. He smirks and continues in place of Yunho. Yunho peppers Hongjoong's face and neck with soft kisses as he pushes in. Hongjoong lightly giggles at the soft action. His giggles are stopped by a moan as Yunho hits his prostate. Yunho slowly thrust as to not hurt his extremely oversensitive body. Yunho played with his nipples before holding his hips. Yunho lays kisses on his necks and chest as he fucks into Hongjoong.

Hongjoong's whimpers and moans are light and airy. His abused body squirming as he cums again. He shrieks and arches his back more than ever. Yunho relishes in his sounds as he drives himself over the edge. His cums flows out, mixing with the others as it leaves Hongjoong's body. His chest is heaving at an unsteady pace. Seonghwa walks over to the bathrooms and comes back with a warm wash cloth. He kneels between Hongjoong's legs and softly cleans him up. Hongjoong whines and tries to move away. Seonghwa grips his hip softly and tells him to "stay still while I clean you up, ok baby?" Hongjoong reluctantly stays in place and lets Seonghwa clean him.

His body is hypersensitive and any sort of contact has him squirming. The other boys kiss Hongjoong's forehead and pet his hair, telling him how good he was for taking all of them. They said they were sorry if they went too rough in him. Hongjoong replies with a gruff, "hey, it's ok. Besides, I liked the rough treatment. It was... exhilarating." His face flushed red at his sudden confession to him liking the pain of his punishment. The boys laughed as they one by one leave the room, to let Hongjoong's body calm down.

Seonghwa pulls away and tosses the dirty cloth into the laundry basket. The eldest walks over to Hongjoong and carefully pick him up, bringing him to the bathroom. He sets his down, briefly, to fill up the bath. He makes sure the water is warm and places Hongjoong in. Hongjoong starts smiling unconsciously. "What are you smiling about Joongie?" Seonghwa asks as he washes his hair. "Just the fact that, you fucked my brains out and then become so gentle with the aftercare. It's cute how quickly you change your demeanor." He laughs out. "Well we did go rough on you. I want to make sure you're okay. Besides with aftercare, I know you're okay." Seonghwa says kissing the top of Hongjoong's head.

A quiet knock is heard throughout the bathroom. A soft 'come in' is heard before the door swings open. You stand at the door as you smile at the two. "Hey Joongie. Hey Hwa." You say as you sit on the ledge of the bathtub. "I see you and the boys had a lot of fun, huh Joongie?" You snicker, gesturing to his neck, collarbones and chest. Hongjoong flushes and whines, hiding his face in his hands.

You pull his hands away and tilt his head up. Softly kissing his lips, you push his hair out of his face. Pulling away to breath. "Joongie?" You call out softly. A small 'yes?' slips past his lips. "What do you say if I can get the boys to help with with your punishments? So, when I'm not here, they tell me what you did and they can give you, your punishment." You ask as you trail your finger along his jawline. "Uh I don't mind honestly. If it's okay with the others, it's okay with me." Hongjoong says smiling up at you. You look over at Seonghwa, who nods with a loving smile on his face.

"Ok, Joongie. I'll be back in a few minutes ok?" You whisper kissing his nose, loving the soft giggle that come from the action. Standing up and walking into the living room, you make your way to the center of the room. "Ok, so I told him about you guys joining in on the punishments and he said as long as it's okay with you boys, it's okay with him." The boys smile and agree. The boys and you make your way back up to the room. Seonghwa helps Hongjoong into a pair of fluffy socks and an oversized tee. Hongjoong's eyes opens and close over and over; on the verge of just passing out as soon as he lays on his bed. You all walk in. You crawl on to the bed and pat the space next to you.

Seonghwa carries and places Hongjoong on the bed, who instantly cuddles into your side. He places his head on you chest, listening to your steady heartbeat. He wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you even closer, already falling asleep. His soft cheeks, full and pink, lips slightly parted as soft snores escape them and his hair, a little damp. Even while he's sleeping, he looks like a fairy. So soft and delicate. In hushed tones, you and the boys talk about what happened during the day and how the 'punishments' went.

An hour or so passes as they conversation leads to how thankful you are of them for taking care of Hongjoong while you were gone. Sleepily, the boys take their leaves and walk seperate ways; going to their rooms.

You shift down on the bed and scoot Hongjoong closer to your small frame. Hongjoong's soft snores lulling you to sleep. A soft smile makes its way to your lips as you breath in the soft scent of his vanilla shampoo. Seonghwa; who came back to ask you something, saw the both of you asleep, smiled and walked into the room as quietly as possible.

Taking Yunho's phone out of his pocket, he sends you the best pictures out of the hundreds he and Yunho took. He puts them into a special folder just for you to look at. He plugs Hongjoong's and your phone in for charging and slowly leaves the room; not before placing a soft kiss on both of your foreheads and pulling the duvet over your sleeping forms. He makes his way to Yunho's room and plugs in his phone as well. Leaving as silently as he could, he made his way to his own room.

He flopped on his bed and almost instantly fell asleep. A soft smile on all of your faces. You might not be able to see one another, but your soft smiles show just how much you care for one another. A blissful sigh leaves Seonghwa's lips as everyone in the dorms, falls asleep.

[no-goddamn-cilantro]

I got a bug, so I decided to write this ridiculous nonsense.

Adventures in Babysitting

The ship hummed softly as the power-down sequence began, and Rocket was quick to hop out of the pilot's chair and make his way back to the makeshift child seat Gamora insisted he use. Something-something safety, something-something, blah-blah-blah, whatever.* Groot's safety is and always will be number one, but it's insulting that she thinks a glorified bucket with a seat harness is going to do shit. Rolling his eyes to himself, he lifts the "baby carrier" by the handle and disembarks, wincing in the bright sunlight on Peter's home world.

He probably should have told Peter he was going to come, see if the guy had any family to visit. Ah well. Too late now, time to meet his old pal to drop off the kid before getting down to business.

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

Dyn Jarren was, to put it mildly, exhausted. After Sporog, there had been nine other planets, either too hostile or where they were too easily found. Nine.* So he'd decided to... Branch out a bit. Hit the next Galaxy over- he had contacts there, a Mandalorian covert hiding away on the moon of some backwater planet called Terra where the locals had barely managed to intrude on the dead rock, let alone notice the comings and goings of the refugees on their own moon. One of these Terrans had even gained that most precious of commodities years ago, the Mandalorian's trust.

There were three shootouts, a target's gills getting infected with fishrot, and said Terran actually convincing the target to be encased in Carbonite willingly. It was a wild four days, but the man was trustworthy, never having breathed a word of what happened during his "spirituality retreat."

Landing in a tucked away copse of trees near his contact's current location, he hefts The Child into his arms, turning his head to shush him gently.

"None of that. It's faster if I carry you."

Without another word he disembarked down the gangplank and set off at a brisk pace, following the coordinates in his helmet's display.

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

Keanu was sitting in the sunny Northern California early afternoon, dozing off if he were to tell the truth, at the rather larger home than he really needed that had been rented for the next week. He wanted plenty of room for Rocket and his young ward to explore and relax though, so this was his best option. It was secluded, no neighbors for miles, with a dense forest to the back and miles of vineyards in lieu of the missing neighbors.

A coo only a few feet from him caused him to jerk fully awake suddenly, eyes opening to see a man he'd never expected to see again and- was that a child?

Standing, he greeted the unexpected guest from outer space with a pleased smile.

"Mando! Man, wow, it's been like- six years? How are you? And who's this little guy??" As he approached his face broke into a more intimate grin as he made eye contact with the tiny green child, delight lighting up his face as The Child gifted him with another coo.

The Mandalorian, for his part, gives a neutral hum that borders on pleased. "This is The Child. We're currently hiding from parties that want him dead- or worse. I was hoping we could lay low here for a while- is that alright with you?"

Keanu, for his part, is astounded at that story, but the only question that passes through his lips is, "Mando, have you not... Named your kid?"

Despite being able to see exactly none of the Mandalorian's face, he can practically feel* the other man's blush. "... It hasn't been important so far."

"Mando!"

"Keanu." Unexpected, deadpan snark from his friend, but he rolls with it. Abruptly, he remembers his manners and invites them hurriedly, offering food and beverages. Dyn declines both for himself, but soup for The Child if he has it. Keanu does and quickly begins heating some on the stove. While that's working, he tries to figure out how to tell the bounty hunter about his other, expected visitor.

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

As it turns out, the Mandalorian wasn't terribly fussed about his having other guests, so long as they didn't try to harm either the man or the* child, though the Terran man was subjected to a hard stare he couldn't see but could definitely feel when he mentioned his other guests were "a little unusual-looking."

Rocket, true to form, didn't bother with knocking, though Keanu was openly relieved he used a door at all for entering the abode. The bipedal raccoon, on the other hand, was distinctly and obviously uncomfortable. With a blatantly false smile across his snout and speaking through his teeth, Rocket jerks his head a few times back towards the living room from the doorway of the kitchen where he'd abruptly halted.

"Hey, Neo, need to talk to you real quick. In here. Away from the bounty hunter."

The implacable stare of the helmet followed them out of the room and until they turned the corner, Rocket leading his friend halfway up the stairs leading to the bedrooms. Before Keanu can speak, Rocket is standing- somehow- on the railing and gripping the collar of his jacket, pulling him close to mutter threateningly in his face. "I don't know what that guy has told you, but I don't have any more bounties on my head. I went straight, we all went straight, we're doing good now. I won't let some Mandalorian asshole with out of date information skin me for credits, you got it?"

"I'm not here on a bounty."

Both man and raccoon in the stairwell jump, looking down at the Mandalorian standing with crossed arms. He continues, unperturbed by the blatant hostility of the raccoon that scampers down the stairs to stand eye to... Well, hip, until he takes advantage of the banister again. "I'm just laying low for a while. Needed a place to hide. Keanu mentioned you were coming." At the last sentence Rocket glares back at the man, before Mando dryly adds, "We were unexpected. You weren't."

Keanu decides that he needs a strong mug of tea.

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

So once helmet-head and his little goblin child are settled in the dining area, Rocket goes to collect Groot and his- bucket, no, carrier- from where he'd left him napping in the sun. He is completely unsurprised that his own little monster child has managed to escape the prison of the child seat and is frolicking in the yard after a butterfly or some shit. Rocket allows himself the barest moment of tender enjoyment of watching Groot just be happy, before he knuckles up and shouts across the open lawn.

"Hey Groot, come meet your babysitter! I don't got all day, hurry it up!" The tree person- is he a shrub right now? He's small enough to be a shrub- comes scampering across the yard, stopping in front of Rocket, crossing his arms, and indignantly huffing.

"I am Groot."

"Yes, you do. I can't leave you on the ship by yourself for a couple of days."

"I am Groot!"

"Because I'm the adult and you're not right now."

"I am Groot?"

"Keanu. Don't give me that look, that's his real name."

"I am Groot."

"Look who's talkin'! You think either of us have room to be critical of someone else's name?"

"... I am Groot..."

"That's what I thought. Now c'mon, he's waiting inside and he made you food, so be grateful."

He takes his ward's hand, leading him inside. More to himself than anything, he mutters, "But Keanu is a weird fuckin' name..."

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

The second meeting with the children present goes much smoother than the first. They sit and share a meal- with the exception of Dyn Jarren, who answers endless questions about Mandalorians, his helmet, his weapons, and anything else Rocket can think of to annoy him with, with a remarkable amount of patience- if not without more of the snark Keanu witnessed earlier. The fathers then send their children to play, with stern warnings about not leaving the yard that are, the Terran is sure, going to be completely ignored. He has to grip Mando's sleeve to get him to sit and stay after some noises of play begin and the man slightly panics.

Rocket, for his part, decides to refuse to be this much of a worrywart over Groot upon observing the bounty hunter's near-palpable anxiety over his foundling.

Keanu decides to get into the practicalities of the next few days, asking what each child likes to eat, when they're supposed to sleep, and what discipline they're used to, ready to take notes.

Both Mandalorian and raccoon stare at him blankly after the first question. He tries again, starting with what he thought was the easiest question.

"what time do they generally go to sleep?"

"Uhhh, Groot just sorta passes out when he's tired. Usually about... 9ish? I guess?"

"Does he nap during the day?"

"How'm I supposed to know, I'm workin'! He just sleeps when he's tired."

"Mando?"

The bounty hunter's shoulders drop slightly in what might be classed as defeat. "He sleeps all the time in about two hour chunks, then he's up for about five." When the Terran blinks at him in what looks a lot like confusion, he sighs. "I've tried getting him to sleep longer, but unless he ends up using his abilities, it's just not happening."

Keanu nods in what appears to be deliberate lack of judgement, making notes on either side of his page. Rocket snatches the paper almost as soon as he's done with his bedtime notes, barking a laugh at the name given for The Child.

"Mando Jr.? Really, bounty hunter? You couldn't come up with anything better?"

"... I didn't come up with it."

"So what's his real name?"

"... It's not important. That'll do for now."

And so the conversation went, discipline being a similarly baffling subject for both of them. When it came to food though, they found surprising common ground.

""Frogs.""

Keanu made a continue gesture after they both looked at each other in surprise, before Rocket jocularly punched Dyn on the shoulder. Dyn, for his part, just seemed exhausted. Keanu could relate.

"Soup. Small bits of meat... Mushrooms. Insects if he can catch them."

"Groot'll eat anything, kid's a trash compactor. We done here?"

Keanu is more than happy to finish out the conversation there, releasing them to go check in on their kids before headed out. Sometime in the last few hours, Rocket had decided a Mandalorian was pretty good backup for what he was doing and asked if Dyn would like to come along. The bounty hunter had sighed heavily before nodding his agreement.

Which brought them back around to the sitter conversation that now had Keanu reaching for the tea kettle again.

It was going to be a long three days.

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

Keanu, for his part, was pleased to discover Groot had no problems retreating to his and Rocket's room at 9pm for bed. The Yiddling, as was the name that seemed to stick for the sitter, was another story.

He whined, he grizzled, he even squealed a time or two. The Terran just kept calmly holding the kid and bouncing gently, singing half-remembered lullabies to the child as it slowly, eventually, tired itself out. Keanu very gently lowered the child into the crib he'd acquired from the bounty hunter's ship before they left, taking the three steps back to his bed to collapse backwards into the sheets and blissfully drop off after hours of soothing a fussy toddler who could move things with his mind.

For two hours. Then the crying began again.

It was a long night for everybody, and the sitter was more than happy to go start the coffee pot just as the first fingers of sunlight began to creep over the treetops behind the house. By the time he had breakfast prepared for the two children under his care, the kitchen was bathed in golden morning sunlight. The two ate well, then his little tree-like charge turned to him with a stubborn tilt to his head.

"I am Groot."

"A nature walk? Why?"

"I am Groot!"

"I somehow really doubt the forests of Earth are your ancestral home."

"I am Groot!"

"... You know what, an excellent point. You two can find all the frogs you like and I won't have to attempt to catch any for you. We'll go in a little bit, okay? I need to pack you both lunches in case we're out for a while, and I need to put together that thing."

"That thing" was, in fact, a jogging stroller for doubles. A quick overnight delivery after the arrival of not one, but two children in his care necessitated it, and it had arrived promptly at 8am. He cleaned up after his little charges, helped them both wash their hands in the sink, and then sent them to play for a while as he carefully read the instructions for assembly.

One hour, two bandages, and a hurried, "don't repeat that!" tossed in a nosey Groot's direction after some overheard profanity, and the babysitter had the stroller ready. He packed two quick lunches based on the Yiddling's preferences- as his was the more specified, and Groot really would eat anything, including the plate- and got them all out the door, a bag of essentials that he resolutely would not call a diaper bag tucked into the very-convenient compartment beneath the seats of the stroller and took them down the path that had a trail head right there in the backyard. Keanu decided Groot really did have an excellent idea with this.

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

Two hours later Keanu was smugly pleased with both the nature walk and the double stroller. Both kids were passed out asleep in their stroller seats, snoring gently with the remains of their lunches clasped gently in sticky fingers- twigs? Claws? Fingers was just easier for Keanu's exhausted but triumphant brain- and resting lightly in their laps. He was now taking a leisurely stroll back to the house, enjoying the peace as much as communing with nature.

And so that's how the three spent the next several sleep-deprived days. Breakfast, stroller, wander through nature (one extremely disturbing frog-hunting hour around a pond that he's never mentioning to another living soul except for maybe their parents) lunch and afternoon naps, playing tag and other such games in the yard, dinner, and then a fraught bedtime with the little Yiddling.

When their parents returned, Rocket was nearly bowled over by an excited Groot, being squeezed happily by suddenly very long toddler tree arms. The Mandalorian was passed The Child by a tired but very happy Keanu, who reported to both parents that they were good kids and behaved. Mando was surprised in equal measure by both the Yiddling- he was keeping that name for him, thank-you Keanu- falling asleep in his arms immediately, and the sitter in question's flabbergasted stare that soon melted into a soft, gentle smile.

As they each departed for their ships after what was decidedly a warmer and noisier splash than The Mandalorian had wanted to make on this planet, they were both secretly pleased at just how comfortable their children had been with the Terran, and at how well they'd been able to work together.

Perhaps they'd have to do this again sometime.

[kuriquinn]

The Last To Know [One-Shot]

Summary:  As usual, telling her the truth happens as though by afterthought. And this time, she's not taking it.

Disclaimer: This story utilises characters, situations and premises that are copyright Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, Shonen Jump and Viz media. No infringement on their respective copyrights pertaining to episodes, novelisations, comics or short stories is intended by KuriQuinn in any way, shape or form. This fan-oriented story is written solely for the author's own amusement and the entertainment of the readers. It is not for profit. Any resemblance to real organizations, institutions, products or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All plot and Original Characters except for those introduced in the canon books, manga, video games, novelizations and anime, are the sole creation of KuriQuinn. (© KuriQuinn 2016- )

Warning: Spoilers for pretty much everything up to Sasuke Shinden.

Canon-Compliance: As close to canon as fanfiction can possibly be. With a few personal additions :P Takes place during the Blank Period.

Beta Reader: Sakura's Unicorn

The sun is just beginning to set on the horizon, dipping into the calm water of Konoha's tiny river harbour. Sakura sighs, slumping back on the bench overlooking the bluff, imagining the tension draining out of her.

Her feet ache, her eyes are itchy from the mascara she dearly wants to wash off, and her stomach grumbles. As she dreams of the comforting softness of her bed, she tries to find the energy to stand.

Who knew that a bureaucratic position would be more physically and mentally draining than active duty?

She really should go home, but she knows the minute that she steps through the door, her mother will fret over her. Asking questions about the day, nagging her for not taking care of herself, wondering about her plans for the week, and Sakura just wants…

Sakura just wants silence.

She didn't realise it when she was younger, but there's something comforting about being alone.

"Sakura."

She almost jumps three feet in the air at the sound of her name, having thought she was utterly alone. "Ahh!"

Beside her, Sasuke appears to have materialised out of thin air. Knowing him, he probably did. Sakura scrambles to her feet to face him, eyes flicking over his taller, gaunter form. He no longer walks around wearing a cape and turban, but there is something about him that still speaks of a vagabond.

"Sas—Sasuke," she stammers, flustered, wrong-footed and instantly reduced to her self-conscious younger self. Honestly, she thought she was over this! "What are you…what are you doing here?"

She curses herself, wondering if it sounds like she's criticising him for approaching her. He's been home for a week, and this isn't the first time they've seen each other since he walked through the village gates, and yet, she still must fight down the temptation to pinch herself whenever they interact. She dreamed of his return for so long that his presence stubbornly retains a dreamlike quality to it. Worse, she's not quite sure how to speak to him normally.

Then there's the fact that their relationship is—

Well, she thinks to herself, I'm not even sure there is a relationship.

She suspects there's something between them that is deeper than friendship, but beyond that she has no idea. Though she can read him easily in some ways, in others—especially the ways that concern her heart—he's as mysterious as ever.

"Sai was looking up information for me with his old contacts," Sasuke tells her, a little to her surprise as he rarely volunteers information. "He said he would meet me here this evening."

Sakura frowns. "That's weird. I ran into him on my way here. He was heading home with Ino and, uh, he didn't look like he had any intention of going anywhere for the next few hours."

Or possibly days, knowing those two, she adds mentally, remembering her friends exchanging looks of such simmering heat that Sakura blushed when she saw it. There was very little question of what they were planning when they got home.

Sasuke frowns at this—whether in displeasure or because he catches the innuendo, she isn't sure—and says, "Hm."

"I bet it just slipped his mind," Sakura says, an apology in her tone. It's almost second nature for her now, apologising for Sai's lack of social etiquette. "I'm sure he'll find you tomorrow."

"It's no matter. I'll go to his house," Sasuke replies, turning to leave.

Sakura's eyes widen. Definitely missed the innuendo, then!

She trips over her tongue to say, "I-I-I wouldn't do that, Sasuke!"

He pauses, turning incrementally to consider her, visible eyebrow creased in question. Clearly, he's awaiting an explanation.

"I mean, it's probably not the best idea right now since he and Ino, uh, are sort of in their honeymoon phase."

"Their h—" Sasuke repeats, and his eyes widen fractionally. He looks away quickly. "I see."

"But it's not a total waste of trip for you, right?" she asks quickly, trying to change the subject. "We might...hang out? I haven't seen you in a few days, and both times Naruto's been around to—" Act as a buffer. "—be the centre of attention. It's hard to get a word in edgewise, and I've…I've been thinking about you." Running over that sentence in her head, she panics again, and adds, "I mean, about how you're doing since you've been back! How're you settling in?" She nervously tucks her hair behind her ear. "I know it's a change and everything, being back."

"I'll survive," Sasuke tells her shortly.

Sakura waits a beat for him to continue, then realises he doesn't intend to, and tries not to let her shoulders slump so visibly. "Oh."

Maybe he notices because his blank expression smooths a little.

"I thought it would be worse," he confesses, almost cautiously. "But it's…not been too much of a burden."

"Really?" she perks up. That's actually high praise coming from Sasuke.

"Hm." A barely noticeable nod. "And it's not as if it's permanent."

The momentary brightness leaves her.

"What do you mean, not permanent?" she wants to know, a sinking feeling already forming in her gut. "I thought…I thought you were back now?"

"A final decision hasn't been made yet," he tells her, shifting in what might be discomfort. "I may not stay in the village. Kakashi said there are jobs outside that need doing, or which require people with certain skills. That may be…more fitting."

Sakura's chest feels like it's been on the receiving end of one of Tsunade's punches. The hope she's been entertaining of Sasuke and her future since he returned freezes.

"I thought that you would stay from now on," she says carefully, and when this doesn't register, she adds in a softer voice, more to herself than him, "I guess it was just wishful thinking."

She's been telling herself for months that she will not wait for him anymore. She wrote him a letter to tell him the same thing. It seems he took her words to heart, and she's torn between taking them back or sticking to them.

Sasuke appears to notice her distress, however much she tries to hide it, because he shifts to look down at her now, both eyes visible as they bore into her own.

"This has nothing to do with you," he tells her, like a reminder. "I…have to see if I can even live in the village myself."

"Why?" she asks, not able to hide her upset anymore. She decides not to beat around the bush. "Do you really not believe us when we say we've forgiven you? Or is it that you still haven't forgiven yourself?"

"That's not the whole issue. It's more complicated than that."

"Complicated how? How is this complicated?"

"Sakura," he begins, and she detects a note of frustration there that she hasn't heard in years. "You know why I can't—People don't—the Elders…" He trails off, scowling—she's not sure if it's at her or himself—like he's trying to get the words out and can't put them in the right order.

"The Elders?" she demands. "What do they have to do with any of this?"

"You know what they have to do with this," he snaps.

"Who cares what they think?" she counters. "You're a hero, and the entire world knows that. The entire village! And so what if some people are not sure what to make of you, everyone knows how you helped save us all!"

"I'm not talking about this with you," he tells her firmly, and turns to leave. "I would've thought you'd understand."

"Understand what?" she cries at his retreating back, fear and anger spiking because she is not doing this again!She refuses to stare at his departing back any more in her life. "Sasuke! Don't walk away! I'm trying to understand, but you're just getting angry, and I don't know why!"

"You do know why!" he snarls, whirling around, and though he doesn't have his Sharingan active, she suspects it's simmering beneath the surface of those fathomless eyes of his.

Maybe that's why she can't stop her flinch.

He notices it, because of course he does, and then stills. It's as if his anger drains out of him as quickly as it came. As the seconds pass by, staring at each other, an expression of dawning comprehension passes over his face. Followed by wonder, confusion and astonishment.

"You…don't know," he says slowly, and it's both a question and a statement.

"I just said that," she agrees, equally slow. Then it's her that makes a confused face. "Know what?"

"Naruto didn't… He and Kakashi never told you," he says, quiet, like he's processing a difficult realisation.

"Tell me what?" she whispers. A familiar sense of dismay creeps over her, although now it has nothing to do with the man standing before her. Instead, a childhood fear is coming back to haunt her with a vengeance. When Sasuke doesn't answer, she steels her tone, lacing it with warning, and repeats, "Tell me what, Sasuke?"

He stares at her for several seconds, considering, and then motions for her to sit down. She's so surprised by the gesture, which is utterly uncharacteristic and considerate for Sasuke, that she does.

Later, she'll realise consideration had nothing to do with it.

Because when he quietly, haltingly, tells her the truth behind his brother and the Uchiha massacre, she feels fairly confident that her knees would have given out beneath her had he told her while she was standing. As it is, Sakura feels sick. The truths that Sasuke reveals wash over her, each horrible syllable falling on her heart like a searing iron. Everything about Itachi, Danzō, the Elders, the cover-up—the darkest secret in Konoha's history.

Little by little, she begins to understand the reason he lost his mind all those years ago. The facts that burned within him like fire, extinguishing reason and sense and bonds, driving him to the height of darkness in the final weeks and months leading to the war. It's as if she's finally found the missing piece of a puzzle, one that she gave up looking for.

Sasuke's final words to her before he left on his journey of redemption finally make sense to her, and she understands how much she couldn't have understood then.

How much she can never really understand.

She wants to throw up, wants to cry and whisper apologies, even though she knows they would be meaningless. Wants to rage and rant, expel her fury in some way. And yet, in the back of her mind, she is conscious of the fact that Sasuke revealing this to her is a big deal. Sharing this with her, when he has never shared anything about himself or his family unless there was bloodshed involved, is a step she never thought he might take.

She cherishes that trust, wants to put him at ease. With her patients, the best way to do that is a smile, and yet she can't because she knows it would be fake. Sasuke would notice. He was always the first to notice when her smiles were fake, even if he never commented on it. And so, she can only watch him with the sympathy of one who can never truly understand. There are no words she can offer, nothing she can say to make this right, and they both know it.

Sasuke pauses then, weighing the silence between them as he concludes his macabre testimony. It is as if he's trying to decide if he has left anything else out. The drawn, carefully blank expression on his face is the same one he always wears when trying to stay distant, like he's treating the dark secrets of his family's legacy as a mission report.

Her heart aches that he has to do this, he has to talk about his family as if it's something separate from him, because it hurts him. Sakura reaches out then, unable to stop herself, and before he can pull away, she puts her arms around him. She draws him close, fitting her chin on his shoulder and pressing them chest to chest. He'll no doubt shrug her off, because he never liked to be touched, but this is the only comfort she knows how to offer in the absence of words.

To her surprise, though, Sasuke relaxes. For a moment, she even imagines that he leans into her, like he's not only given her permission to comfort him but given himself permission to accept it. They stay like that several moments longer before he does pull away.

Clearing his throat, he rises to his feet.

"I should go," he says, all business once again. "If Sai is indisposed, I have to get my information another way."

He takes a few steps before she finds her voice.

"Sasuke?" she asks, and he pauses. "Thank you. For…for telling me. I know it couldn't have been easy. And the fact that you trust me with this, it…it's a lot…"

For a wonder he turns slightly, inclining his face toward hers. She manages to muster up a smile. It's small and wobbly and sad, but at least it's genuine. His eyes track the movement, studying her face, then he nods and continues on his way without another word.

When he is gone, Sakura's smile fades and her eyes narrow. Then, she turns on her heel and heads back into the heart of the village, all earlier fatigue gone.

サクラ

Sakura takes her time heading to the Hokage's office, going over what she intends to say once she's standing before her former teacher and teammate. She plans to ask in a mature manner, to learn the whole story from them as well. Kakashi, being Hokage, likely has access to records about the incident. He can clarify certain points she's having trouble with, and if Naruto is around, he can…

She swallows, a stabbing pain in her throat, her heart beating a rapid rhythm against her neck, a rushing in her ears as a horrible truth looms over her. It pales in comparison to what Sasuke told her about his brother and his family's deaths, and yet, it's making her lungs constrict and her stomach rebel once again.

She's angry and helpless; she doesn't know how to help Sasuke, or who to be mad at. She needs to do something, even though it's all in the past and can't be fixed. But there is something that she can deal with right now. Something that she thought was dealt with long ago. Something Sasuke's confession has revealed to her that it wasn't.

No, she tells herself firmly. Breathe. Keep emotions in check. I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm a shinobi.

As she walks into the Tower, she remains calm and composed. Perhaps the clerks and civil servants scurrying around might note her unusual lack of smile, but they don't sense the slowly unravelling ball of emotion hidden inside. Her presence is common enough here that no one expects her to make an appointment, and she walks into Kakashi's office without even having to knock at the door.

Everything is, so far, going according to plan.

Until she looks around the room and sees Kakashi going over mission briefs with Naruto, who is complaining loudly, the way he always does. And for them, today is no different from any other day. They are coping and living with the knowledge Sasuke has imparted to her without another thought.

And that's when her plans go out the window.

Literally.

It happens too fast for her to be entirely aware of herself. One minute, she's closing the door behind her, and the next, her fist is colliding with Kakashi's chest.

She curbed her strength—mostly—so he shouldn't have any damage that a competent healer couldn't fix, but it's too fast for him to get a substitution to take the full brunt of her blow. He and his chair go flying through the windows and wall behind him, throwing up a huge plume of dust.

"What the hell, Sakura?!" Naruto cries, grabbing hold of her from behind. The air around him crackles, like he isn't sure whether he should be entering his Tailed Beast Chakra Mode or not.

She shrugs him off with ease. Distantly, it occurs to her that she may have committed treason for assaulting the Hokage, but somehow, she can't seem to care

"Three years," she replies in a cold, furious voice.

"…huh?"

"Three years, you've been lying to me."

"What are you talking about?!"

"The Uchiha," she bites out through clenched teeth. "Itachi Uchiha."

Naruto doesn't understand right away, but as the seconds of silence tick by, he begins to pale with realisation. "Sakura, we couldn't—"

"Don't."

"The fewer people who knew—"

"Don't you fucking dare," she growls.

"Sakura." Kakashi has popped back into existence beside them, looking a little bruised, and eyes more sombre than she's seen in a while. He waves a dismissive hand at several ANBU who are peeking inside until the three of them are standing alone. He waits until they are gone before continuing, "This was to protect the peace of the village."

"To protect murderers," she spits.

"If you think about it, we didn't lie to you," Naruto begins, "we just didn't—"

"Don't. Lie. To Me. Again."

Kakashi sighs. "The omission was necessary, especially so soon after the war."

"Maybe if I was finding this out a few months after the war, I'd believe that," Sakura says, still deadly quiet and trembling. "But it's been years, Kakashi."

"This wasn't a piece of gossip, Sakura, it involved the security and stability of Konoha."

"Did you expect that I was going to tell someone?"she snarls. "Me? I'm the last person who would reveal anything that could harm Sasuke or Konoha in any way!"

"Sakura—"

"I am the only student you ever trained that had the necessary skills and steadfastness to achieve jōnin rank," she goes on, drowning him out. "Apprentice to the Fifth Hokage which, I'm sure you of all people know, requires a certain amount of discretion. Head of Konoha's hospital. Personnel and patient files are all rather confidential, wouldn't you say?"

"Sak—"

"Hell, long before any of that, I was kidnapped and beaten for information while my idiot teammates were nowhere to be found and I didn't give it up because I would rather die first!"she bites out. "If your justification is that you thought I was too much of a security risk to tell me that the village—"

"We never said that!" Naruto protests loudly.

"YOU LET ME BELIEVE A LIE FOR THREE YEARS!" Sakura's voice cracks painfully and she swallows, having difficulty breathing for a moment. Tears threaten to fall, but she fights them back, because today of all days will not be the day that she cries. Because she is Sakura Fucking Haruno, and the twelve-year-old weepy child she used to be has been nothing but a memory for years now. "You let me think Sasuke was…"

"Sakura—"

"He thought I knew already," she whispers, and watches them both freeze. "He thought you two told me. You know why he might've thought that?" Naruto's expression is aggrieved, Kakashi's resigned. They know what she's about to say. "Because you're my friends. Before we're teammates or compatriots, or students and teacher…we're friends." She inhales shakily. "And he thought you would've told me the truth. Never even occurred to him that you wouldn't. That I wouldn't have all the same information that you both did. Because we were friends."

"We are friends!" Naruto protests.

"Are we?"

"We were trying to protect you."

"I don't need your fucking protection!"Sakura shouts, managing to keep her volume down this time, but only just. "I am not a little girl anymore! I've watched men bleed to death in front of my eyes and held beating hearts in my fingers, trying to fix them! I am a hero to villages that don't even have names. I am the reason half of the people in this village aren't dead or orphaned! I have birthed babies, and killed assassins, and walked into battle to fight by your side, so don't you dare try to tell me you still think I need to be protected!"

"Of course, we don't—"

"I tried to kill the man I love with because I thought he had to be stopped for his own safety, as well as the safety of others, without even questioning why. And there was an actual reason for what he did, and it wasn't just because of some thousand-year-old curse!" she cries. "He tried to kill me because he thought I knew and was in on it! And we both have to live with that memory now! Forever!"

"Your relationship with Sasuke doesn't give you clearance to know all the village's secrets, Sakura. Even Naruto isn't privy to all of them—even I'm not, sometimes," Kakashi says quietly, clearly trying to keep some sense of his position. And while she understands that, she still resents it.

"But Naruto could know about this?" she challenges. "A genin who failed every test related to secrecy and subterfuge that we ever took, before he became the village hero?"

"Hey!" Naruto says in an injured tone.

"You're trying to subtly remind me about keeping this impersonal," she continues. "Fine. Then let me point out that, according to the village rules, your successor is a shinobi of a lower rank than I am—saviour of the world or not. As his superior, you're not according me the respect and merit of my station. The information I received today is something I should've known since I became a jōnin because my job is to protect the village from threats. Not knowing has kept me from pursuing that purpose."

Kakashi's eyes narrow. "I'm not sure I follow."

"Why have the Elders not been removed from their positions?" she counters. Naruto frowns in confusion at the segue, but Kakashi follows without a problem.

"Sakura," he begins, a warning note in his voice.

"No," she cuts him off. "If Danzō planned all of it, they knew. And they didn't stop him. People died, Kakashi! Our people, and one of our own was forced to do it! Do you think a pretty plaque in a graveyard makes up for that? That is not justice."

"It's more complicated than that."

"Because they continue to be involved!" she snaps. "How many times has their behaviour led to more problems that've almost destroyed Konoha from within? For fuck's sake, we never needed to worry about outside enemies with them around! And yet, they retain their positions, their income, and the respect of the village, while Itachi is just a name carved on a block of stone. And Sasuke is going to spend the rest of his life a pariah because he was trying to get justice for what they allowed to happen?"

"Sakura—"

"No, I'm not done," she interrupts. "Everyone thinks Itachi's being honoured because of what he did when he was resurrected by the Edo Tensei—and don't even get me started on how dangerous men like Kabuto and Orochimaru have all-but been pardoned for their actions after everything. But the truth about Itachi goes deeper than that! If Sasuke's brother hadn't acted, Konoha would've been reduced to ashes thirteen years ago! It's his name that should be taught in our schools or put up on statues, not Danzō or the Elders or the people who almost caused the destruction in the first place!"

"I don't disagree with you on any of those points," Kakashi sighs. "But they can't, Sakura. For the sake of peace. If people thought that those in positions of power in the village—the same individuals they put their trust in to protect them—could be capable of what they did, it would destabilise the government. We may be in a recovery period, but it's still fragile enough that I'm not sure we could survive if that happened. I'm sure you understand this."

She clenches her fists, frowning at him, because her logical mind knows that he's right about that point, at least.

"Something still has to be done," she insists.

"And it will," Kakashi promises. "But it will take time. I can work within the shadows and make the political moves necessary, but the push for change has to come from the people. Between you and Naruto, I'm sure you can figure something out. But it won't happen overnight. It could be months, or it could be decades. It's what's known as a long game."

She crosses his arms.

"We'll figure something out," Naruto repeats, in a soft, placating voice. And though she knows he means it, and that he probably won't rest until this problem is fixed, the discord in her heart doesn't abate.

"None of that excuses the fact that neither of you told me the truth," she replies. "And Kakashi…I can understand you not saying anything. But you, Naruto?"

"It wasn't… We weren't sure if…" Naruto hedges, while Kakashi just looks uncomfortable.

That ever-growing suspicion sets in with a bitter twist in her gut.

"You didn't think Sasuke wanted me to know," she realises. Her voice feels very far away from her when she asks, "Why? Because of village secrecy? His pride? Or because he doesn't care about me the way I care about him?"

"No!" Naruto cries. "That's not it at all!"

"I know our connection isn't as strong as the one between you two," she admits, the words scraping against her throat as she says them. She's always suspected Sasuke had more regard for Naruto than her, but to have it confirmed that others think the same is still a difficult pill to swallow. "I might not be the reincarnation of his family, but I am his friend. And if I never have anything else, I'll always have that. And on that fact alone, if you two knew…I should have, too."

"We thought you were better off not knowing," Kakashi says. "You're a healer, Sakura. You want to make people feel better. And this is something you can't heal. We've both seen how you take it to heart when you can't help. We believed we were sparing you that."

"Again with the protecting me bit?" she questions, shaking her head. All of a sudden, the fight goes out of her. "I see. To you, I will never be anything but that little girl who trailed after everyone like a puppy." She clenches her eyes tight, still fighting back angry tears. "How can you say you're my friends, if you can't trust me with information like this? Sasuke did. If the person who has distanced himself from me for my entire life can show me that respect, why can't you two?"

She turns to leave.

"Sakura, don't go!" Naruto cries. "Let's talk about this!"

"No. You should've talked before," she retorts. "Now, you're going to wait for me to decide to talk to you. I…need some time to think about this. And about what it means for my future."

"Your future?" Kakashi echoes.

"I need to decide if I want to continue to serve a village that doesn't trust me with something so vital," she whispers, "and if I should keep friends who don't, either."

Before either of them can stop her, she uses a Shushin to escape the stifling office.

サクラ

Sakura is shaking after she leaves the Hokage's office, both with anger and a little fear.

She's nervous about her outburst, keeps running over the entire thing in her head. She's never lost control like that, not really. Even when Kakashi was her instructor and did things she was critical of. Even with Naruto. They've had arguments, but she's never…

She's never attacked her teacher in anger before. And she's never lost her temper to the point of vulgarity.

Did I go too far?Sakura wonders, rubbing her upper arms self-consciously. Or not far enough?

Sakura has always been guided by her heart and what feels right to her. It's only in recent years, being so close to Lady Tsunade and the running of the village, that she's had to think more with her head.

And I never was really good at that anyhow, she thinks glumly. Images come back to her of a bridge and a knife, hateful scarlet eyes and a woman with glasses bleeding out in front of her. Every time she has tried to make a decision where her head and her heart disagreed, no good has come of it.

Right now, her heart insists she did right, but her brain keeps running over all the logical arguments against her actions. She hasn't felt so conflicted since the war, and it's dizzying. She needs to take a step back from it somehow, to release the growing, painful pressure inside her before bursts.

Her first instinct is to go to Ino, but she knows she can't. As yet, this is all still utterly secret. She can't reveal anything about Itachi to Ino. She could, however, mention being kept in the dark by her other former teammates.

Except...

Except her best friend is at home with Sai right now, enjoying newly-married life. Sai, too, is one of Sakura's closest friends, so she doesn't want to overshadow his newfound happiness with her black mood. Especially considering his own past—he deserves as much uncomplicated joy as life has to offer him.

Sakura's mother would be her next choice. But the thing is, Mebuki Haruno has a blind spot when it comes to Kakashi and Naruto. Considering Kakashi is the Hokage and Naruto is the hero that saved them all, she's taken on a tendency to agree with them about everything. And she knows Sakura well enough to infer that Sasuke is somehow involved. Mebuki has never been overly fond of Sasuke after he defected from Konoha, to put things mildly.

She'd say they were right to keep it from me,Sakura thinks, clenching her fists. She can't blame her mother, not really. A parent's duty is to protect their child. Mebuki's feelings on the matter would be totally justified simply because she's never been on the frontlines or fought beside Sakura. Intellectually, her parents know what Sakura is capable of, but they've never seen it first-hand. And they weren't there to see the obstacles she's overcome to achieve the power she has now. Not in the way Naruto and Kakashi were. They are the people who should know better, and yet…they still don't.

Lady Tsunade would set them straight,Sakura thinks angrily. She would know… A horrible thought occurs to her. Did Lady Tsunade know?

She's the Fifth Hokage, and she's a Senju. It would make sense for her to know what happened. And what Tsunade knows, Shizune usually knows as well, at least in Sakura's experience. If they were both privy to the information, is there any chance they might not have told Sakura? Lady Tsunade has always shared Sakura's mother's opinions about Sasuke, and she can be just as overprotective.

No. No, they would've told me,Sakura insists. Based on what Sasuke said, only a handful of people ever knew the truth. Only Lord Third, Danzō Shimura and Obito Uchiha. The latter was the reason Naruto found out, along with Kakashi and Yamato. They were on the way to the Kage meeting when Obito, still masquerading as Tobi, let them in on the secret. Sakura remembers all too well that, during that time, Lady Tsunade was out of commission.

Besides, she never got along with the Elders or Danzō. She's the last person they would've told about this, even before the attack on Konoha. If she didn't think to look into the matter, she wouldn't know, Sakura reasons. So Shizune wouldn't know either.

Unless, at the end of the war, there was some sort of meeting to agree on keeping Itachi's deeds and Konoha's involvement in the massacre from public knowledge.

In that case there's a very small chance…

That pained feeling in her chest and throat is back, like a knife. Sakura tries hard not to feel the mounting sense of betrayal, but it's hard. She wishes more than anything that she could go to her mentor right now and ask her about it. But Tsunade is out of the village on one of her gambling binges, while Shizune's spending a few days at Konoha's orphanage, trying to make sure all the children are up-to-date on their vaccines and physicals (and because she still doesn't trust Kabuto, probably to keep an eye on him). Both are too far away to ask.

Under normal circumstances, this would be the point where Sakura goes to talk to Naruto or Kakashi but considering they're both contributing factors in the whole situation, it's not an option.

As for Sasuke…

No.

She can't bring this up to him, not after he entrusted her with such a horrible truth. Her feelings of being kept in the dark cannot compare to what he endured, and bringing this situation up to him now feels disrespectful. As if her pain at being left out once more could ever mean anything in the face of what he lost? She's not so arrogant as to think she matters that much in the big scheme of things.

This shouldn't be hitting me so hard, she chides herself. After all, it is in the past, and isn't this time of recovery all about forgiving the sins of the past and working toward a better future? She should just shrug this off as a fait accompli and move on.

But the treacherous little voice in her head keeps whispering to her, What if they keep doing it?

In the face of that, she can't help the overwhelming hurt. It's as if something is broken inside her, but nothing as simple as a bodily wound that she can mend.

She usually burns that feeling off with physical activity, and she desperately wants to go out and destroy a training field or two—to feel the earth shatter and break beneath her, and watch solid rock become dust between her fingers. But that would attract attention and people wondering and she just needs…she needs to do something. To remind herself that she isn't useless. That she isn't the waif who cowers while Sasuke throws his body in front of her because she's too weak, useless and inferior to defend herself. She's no longer the damsel with snot and tears running down her face while Kakashi naively promises her that everything will be alright and Naruto vows to bring Sasuke back.

I amnotthat girl anymore,she growls to herself.

In that moment, she decides where she needs to be right now, and makes a determined beeline for the hospital. Upon arriving at her place of work, she takes a breath and, as always, lets the outside world slip away at the door. She strides into her office, where her intern, Ando glances up in surprise, and before he can ask why she's back so soon, she interrupts him.

"What's the next operation scheduled?"

"Uh…Isamu is doing a double kidney transplant on the dextocardiac patient in fifteen minutes—"

"I'm scrubbing in on that," she tells him. "He can have the next one."

"But—"

She strides out before he can complete his protest, heading for an operating room.

Sakura very rarely wields her influence to jump the queue on cases, but she needs to stay busy, and she thinks that today of all days she deserves to push her advantage a bit.

Over the course of several hours, she schedules procedure after procedure, taking the lead on the most complex and challenging cases—the ones that need her constant presence and attention. In the midst of her work, she's able to forget the uncertainty, and hurt, the memory of the useless child she was. Here, she is head medical ninja of Konoha, disciple of a Legendary Sannin and a hero of the Fourth Shinobi War in her own right. She battles with death every day and, more often than not, wins. People here look up to her, defer to her knowledge, and listen to her recommendations.

Naruto, of course, finds her soon enough, being as meddling as ever. While Sakura walks across the courtyard to consult on a possible case of Chakra Virus, he appears in front of her, determined and repentant.

"Sakura, I'm sorry. I swear, we didn't—"

"I'm working, Naruto," she tells him flatly and keeps walking. "Please leave."

"But you need to listen!"

"I need you to respect my wishes," she replies. "Since it's clear you don't respect anything else."

"That's total bullshit and you know it!" Naruto yells, frustration and worry in his voice. For once, though, her immediate reaction isn't to try to calm him. "Just because of this one thing—"

Sakura turns around then, her hand snapping out and grabbing Naruto by the collar of his jacket.

"This is my place of work," she growls, a flare of anger bleeding through the carefully constructed façade of business she's lost herself in for a few hours. "I am saving lives right now, and I don't have time for your interruptions while people could be dying. Now, leave on your own, or I will break every one of your bones so thoroughly that even with your healing abilities, you'll still be stuck on bed-rest for a month."

She experiences a minor burst of gratification at the way Naruto goes pale beneath his whiskers and vanishes in an instant, but it doesn't make her feel any better. Like his apologies, his misery feels hollow to her and does nothing to satisfy the hurt.

When she returns to her wing of the hospital, she gives Ando and all the other staff warnings that she's not to be disturbed by friends or family while she works. It's not the first time she's ordered this, so they don't argue. She has a trusted support network among her colleagues, all of whom know better than to question her at this point.

While cleaning up after a successful limb-reattachment, a new intern that she doesn't know very well approaches her.

"Sakura-sensei, the Hokage requires your presence," she tells her shyly.

Sakura says nothing and reaches for the nearest chart and begins to glance over the particulars for her next case.

"Should I tell him you're on your way?"

"No."

"Oh…um…so, you'll be a little late?"

"No."

"Oh." She pauses. "What...what should I tell him?"

"Nothing."

The girl isn't quite sure what to say about that, but Sakura glances up and says, "That'll be all, Wakana. You have rounds."

She barely registers the intern's puzzled expression as she heads off to her next appointment.

For another seventy-two hours straight, Sakura pushes herself from one procedure to another, elbow-deep in blood and viscera one moment, or painstaking research and experiments in the skills lab the next. She survives on caffeine and soldier pills, focussed on the problems she can solve. She doesn't have to think about her injured heart while healing a broken pelvis.

Of course, she knows she can't go on like this.

Eventually, she starts to feel the exhaustion of using so much brain power and chakra without a respite. Even though she has a large reserve and could conceivably go on for days, it's irresponsible to do so outside of a combat situation. Besides, being at work is no longer distracting her the way it should. Her thoughts and worries are beginning to bleed back through, and she knows she'll have to face them sooner or later. Kakashi will only accept her ignoring his summons so many times, and Naruto won't be deterred by her threat much longer.

Truthfully, she's surprised she hasn't seen him at all since their encounter days ago. She suspects Kakashi might be keeping him from bothering her because he at least understands the need for space.

Ando eventually makes the vague, roundabout suggestion that she head home to sleep and relax—he curbs his usual bluntness by not telling her that she smells, though she suspects she really should shower soon—and Sakura finds herself giving in. She's too tired to argue, apparently.

As she leaves the hospital, she pauses, dim and sluggish, too tired to think too much. It's why she's pretty sure that she's dreaming when she notices a familiar figure waiting across the street.

Sasuke leans against the building opposite the hospital, a living shadow on an otherwise bright and cheerful street. And she instantly knows he's waiting for her, even though he's never done so before.

It should bother her that he's watching her, looking as unruffled and untouchable as always. And she's probably got circles under her eyes, the remnants of caked-on makeup, and she doesn't remember if she brushed her hair or teeth this morning. But somehow, it doesn't really matter to her right now, the way it once would have. It's still the most natural thing in the world for her to change her course and head toward him. His presence doesn't erase her exhaustion or her inner turmoil, but it does cause a fluttering sensation or anticipation in her stomach.

After stewing in her self-constructed isolation for a few days, she'll take it.

サクラ

The closer she gets to Sasuke, the more effort Sakura makes to muster up a smile. As mentally and physically tired as she is, she will never not be overjoyed to see him. Besides, it's not as if he's the type to notice that sort of thing anyhow.

Once they are within several feet of each other, though, his eyes flit across her face and he frowns. "You look tired."

For all the blunt delivery, she senses an undertone of concern in his voice. This more than anything makes her smile more genuine.

"I'm fine," she waves it off. "I worked a few doub—er, triple shifts. It's nothing I haven't done before." He raises an eyebrow at this, and she insists, "I just need to have something real to eat and a short nap. Then I'll be good to go for another straight week, if I have to." She hopes her boast doesn't sound as manic to him as it does to her. When he doesn't remark on it, she decides it didn't. "It's nice to see you," she says a beat later. "You look…I mean…how are you?"

"Fine." He doesn't elaborate, but she didn't really expect him to.

The silence hangs awkwardly between them.

"Was there something you needed?" she asks after half a minute of this. As cheered as she is by his presence, she knows from experience that Sasuke doesn't come to see her unless there's something he needs from her. He's not the sentimental type, after all. With him it's function and duty above everything.

"Kakashi and Naruto are concerned about you," Sasuke states. "You've been avoiding them."

Sakura tenses at this. Instantly, a bolt of pain shoots through her heart. Of course, Sasuke wouldn't come to see her of his own volition, but because Naruto or Kakashi asked him to. That phantom pain is quickly backed by a stab of annoyance that her former teammates got him involved. It was exactly what she was hoping to avoid.

"It's been busy at work," she dismisses. "I can't always get away when I'm in the operating room, you know." She begins to walk away. For once, she half-hopes he won't follow her. When he does, she can't decide if she's irritated or not.

Still, she doesn't want to talk about her issues with Naruto and Kakashi with him, especially not considering what they stem from. Instead, she goes on to relay what she's spent her day doing, explaining all the procedures she carried out and the injuries she healed. Her enthusiasm is half-genuine, half-manic, and she doesn't dare take a breath. For the first time since they were kids, she takes advantage of his silence just to fill it, trying to make it seem like she's not upset.

They wander down the street together, separated by barely two feet. Normally, she'd be over the moon about this, thrilled to spend time with him and bask in his attention, but the sour feeling in her stomach won't abate. The pretence that everything is all right is like a fog, and she barely takes in any of their first walk together. She's not even sure where they're headed, simply following her feet.

Does Sasuke think she's bringing them in somewhere in particular? If he does, he'll soon realise she has no destination in mind, and leave. Maybe she should let him know it's all right to leave if he wants to. She stops them, ready to do just that, opening her mouth—

And then abruptly shuts it as their surroundings become clearer to her.

The entrance to Konoha's graveyard looms behind them, the summer breeze rustling the neatly trimmed grass around the monuments. Sakura blinks, and then blurts out in genuine confusion, "Did I bring us here, or did you?"

Sasuke doesn't reply, instead gazing among the distant rows with an unreadable expression. It looks like her attempts at deflection didn't distract him after all. She mentally scrambles to play down the whole affair.

"Sasuke…you don't have to… It's fine. I don't want to make this a bigger deal, especially considering…everything. Ugh. They shouldn't have gotten you involved—"

"They should have told you," he interrupts. It's so surprising that her mouth snaps closed with a click, her eyes flitting toward his face. There's an irritated expression there, but she has a presentment that it's not directed at her. "I understand why they didn't, but they should have. Out of everyone…you should have been someone who knew."

"I…" She doesn't actually know what to say to that. Her eyes feel tight, and there's a tickle in her nose that suggests oncoming tears, but for the first time all day it's not hurt or anger that makes her want to cry. The fact that Sasuke of all people would say this to her…

"Thank you," she manages finally. "Coming from you that…that means so much."

He shoots her a funny look, like he doesn't understand why.

"You're one of the saviours of the world," she reminds him. "If you don't think I'm too weak to handle the truth, they have no excuse either."

"You're not weak, Sakura," he tells her, turning to face her. "You're the strongest person I know."

Blood rushes to her cheeks, making them burn, and Sakura tries to untangle her tongue to respond to that. On the one hand she knows that can't be true, because they've both witnessed what Naruto can do. But on the other hand, Sasuke has never been dishonest with her. He has never told her anything that he didn't truly believe. He isn't a man of tact, or the type to spare another person's feelings. If he said it, he must think it's true.

"Next time, punch Naruto instead," he goes on, as if he commented on something as factual as the weather. "Preferably before he becomes Hokage, so it won't cause another civil incident."

"I didn't cause a civil incidentthis time."

"You did enough to merit my usual ANBU detail suddenly making a beeline for the Hokage's office."

She bristles, but it's more at the notion that even though he's long been cleared of his crimes, Sasuke still isn't completely free while at home. Kakashi said it was a temporary measure until people are more used to seeing him around the village, but it seems counterproductive to her.

If people knew the whole truth, would that be any different? Now that she knows, it's even more unjust. Maybe that's yet another reason they didn't tell her.

Sakura clenches her fists as her thoughts come full circle.

"How do you do it?" she asks eventually, staring through the entrance again at the beautifully polished memorial stone. Flowers and incense offerings are arranged around it as always. Sasuke doesn't answer, but she senses his gaze upon her; the silence rings like a question. "Knowing the truth. Knowing what it cost, and them still hiding it?"

She wouldn't blame him if he chose not to answer, but after a beat he exhales heavily.

"I would rather the Uchiha be remembered as loyal to the village that Itachi loved than be remembered for plotting against it," he says at last.

"No. Not that. That I…I understand. I hate it, but I understand it."

Sasuke digests this, and then prompts, "Then do what?"

"How do you forgive people you care about for keeping the truth from you?" she asks. "People you trust and love and who you know just want to protect you. But by doing that, they make you hurt worse and feel…insignificant." It sounds pitiful when said out loud like that, especially in comparison to everything else, but Sakura was never able to just cast aside her feelings, however mundane.

This time Sasuke's silence is quiet and conteomplative, instead of confused. When he answers her, he sounds uncomfortable, "I'm not the right person to ask that."

"You're the only person that I trust right now who would know," she tells him seriously, finally looking up at him. She's startled to find that he's already watching her—how long has he been doing that?—but then abruptly looks away again.

"Hold on to the knowledge that they really want what's best for you," he tells her simply.

"That's it?"

"You could cut yourself off from everyone, but that's not a path for everyone."

Sakura scowls at him. If she didn't know him better, she'd assume he was attempting to be humorous. Then she sighs, letting go of some of the tension that's been holding her together the past few days, and looks back at the memorial stone.

"I feel crippled," she confesses. "Like, if they had said something, that all this time, I could've been doing something to make sure the past doesn't repeat itself."

"You are."

"Huh?"

"Was that not the purpose of the children's mental health clinic?" he asks. "To ensure what happened to Naruto and Kakashi and myself wouldn't happen again?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"Then you are," he affirms with something resembling finality in his voice.

Discussion over, I guess. She marvels a little at how Sasuke can see the world in such simple terms when it comes to certain situations, while in others, he operates with logic that she can't even follow. Probably the same complex logic that had Itachi do what he did,she thinks, half-saddened and half-impressed.

She considers the memorial stone in the distance again, and the way Sasuke is lingering beside her, and then something occurs to her.

"Did you…are you going in?" she asks. "Do you want to be alone for that? I mean, if you're leaving again soon, you probably want to say goodbye alone."

"I…won't be leaving right away, as it turns out," he says, and there's a strange waver in his voice she doesn't think she's heard before. "Kakashi asked me to test Konoha's barrier for weaknesses. My dōjutsu makes me the best candidate for it."

"Oh," she says. "Well, that's nice! So, you'll be around a little longer, right?"

"A few days, at least."

She beams at him.

"I'm happy to hear that," she says. "Maybe I'll see you around then. I mean, around the village. When I'm not at work, of course."

"Hm." He seems very at ease now, losing some of his distance, and the old hopeful part of her, the one that refuses to give up, decides to test her luck.

"And…maybe we could…get something to eat?" she suggests. When his eyes slide to her, she quickly adds, "Something that's not ramen. There's a new restaurant in town that does hamburgers. Have you ever had them? What am I saying? You probably have." She laughs nervously. Oh gods, someone make me stop talking!"Or if you're not hungry, maybe we could just…go for a walk? Today was—" She makes a face. "Well, it was depressing. But the end was nice. Maybe we could do that again sometime and just catch up. I'm sure you saw some amazing things when you were travelling, and I'd love to hear the stories…that you could tell me…I know most of it's classified, but—"

"We could spar," he suggests.

The rest of Sakura's sentence dies in her throat, and she blinks. "Huh?"

"Before I left, you asked if we could spar," he says quietly, not looking at her. In fact, he seems very interested in something directly in front of him.

It takes her several seconds to understand what he's talking about, before she remembers a conversation they had right before he left Konoha.

"I've heard accounts of some of the techniques you're capable of using in combat. I'm curious to see if I could counter them," he goes on. His eyes slide to her. "If you're not busy at the hospital, of course."

Excitement courses through her, replacing the dolorous emotions of the past few days, because Sasuke has never asked to spar with her. She quickly adopts a serious, confident expression, smirking at him. "You're going to get your ass handed to you."

Sasuke snorts.

"We'll see about that next time," he tells her, reaching over and poking her forehead with his index and middle finger. Then he turns and starts to walk away, leaving her staring after him in confused elation. "And if you're going to kill him, try not to do it so close to the cemetery."

"Huh?" she asks, reaching up to touch the place where his fingers brushed her skin. Sasuke's been doing that a lot since the end of the war, apparently his way of showing affection. She tries not to read too much into it that she's never seen him do that to Naruto or Kakashi.

"Sakura!"

Her blushing musings come to an abrupt, crashing end as a familiar voice shatters the sombre silence of the cemetery.

Within a blink of an eye, Naruto skids to a halt in front of her, face sweaty and red from exertion, shoulders heaving as he pants for breath.

Sakura frowns in speculation, gazing at the spot where Sasuke just stood, and where Naruto has appeared. If they were still genin, she might suspect Naruto of engineering some kind of trick on her—masquerading as Sasuke to gauge her mood before approaching her. Except…the things that Sasuke said to her were too personal and too specific for Naruto know about. Even if he were pretending, he wouldn't think to say those things.

So, the timing is justreallycoincidental…

Suddenly, Sasuke's words make sense and a rare jab at annoyance for her other former teammate pricks at her. He probably felt Naruto coming this way and decided to leave them to talk. Sakura wonders if it's actually a good thing that Sasuke is more aware of the world now than he was when they were kids. He never used to care if she and Naruto were fighting.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I am so sorry!" Naruto wails, throwing himself on the ground in front of her and actually bending his head to the ground in dogeza. "I will never do anything like that ever again, and I'll tell you everything I know from now on—except, well, things that I tell Hinata, because there's some stuff you can only tell your wife, you know? Well, no, you don't, because you don't have a wife—but everything else!"

"Maybe not everything," a mild voice adds, and of course, Kakashi is standing nearby, appearing too swiftly and silently for her to notice. Unlike Naruto, he isn't prostrating himself on the ground, but he holds himself at a polite distance from her, as if waiting for permission to approach.

Naruto glances up at Kakashi, with a confused look, then his eyes go wide in understanding.

"Right! And except for some of the Hokage stuff, because I can't," he tells Sakura. "But other than that!" He then ducks his head toward the ground again. "And if I do it again, you can beat me until I can't move, or rip off my arm again, or…or force feed me vegetables, just as long as you forgive me!"

On anyone else, this would be irreverent and behaviour unbefitting of the crime, but she can hear the desperation in his voice, despite the hyperbole.

"Us," Kakashi corrects quietly. "Though it would be unseemly for your Hokage to get on his knees in front of a civilian."

"Yeah, right. You're just worried you'll break your back or something, old man," Naruto quips.

Sakura considers them both for a long moment, feeling as if her innards are churning. It's been days, but the wound of being kept in the dark is still fresh. She knows she's not ready to forgive them completely yet.

"Leaving a friend in the dark is the same as leaving them behind," she tells them in as neutral a voice as she can manage, trying to put her thoughts in order. Both men wince at the very personal implications behind that statement. "You know…you knew all I ever wanted was to stand beside you. To be acknowledged and treated like I was on the same level. Since I was a girl, I wanted that more than almost anything, and you…you both treated me like a child. No, worse—a stranger who wasn't trustworthy enough or mature enough to handle the truth."

"This particular truth has done more harm than good to those who know it," Kakashi responds quietly.

Sakura inclines her head, acknowledging the validity of that, but with no intention of letting him off with the official party line.

"When has holding back the truth ever done any of us favours?" she counters. "Was Naruto better off not knowing why the entire village hated him as a child?" Kakashi's jaw clenches beneath his mask. "Were you better or happier not knowing who your parents were?" she goes on, addressing Naruto directly as he slowly sits back on his haunches. "That was to protect you, right? Are you grateful to the people who kept that information from you?"

"That's…" Naruto begins, twin spots of angry colour burning in his cheeks.

"What about Sasuke? How much of his life was wasted hunting revenge over something he thought was truth…all because a certain someone was trying to protect him?"

"Those are all extreme examples, Sakura," Kakashi warns.

"Maybe. But they didn't start off that way. They all started with the simple need to protect someone. And in the end, the people who were supposed to be protected were busy hurting in the dark," she insists. She squares her shoulders. "I understand that my not knowing the truth about such a horrible situation isn't as serious as having an entire village hate you for something you can't control, but it was still a breach of trust. Especially because what you two and Sasuke think of me…it's always mattered more than what anyone else thought. And the idea that you don't trust me makes me feel physically sick."

She has to pause here, fighting a re-surging lump in her voice, uncertainty at being so direct once again making her falter a bit.

Hold on to the knowledge that they really want what's best for you, Sasuke told her, and she does.

The seriousness of their behaviour is not diminished in any way, but she knows it wasn't done out of malice or calculated intent. In their ignorance, they continued a behaviour that she never clearly asked them to stop. They ought to have known better—Kakashi especially, being that he is usually more perceptive—but still they only wanted to keep her from unpleasant knowledge. She is not so petty or frail as to walk away from such a close friendship based on one indiscretion, but they have to know that she won't tolerate it again. Sakura looks up at the sky, carefully weighing her words, and the nods to herself.

"I won't be treated like wallpaper by you guys anymore," she vows, glaring at them both challengingly. Her eyes linger on Naruto. "I am your equal. Maybe I'm not the ancient reincarnation of a demigod like you or Sasuke…and maybe I didn't come back from the dead or master a thousand techniques like you, Kakashi-sensei." She nods at him. "But I am just as important. It's time you both acknowledged that in action and not just words."

Her sensei inclines his head at this, agreement written in his eyes.

"The three of us are the students of the Sannin—you, me and Sasuke," Sakura tells Naruto. "But more important than that, we're Squad 7. We're Kakashi's students. We've been a team since the bell test."

Naruto can't help a nervous, nostalgic chuckle at that.

"If I don't have all the information, I can't be an effective part of that team," Sakura concludes. "And when that information is something that's hurt a member of my team? A dear friend? What else can I imagine but those bonds weren't as strong as I thought they were?"

"No way!" Naruto cries. "You know how strong our bonds are, Sakura. We couldn't have done everything we did if it wasn't. Even before the war." He scrambles to his feet, gazing down at her with eyes softened by regret. "You've always been one of the people I care about most. The best thing that ever happened to me was being put on a team with you and Sasuke—and you were at least nice to be around. Sasuke and I would be dead a hundred times over if you hadn't been there keeping an eye out for us, even before you got all scary strong. And, yeah, sometimes we forget, but it's only because we love you. And you shouldn't have to worry about the hard stuff if you don't have to."

"That's not how it works, Naruto," she replies quietly. "We're adults now. We've lived through war. I know just as much as you do that the world isn't a very nice place. Do you think when I work in the hospital, all I do is prescribe medication and wave my hands over people and make them feel better? I have to sew up bloody wounds, and tell people they're dying—little kids who haven't even reached the Academy yet! Sometimes, I have to sign papers to remove children from abusive homes, or force poison into someone's system on the off-chance it might make them better. I have to operate on criminals just to make them fit enough to stand a trial where they will probably be executed anyway. None of that is easy or good or right, but I have to do it."

She turns to Kakashi, who's been listening in silence and challenges, "Will you try to protect me from that, too?"

He sighs, shaking his head.

"You've made your point, Sakura. And I don't disagree. But some matters are more delicate than others. As your Hokage, all I can promise is that I will do everything legally possible to ensure proper information dispensing. As the highest-ranking member of the team that took out Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, you are entitled to be informed of relevant information on your comrades, and I'll ensure you have it as soon as possible," he tells her. A beat later, the official-sounding tone disappears in favour of something more sheepish than she's used to Kakashi using. "But as your former teacher, you'll have to forgive me if it takes a little longer to remember these things. For me, you three will always be my adorable students. I will always want to protect you."

"Okay, hold on. I know why that applies to Sasuke, but when was the last time you protected me?" Naruto scoffs.

"You haven't been arrested for any of the graffiti incidents yet," Kakashi points out.

"…right."

"It's a start," Sakura acknowledges, too used to the by-play to pay it much attention. "I can accept that it's a start."

His eyes crinkle in a smile.

Sakura turns to Naruto and frowns at him. "If you ever pull something like this again—"

"I know, I know," Naruto interrupts, holding up his hands as if to stave off some invisible blow. "I got the message when you punted Kakashi-sensei through the window. You'll flatten me or turn me into a stain or paste or—"

"No," she says. "I won't.'

"You…you won't?"

"No."

"Oh." He looks confused.

"But I will never speak to you again," she informs him. The line is a childish one, something not out of place in the Academy courtyard, but the words ring with promise, the weight of the threat as edged as a declaration of war. "You, or Kakashi-sensei. And I'll put in for a transfer to another village."

She turns to Kakashi now, raising an eyebrow as though waiting for him to protest, but he simply looks thoughtful.

"There are a lot of places in the world that need talented medic-nin. I'm already doing them a disservice by staying here in Konoha when I could be out there helping the people who need it. We aren't at war anymore, so I'm not bound to serve Konoha's interests alone, but the well-being of all people in the world," she explains. "If it turns out that I'm not trusted here by my friends and comrades, or by my own superiors…" She shrugs. "Kankuro's been trying to get me to come to work for the hospital in Suna for months now. I've been considering a temporary exchange for the good of the hospital's teaching program, but I can easily make that permanent. And Karui tells me that the Raikage is conducting interviews for a new chief of staff at the hospital in Kumo."

"But…but you can't," Naruto looks perplexed. "You're a Konoha-nin."

"My life doesn't depend on this village, no matter how much I love it," Sakura says. "And with all the work the Kage are doing to promote trust between the villages, it's not so difficult to travel these days. Honestly, I might still leave to travel the world for a little, someday. But my coming back will depend entirely on what kind of village is waiting for me."

She let's that sink in, and from Naruto's chagrined expression, she knows he's taking her seriously.

"This will always be your home," he tells her, "and I promise, I'll make it a village—no, a city—worth being proud of. There won't be any more secrets from you. Ever. Believe it!" And then, in a move she hasn't seen in years, he holds out arm in front of him, parallel to the ground, fist clenched. "I promise."

In her mind, an image from her memories—a short, stupid -looking kid with blond hair and an orange jacket—superimposes itself on the picture that Naruto makes now.

I won't go back on my word! That'smy ninja way!

Sakura smiles, a little wistful, but without the bitterness of the past few days.

"Alright," she says. Then she turns serious again. "But it's still going to take some time. I'm still not happy about all this, and I haven't completely forgiven you yet. So, don't be surprised if I avoid you both for a little while because none of this is okay."

"That's fine," Kakashi says. "We can be patient." Naruto groans, and he amends. "I can be patient. And I can bury Naruto in enough paperwork that he's forced to be patient."

"Hey!"

"Don't think you can joke your way out of this," Sakura warns, shaking a finger at her former instructor. "We are going to talk about the situation with the Elders, because that is not going to continue. We owe it to Sasuke—we owe it to the entire village to untangle that particular snarl."

"No arguments from me!" Naruto grins. He rubs at his nose. "Hey, I have a great idea! How about, to seal this whole deal, we go get some ramen?"

"…You really don't understand the concept of giving people space, do you?" Sakura sighs.

"You're surprised by this?" Kakashi counters.

"I bet if I send a clone to grab Sasuke, he'll come with us," Naruto continues, apparently not hearing them. "It'll totally be like old times! And, hey, maybe Teuchi will extend my free ramen pass to you guys, too. I mean, you sortof helped me save the world, and it's the first time in ages we've been able to sit together, so maybe…"

Sakura allows Naruto's ramblings to wash over her. She wasn't lying when she said things were not completely forgiven. Trust is not something so easily regained with a few words. She suspects it will be months, perhaps years before she can be around them without a modicum of doubt rising up, whispering to her that they still think she's weak.

But Sasuke thinks she's strong.

And more importantly than any of that, she knows she's strong. She will get through this.

And she'll show Kakashi and Naruto just how serious she is tomorrow when she demands a formal investigation into corruption on the part of the Elders. It's sure to stir up conflict among the village's government, but if there's anything Sakura's teammates have taught her, it's that change doesn't happen unless someone makes trouble.

Naruto was the pest that made people believe. Sasuke, the menace that made them forgive.

Let's see what I become, she thinks to herself with a confident smirk, following the two men away from the cemetery.

終わり

Comments and constructive criticism are always welcome, but if you feel like keeping me caffeinated out of the goodness of your heart, it certainly would be appreciated! I’m also starting to post original works to my patreon.

I’m only able to keep writing as I do thanks to the support of readers like you, so every bit helps!

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